College and benefits.

skintandscared_2

*gem* wrote: »

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.

Well that's very nice of you to do that, but if you need to rely on benefits while you are studying, can you afford to not let the father of your children actually pay something towards them?

"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."

Why? Who has GOT to give you money to support YOUR children? The children's father is giving you money, but you're giving it back to him. It is commendable that you want to go back to studying, but it is your choice to do that. How had you planned to pay for it?

princessdon

I'm a sucker for those that do fe courses - I see the difference and how many do actually gain ft mean full none benefit claiming employment at the end. The 40 week support to remove a lifetime of benefits or tax credits is an investment. I guess that is why I always try to help people like op - far better do a good course than a lifetime on nmw with no progression.

*gem*

heartbreak_star wrote: »

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

I have been applying for jobs for the last 6 months with no luck as i have no qualifications. This is a course which will give me a much better chance of getting a job in a field I can work in as I can't work in certain environments due to medical conditions. I have already made my decision and will be continuing the course with or without IS. I have also paid for this course out of my own pocket as I can't get any funding to pay for it.

FBaby

princessdon wrote: »

I'm a sucker for those that do fe courses - I see the difference and how many do actually gain ft mean full none benefit claiming employment at the end. The 40 week support to remove a lifetime of benefits or tax credits is an investment. I guess that is why I always try to help people like op - far better do a good course than a lifetime on nmw with no progression.

That is if they don't end up falling pregnant again as soon as they finish the course, rely on tax credits, or worse, go back on IS.

I think if the person is trully commited, then, yes, it is worth the investment, but if it is just a mean to avoiding being on JSA, or delaying the above, then am not so sure. I guess it can of depends on the course too.

*gem*

skintandscared wrote: »

Well that's very nice of you to do that, but if you need to rely on benefits while you are studying, can you afford to not let the father of your children actually pay something towards them?

"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."

Why? Who has GOT to give you money to support YOUR children? The children's father is giving you money, but you're giving it back to him. It is commendable that you want to go back to studying, but it is your choice to do that. How had you planned to pay for it?

There are already enough children in this world who have very little or no contact with their fathers! I do not want my children to be like that. I hear it all the time that children go off the rails because they fathers have not been around etc. If he had more money to give i'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to give it or maybe I should tell him just post me some money and visit his kids once a month. My children would be devastated!

One of my friends did offer the suggestion that i got pregnant again, went back on income support and then went back to college obviously all paid for so it all can be done free and this is not something tht I would ever do!

I didn't plan on going to college until I saw the sign for the course and thought it would be a good way of getting back to work with a qualification and hopefully I would actually be successful at getting a job. Which is why I also asked for advice here. If I went to work for 16 hours a week I would still be claiming some benefits but I can see how you've read what i've written and interpreted into meaning something different to what I meant. I live around drug addicts, dealers and people who have have never worked a day in their lives and they are paid for without so much as a fuss. I worked when I was younger, have brought up my children in a family unit and now I am in a situation I didn't ever expect to be in but I am trying to inprove my prospects so I can support my children myself. Unfortuately I need qualifications to do this. How many people do you know who can just walk in to a job without so much as a GCSE and no experience working within the last 15 years? And this is exactly why I can't find work, hence the course I will be doing!

*gem*

princessdon wrote: »

I'm a sucker for those that do fe courses - I see the difference and how many do actually gain ft mean full none benefit claiming employment at the end. The 40 week support to remove a lifetime of benefits or tax credits is an investment. I guess that is why I always try to help people like op - far better do a good course than a lifetime on nmw with no progression.

Thank you. This is my thinking too. I hope it makes all the difference and get's me into work.

*gem*

FBaby wrote: »

That is if they don't end up falling pregnant again as soon as they finish the course, rely on tax credits, or worse, go back on IS.

I think if the person is trully commited, then, yes, it is worth the investment, but if it is just a mean to avoiding being on JSA, or delaying the above, then am not so sure. I guess it can of depends on the course too.

I will not be having any more children. i love my kids more than anything in this world but having more children is only going to make it harder for myself in the future! I want to work, I want to show them that i'm a good role model and I wouldn't be considering going to college without JSA or IS if I wasn't committed to the course.

princessdon

You should not have had to pay for the course. Housing Benefit is one of the main criteria for free courses (because it confirms low income and who lives there).

If they charged you - ring them to dispute this

And goo luck with the course, but I'd still try to fight the Income Support based on the dates you mention - you *may* hit lucky.

*gem*

I had to pay for the course as there is no funding available in my area for over 25s. It's a mixture of a GCSE, level 2 and level 3 courses as I left school without taking my GCSE exams. The funny thing is that if i'm not claiming JSA or IS they will cover the course fees as I would then have no income in their eyes.

I've applied for so many jobs but always fallen at the fact that I have no qualifications or experience. I can't even get a job in tescos etc without my maths, english and science GCSEs or equivalent and they told me so. I though it would be better for me to get these qualifications to vastly improve my chances of getting a job than continue claiming JSA until somebody gives me a chance which could be years.

Thanks again for all your help. I've got my fingers crossed that somebody will get back to me with an answer tomo. At least i'll know where I stand then.

princessdon

They should still be fundable due to low income and unemployment. Have you advised them you will be in receipt of HB?

Being honest I'd have advised an Access course (all level 3) including maths and English - therefore entry to Uni if that was what you decide with a Lit/Num Funcional Skills extra.

Is your local college small?