Help with tuition fees (JSA)

canonman

Hi all,

Ive been offered a job and i start next month, I would like to to do some night classes to add some qualifications to my name. I have looked at my local college and was wondering if you are on JSA do they offer some discount towards tuitions fees?

I could not afford to pay for the fees when i am in full time work, I actually be in a slightly worse of postion if i go to work! but would much rather be in work.

To summarize my question: If i am claiming JSA can i get discount with tuition fees at my local college.

Thanks all!

Linda32

Hi, I'm newly unemployed and have been offered an IT Course which I start in a couple of weeks time.

I've been told that the first couple of weeks will be intensive study then it will settle down a bit. I don't expect it to last much longer than a month in total. (Thinking about your new job here) Well done btw :T

This is free and was offered from the JC. There are various courses available.

I will add that I suspect the courses offered by the JC are at much lower level of qualifications than any evening course a college can offer.

Its always worth asking whats available when you see your advisor.

dandelionclock30

It will depend on the college, ring them up and ask if you get a discount.

saintjammyswine

Speak to the college, there is funding available for courses for people who are either employed or unemployed depending on the course and the circumstances. It is either ESF Workplace Learning or ESF Skills Support for Unemployed.

rhcp

I would look at this carefully. With my local college, tuition fees are free if you are unemployed, but if you become employed, you are expected to pay the tuition fees for the remainder of the course.

saintjammyswine

rhcp wrote: »

I would look at this carefully. With my local college, tuition fees are free if you are unemployed, but if you become employed, you are expected to pay the tuition fees for the remainder of the course.

There is funding available for people who are employed depending on circumstances such as prior qualifications etc.


Once signed on the course, providing there is written evidence of eligibility (copy of Signing book or referral from JCP for example) then that should satisfy the whole of the course.

m-bee

About 4 years ago I was on JSA and I only had to pay 10%.
As long as you are on JSA when you start the course and you can prove it it should be okay. You don't need to tell them that you are getting a job or have started working unless they tell you too.

Dunroamin

saintjammyswine wrote: »

Once signed on the course, providing there is written evidence of eligibility (copy of Signing book or referral from JCP for example) then that should satisfy the whole of the course.

Sorry, I agree with rhcp on this. If you're getting a fee concession based on claiming benefits then that should stop when the claim stops.

I also think that claiming as an unemployed person when you know you're going to be employed with a couple of weeks is getting very close to fraud and is, at best, morally dubious.

saintjammyswine

Dunroamin wrote: »

Sorry, I agree with rhcp on this. If you're getting a fee concession based on claiming benefits then that should stop when the claim stops.

I also think that claiming as an unemployed person when you know you're going to be employed with a couple of weeks is getting very close to fraud and is, at best, morally dubious.

Sorry, the funding rules are very clear. It is the learner's status and evidence of that status on the first day of learning that counts. Should someone become employed within the duration of the course, they are still entitiled to fee remision as they qualified on day 1 of the course.

canonman

Dunroamin wrote: »

Sorry, I agree with rhcp on this. If you're getting a fee concession based on claiming benefits then that should stop when the claim stops.

I also think that claiming as an unemployed person when you know you're going to be employed with a couple of weeks is getting very close to fraud and is, at best, morally dubious.

I am going back to work full time to be worse of, only slightly but i am better of not working, but like most people i would rather be in work!

I could not afford the course if I told them i now had a job halfway through the course.

I don't see a problem if i start the course on JSA which I will be!

saintjammyswine

canonman wrote: »

I am going back to work full time to be worse of, only slightly but i am better of not working, but like most people i would rather be in work!

I could not afford the course if I told them i now had a job halfway through the course.

I don't see a problem if i start the course on JSA which I will be!

There isnt a problem with it providing you have evidence at the start of the course that you are on relevant benefits. Once into work, there is funding called ESF Workplace Learning funding through FE Colleges.