am i entitled to any help

sethaj

hi,

my girlfriend started an apprenticship today, so i have been to jobcentre to sign her off. They told me i have to sign off and i am not entitled to any benefits,

She is 23 i am 42 and i have a disability (brain aneurysm)
i was claiming jsa and disability premium allowance plus my low rate DLA. now that has all stopped.

she will be earning a measly £3 an hr ,7 hrs a day ,4 days a week + 1 day at college.
we live in a 2 bed flat so already paying an extra £10.25 a week + £4 a week council tax on top of our council tax/housing benefits.

Are there any benefits i can claim? job centre told me no because she will be working more than 24 hrs a week so is classsed as full time employment even tho its an apprenticeship/training.

i dont like the idea of still having to sign on to recive nothing.
i am searching for work too but my disibility doesnt help me, my advisor told me to look for part time work up to 16 hrs a week, and something about tax credits .

i really would like some help and advice no idea what to do.

thnx in advance

Jobseeeker

have you applied for ESA?

your girlfriend is receiving the lower minimum wage for apprenticeships, but this is only for under 19s so I don't think they're allowed to pay her that at 23

sethaj

i was on esa, but after a year tribunal i lost my appeal to recieve it, but i won my dla tribunal unanimously.

no idea about the apprenticeship rates.

C.C.L.

Your DLA won't stop, it's not means tested, it will continue to be paid as normal.

pmlindyloo

If you are still receiving DLA then you need to work a minimum of 16 hours each week to be eligible for working tax credit.

Apprenticeships make a mockery of our welfare system especially where there is a joint claim because they consider apprenticeships to be full time work but do not have to meet the National Minimum wage rules.

Unless you want to go down the ESA route then finding a job for 16 hours a week and claiming working tax credits is your only option.

Of course as soon as you work and claim tax credits you may find your other benefits reduce. Perhaps some other bright person can do the sums. You should be better off but don't know by how much.

Another option is to downsize to a one bed place at a cheaper rent (if possible)

Edit

Sorry, crossed posts. Job at 16 hrs a week and claiming working tax credits is the way to go.

pmlindyloo

Jobseeeker wrote: »

have you applied for ESA?

your girlfriend is receiving the lower minimum wage for apprenticeships, but this is only for under 19s so I don't think they're allowed to pay her that at 23

They can as she's in her first year.

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates