JSA and College

nephilim

I am currently on contribution based JSA and want to start a 15 week construction course. It is full time, and as such I was told I cannot claim JSA, despite a prearrangement with the college that I am still actively seeking work and if I found work, I would quit the course (and pay any costs incurred when possible).

I have a CSCS card already, so looking to basically branch out into more construction work rather than just labouring.

Are they allowed to do this?

tomjonesrules

Yes, they are. You needed to make the 'prearrangements' with the JCP not the college!

If you are in full time education you are not eligible for JSA.

saintjammyswine

Extract from SFA (Skills Funding Agency) weekly update number 86.

Jobseeker’s Allowance Full-time Training Flexibility (J2779) Guidance – Changes to attendance rules under Skills Conditionality
Information
Jobcentre Plus has introduced changes to attendance rules under Skills Conditionality for customers claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). The changes to skills Conditionality attendance rules, which were effective from 21 November 2011, allow a claimant who has been claiming JSA for six months or more to attend full-time training and remain on JSA rather than transferring onto a training allowance. This change only applies to training of up to 30 hours per week and up to eight weeks’ duration for customers who have been claiming JSA for six months or more.

This is only for mandated skills conditionality (normally literacy, numeracy or ESOL) so may not apply and as its a 15 week course, I'm afraid they are correct. You are not able to look for work whilst you are at college and 15 weeks is beyond the maximum allowed.

Sorry.

nephilim

That's fair enough. I was just enquiring with both which is why I asked.

There is a high chance for me to get employment right after (1 company said they would hire me as soon as I got the cert at the end) so it is definitely beneficial. But losing JSA means I would have to pay for the course which I could not afford, argh catch 22!!

saintjammyswine

You can get remission of college fees apart from exams & college specific fees (admin, fee for campus card etc.) whilst on JSA. Remember that you have to provide evidence of this when you enrol on the course. In theory someone could enrol on the course, present evidence of JSA claim, sign off JSA and continue the course as, when they enrolled, they provided the evidence. Now I am NOT suggesting you do this, just that it can & has been done. Ahem. Taxi!

nephilim

LOL! Well I have the benefit claim papers etc saying when I am on JSA, got the booklet confirming etc. The course itself is worth like £1300 as its a 3 year night course condensed into 15 weeks!

saintjammyswine

which course is it?

tomjonesrules

saintjammyswine wrote: »

You can get remission of college fees apart from exams & college specific fees (admin, fee for campus card etc.) whilst on JSA. Remember that you have to provide evidence of this when you enrol on the course. In theory someone could enrol on the course, present evidence of JSA claim, sign off JSA and continue the course as, when they enrolled, they provided the evidence. Now I am NOT suggesting you do this, just that it can & has been done. Ahem. Taxi!

The fee remission does not apply to all courses.

saintjammyswine

tomjonesrules wrote: »

The fee remission does not apply to all courses.

I know but most, funded courses attract fee remission. See my question above!:D

nephilim

Construction for Employment

Will give me a level 1 cert in Bricklaying, plastering, painting and decorating, plumbing, and carpentry and joinery, and a BTEC National Diploma in construction

Oldernotwiser

Is this the course?

http://www.barnfield.ac.uk/Details.aspx?ProspectusID=3794

If so, you're correct that it should be free if you're on a qualifying benefit but it might also depend on your age.