Tricky College Situation, Need Advice

kawaii-lobster

I'm 21 years old, 22 in August and I've enrolled in college for this upcoming September having suddenly decided what I want my career path to be (took me long enough haha).
I'll be training to be a teacher so that I can eventually become an assistant language teacher teaching English as a foreign language in Asia and thus I'm leaning the Japanese language a long side it to improve my chances. I'm so excited about having finally discovered something that I really enjoy doing, but I'm really worried.
I've been unemployed for the last 4 months following the liquidation of my previous workplace and have been looking for temp work to no avail.
Obviously September is fast approaching, but it's only recently that I've learnt that the rules surrounding the receipt of income support have been changed. I've been told by the Job Centre following my updating them on my college enrollment that I won't be entitled to income support due to the course being full time (how does that even makes any sense?), but I couldn't really get much of an answer from the woman beyond that as she just kept telling me that rules have changed.

I'm terrified because this is what I was kind of banking on to support me throughout my course as obviously I can't work full time whilst attending college. I'm unsure as to whether I'm being fed porkies because a lot of you will be well aware what some of the people employed by the Job Centre can be like, but if it turns out that she's right then I don't know what to do full stop.
I've been to Inspira asking for advice and information and they just passed me onto another organization who attempted to pass me back to Inspira.

My courses start date is fast approaching and so far the only alternative I can think of would be me to get a part time job working Saturdays/Sundays whilst still claiming job seekers allowance since it falls under the 16 hours minimum that a person needs to survive, but I'm unsure as to whether this is allowed or what's going to happen income wise when I start college.

If anybody can offer me any information or advice, or if you're able to point me in the right direction it would be very greatly appreciated.

paddedjohn

If you are going to college full time you won't be eligible for JSA, you need to get a weekend job to support you. I know this will sound like short shrift to you bit I hope you don't get any benefits to help you get your free education/training so you can go to another country and pay taxes there, what does the UK get out of it?

Caz3121

you cannot claim JSA unless you are doing a part time course and would be prepared to pull out the course to take a job.
If working under 16 hours on JSA you would be allowed to keep the first £5 on wages then the rest would be deducted £ for £ from the JSA. Even working 10 hours at minimum wage would mean no JSA payment (but you could still sign on for NI credits)

Have you asked the college what funding/student loans are available?
If nothing and you are not able to support yourself through it, you could ask to defer until you are in a position to do the course.

I studied full time and worked full time shift work at the same time with a mortgage to pay and child to support - I had my fees paid (Scotland) and lived on my wages and child benefit only (before the days of tax credits) left with no loans and no debts.

kawaii-lobster

Wow what a rotten attitude. "I hope you don't succeed because I don't get anything back in return", it's almost like I'm back in the 16th century with the nobility/peasant hivemind. Wouldn't it just be great if we relegated all the poor people back to menial labour so that the rich can enjoy the fruits of life?

For your information it's my intention to continue studying Japanese until I reach a level where I can interpret fluently which would open up many job opportunities for me to function as a translator.

FBaby

Similarly, why do you think it should be free for you when most adults have to pay to get an education?

Nothing is stopping you from getting a job that pays enough and study part-time. That would give you time to raise the funds required to live and pay for your studies AND not have to pay as much in one go.

kawaii-lobster

The course is full time, there is no option for me to study part time.

Why do I think it should be free for me? Well I don't, but if the option is available then of course I'm going to try and take it. It's that or see my dream go up in smoke, I really am not sure what to do. I don't understand how people with children manage to do this alone when I can't do it, it all seems so complicated and I'm not sure where to go or who to ask.

kwmlondon

You rotten lot!

This person is trying to better themselves and actually get out of dependency and all he/she gets is mean-spirited vitreol.

Go on, be supportive, it won't kill you and you may even feel a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

However, you won't be able to claim benefits while you're in full time education. There are certain courses you can do (e.g. radiography) where you can get your fees covered and apply for a bursary but they only really apply to positions that someone like the NHS is desperate to fill.

Have you investigated a student loan?

This should see you through your training and you'll be able to pay it back when you are earning.

I'm really glad you've found a calling in life, and are committed to getting on and making a career for yourself.

I wish you all the best of luck!

kawaii-lobster

Thanks a lot kwmlondon ;__;
I hadn't considered a student loan as I had previously thought they were only availableavaliable for university students so that is something I'll start looking into now.

I really appreciate the advice x

paddedjohn

kwmlondon wrote: »

You rotten lot!

This person is trying to better themselves and actually get out of dependency and all he/she gets is mean-spirited vitreol.

Go on, be supportive, it won't kill you and you may even feel a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

However, you won't be able to claim benefits while you're in full time education. There are certain courses you can do (e.g. radiography) where you can get your fees covered and apply for a bursary but they only really apply to positions that someone like the NHS is desperate to fill.

Have you investigated a student loan?

This should see you through your training and you'll be able to pay it back when you are earning.

I'm really glad you've found a calling in life, and are committed to getting on and making a career for yourself.

I wish you all the best of luck!

Even if eligible for a student loan, how do you think the OP would pay if back if they were working abroad?

kawaii-lobster

I don't know if I'm going to be working abroad initially, that's just a long term goal for me. Anything could happen in the meantime, I could get a job as an assistant teaching in England, I could secure a position teaching spoken and written Japanese as a second language to English students as it is as fast becoming a popular language to study across the country. There are a lot of options available to me once I complete this course, but without there's nothing waiting for me.

kwmlondon

paddedjohn wrote: »

Even if eligible for a student loan, how do you think the OP would pay if back if they were working abroad?

Unless they spend the rest of their working lives out of the UK they'll end up paying off their loan at some point.

Whatever, would you rather we have this person languish on the dole costing the UK money, or educate them with the likelyhood that they end up paying it back and if not go abroad taking the burden away from our country?

Stop being such a miserablist and have some faith in people and think of a person growing, improving and getting out of the poverty dole trap.