College and benefits.

*gem*

I'm planning on enrolling on a full time college cousre to begin XXth September and was wondering which benefits i would be entitled to while studying.

I'm currently on IS but will be changed over to JSA (income based) in early September ( my youngest child is now 5) before the course actually starts. Can I just continue IS or will I have to change to JSA and then apply for IS again.

Thanks for any help.

princessdon

you may not be entitled to ANY benefits.

JSA won't allow you to do a full time course (you are not seeking work if studying). Sometimes they allow you do this - depends on your advisor if you agree if you get a job you will leave the course.

As your IS stops BEFORE the course starts you have no transitional protection. You can *ask* for transitional IS but not many allow it if the course starts after the date of JSA

I guess I am saying it is all down to your JSA advisor. If you are under a LP advisor for IS I'd ask them now before the transition

*gem*

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I don't have an advisor at the moment due to an incident at my last interview. I haven't been assigned another yet but have been told that I won't have to deal with previous person again. The cousre was due to start on the same day as I am going on to JSA but the building isn't finished so they have changed the start date. I will try speaking to the the Job centre.

If i'm only getting CTC, can I still get HB? And do you know if I can get any extra help from the college?

Thanks for your help.

princessdon

The advisor *may* allow an Income Support claim transition - but that is their decision due to the delay in the course start, you have to ask them.

You should still get your TC etc due to low income.

The college will have a discretionary fund for low income students - but again how much they have left and what help is down to them. It is likely to be childcare, books and travel as opposed to money.

*gem*

I've been trying unsuccessfully to get through to the jobcentre for the last hour so will go and visit them tomorrow. Fingers crossed but i'm not holding much hope.

It's the HB i'm more worried about. Somebody has got to give me some money somewhere to support the children. They really can't expect me to live on the streets with no money at all while in full time education but I actually wouldn't put that past the benefits office. I've never had to work because i've always been supported by my ex partner. In the last 6 months i've found myself single with 3 children, on IS with JSA fast approaching, no qualifications and wanting a reasonable job for my own sanity and to provide for my family.

princessdon

You should still get HB etc - but I'd ask Re IS

The question you need to be asking is this

"I signed up for this college course on XXX date, my transition to JSA from IS is xXXx date. Can you clarify if I have transitional protection to Income Support for the duration of my course?


Technially their wording is "start date" not "sign up date" - but from personal experience it is about 50/50 who allow the transitional protection.

Also the IS protection (if granted) will be for the full duration of course (2 years etc) as long as you remain on the course.

Your other benefits shouldn't be affected as far as I know.

princessdon

BTW - Just had another thought. They won't *know* about the delay.

Do you have a prospectus, letter of application, website print off with the original start date?

If so take that in and don't mention the week or so delay unless asked!

MissMoneypenny

*gem* wrote: »

It's the HB i'm more worried about. Somebody has got to give me some money somewhere to support the children. They really can't expect me to live on the streets with no money at all while in full time education but I actually wouldn't put that past the benefits office. I've never had to work because i've always been supported by my ex partner. In the last 6 months i've found myself single with 3 children,

The father of your children should be giving money to support his children also. Contact the CSA to get them to help you get this money from him, or go to the Child Support board for advice on how to do this.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=140

*gem*

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

The father of your children should be giving money to support his children also. Contact the CSA to get them to help you get this money from him, or go to the Child Support board for advice on how to do this.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=140

We had an agreement between the two of us but because he lives quite a distance away but because his job is very low paid, I always ended up giving him the money back to him for petrol as it's more important to me that he spends as much time as he can with the children.

*gem*

princessdon wrote: »

BTW - Just had another thought. They won't *know* about the delay.

Do you have a prospectus, letter of application, website print off with the original start date?

If so take that in and don't mention the week or so delay unless asked!

I had a long think last night and decided that the job prospects I will gain from completeing the course outweighs my need for income support and I have enrolled on the course. Hopefully i'll be able to get by and support my family on just my TC, HB, CB for the 40 weeks needed to complete the course.

I have spent hours on the phone trying to sort this out and get an answer and i've been passed from person to person to department to another department, been given totally conflicting information and nobody will actually give me an answer. I'm now waiting for the 3 person today to call me back. The paperwork says my course starts on the XXth and they only seem to be interested in what the paperwork says anyway. Confused.....yes, very much so!

Thank you again for all your help.

heartbreak_star

Can you work until you can afford FT education? I do hope that you can get it all sorted but it seems an odd situation - nobody HAS to give you money so you can study instead of working, it's your choice surely?

Good luck anyway.

HBS x