put my mind at ease!!!!

sisbod

Hi
before I start the quesetion please note I did advise them going to CAB or the council benefits advisor!

I work supporting young adult students in education. An 18 year old who is a 'looked after child' doing a full time course is on income support. They have been offered 15 hours work. My understanding is that their income support would stop two counts

a) as it would then take them over the number of hours eligible for IS (hours on course and hours working = 30 hours aprox)

b) their IS would be reduced by the amount they earned minus £5


They would still be eligible for rent help as they are in supported accommodation but in effect they would not be any better off. I do not want them to be put off work but really do not want them to lose money or go into it without being better informed.

If I am right then I am going to feel guilty for crashing a yp's ambition and if I am wrong I will feel sick as it is putting them off hence the referring them to CAB etc


so which is it?

and how sick to I have to feel?

Dunroamin

Is the young person still in care or is s/he actually a care leaver?

sniggings

remeber not many fll time jobs out there so maybe this part time one will be a stepping stone for another one, so making them full time.

sisbod

actual care leaver and I have no issue about the remembering the full time oportunities however I am desperate not to see him worse off and then give up the course as he is bloomin good at it.

sniggings

sisbod wrote: »

actual care leaver and I have no issue about the remembering the full time oportunities however I am desperate not to see him worse off and then give up the course as he is bloomin good at it.

I didn't think you did have a problem remembering, it is only an expression

You did ask for help to put your mind at ease

tom9980

Financially it should be roughly a wash after factoring some travel/work expenses most importantly though as he has worked while gaining a qualification an employer will look very favorably upon him so long term it could be the difference between a job and no job once qualified.

One person i know goes to uni and has 3 part time jobs so unless its going to drastically affect his study its better to work as well to meet the long term goals.

sisbod

thank you all for your responses - it is pretty much as I thought experience is essential for any job however it is not going to make them financially better off.
Sniggins - just read my response - that didnt come out the way I meant it- sorry. I just wanted to say that although I realised they got experience by working it was the day to day managing their benefit whilst studying that I was worrying about.
Just wanted the reassurance that they wouldn't be worse off -
there is so much pressure for young people as a whole to be independent and when they have been in care they dont get the privilege of making mistakes and running home to the parents! Always fearful for them - sometimes you would think that with some of them it is like my own kid! though clearly not - they dont make a mess in my kitchen!

princessdon

As far as I am aware the number of hours for education and the care leavers category is irrelevant.

Many of the students I work with claim IS and work, so he won't have to leave the course.

The situation is money and I always recommend they work for many reasons and take the disregard as long as it doesn't affect study.

The recommended no of hours is 12 max for FE working, so above that it should flag a risk for the student on FE systems, but nothing major.

sisbod

princessdon - thanks for that - dont think I have ruined their life just yet!!!!

princessdon

Not at all - far from it - you are enancing their life, it's refreshing to see someone like yourself, you clearly care and are compassionate.

princessdon

Just to add that earnings on IS for care leavers should not affect any EMA based system the college has. This group is generally exempt (but they can apply their own guidance), so in theory they should still be able to claim their Free meals, travel and any EMA replacement from college, but DO check with student support to see the effects of this funding.