Free Courses for Jobs

singhini

I’m currently unemployed and have been claiming NSJSA for the past 6 months. This recently came to an end and I was given form JSANC1 by the job centre and I am now in the process of being transferred onto a claim for just NI Credits (form was submitted a few days ago so I’m still waiting to hear back).

I was online earlier today and came across a website called “Skills for Careers” where I noticed there are courses that the Government might pay for that help you learn new skills (i was interested in the section “Free Courses for Jobs”). 

Having clicked onto the link and taken alook, it seems the eligibility criteria is straightforward:

1)  Do not already have a level 3 qualification

2) Have a level 3 qualification but you earn less than the National Living Wage

https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/your-training-options?utm_medium=Search&utm_source=PaidSearch&utm_campaign=SfL&utm_term=ATOnew&utm_content=2425&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI2L3EZ4wiMvMswE-maO-GrXdT1GMRtcjw0HZUcrh3lUdTRMY_oCVwYaAj

I then came across a GOV .uk website that said virtually the same thing i.e. earn below £25,000 or are unemployed.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs#who-is-eligible 

HOWEVER: On both websites it refers to Level 3 courses in particular and being unemployed. 

Does anyone have experience of “Free Courses for Jobs” and does anyone know if there is anymore eligibility criteria I might need to meet to be accepted than just being unemployed i.e. being unemployed but claiming Universal Credit, PIP, ESA etc…… rather than my situation of being unemployed claiming NI credits.

Thanks in advance 

strawb_shortcake

singhini said:

I’m currently unemployed and have been claiming NSJSA for the past 6 months. This recently came to an end and I was given form JSANC1 by the job centre and I am now in the process of being transferred onto a claim for just NI Credits (form was submitted a few days ago so I’m still waiting to hear back).

I was online earlier today and came across a website called “Skills for Careers” where I noticed there are courses that the Government might pay for that help you learn new skills (i was interested in the section “Free Courses for Jobs”). 

Having clicked onto the link and taken alook, it seems the eligibility criteria is straightforward:

1)  Do not already have a level 3 qualification

2) Have a level 3 qualification but you earn less than the National Living Wage

https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/your-training-options?utm_medium=Search&utm_source=PaidSearch&utm_campaign=SfL&utm_term=ATOnew&utm_content=2425&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI2L3EZ4wiMvMswE-maO-GrXdT1GMRtcjw0HZUcrh3lUdTRMY_oCVwYaAj

I then came across a GOV .uk website that said virtually the same thing i.e. earn below £25,000 or are unemployed.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs#who-is-eligible 

HOWEVER: On both websites it refers to Level 3 courses in particular and being unemployed. 

Does anyone have experience of “Free Courses for Jobs” and does anyone know if there is anymore eligibility criteria I might need to meet to be accepted than just being unemployed i.e. being unemployed but claiming Universal Credit, PIP, ESA etc…… rather than my situation of being unemployed claiming NI credits.

Thanks in advance 

My Husband applied through national careers service and was able to attain his HGV licence. Was very straightforward and easy to get on

Grumpy_chap

singhini said:

Does anyone have experience of “Free Courses for Jobs” and does anyone know if there is anymore eligibility criteria I might need to meet to be accepted than just being unemployed i.e. being unemployed but claiming Universal Credit, PIP, ESA etc…… rather than my situation of being unemployed claiming NI credits.

My wife is currently doing "free courses for jobs" - she was introduced and eligibility confirmed by her Work Coach while she was claiming nJSA.  She was able to then proceed to the next level of the same subject with eligibility confirmed by the college.

I am not sure how the first eligibility would get assessed if not claiming nJSA or other support with an allocated Work Coach.  Are you able to revert to the previous Work Coach that you had?

singhini

I think my work coach remains the same. 
I've been looking online for the last few hours to see if these "free courses for jobs" are means-tested but i can't find anything.
However, when thinking about other Government benefits or Support Schemes or Grants, often they do tend to be means-tested (nJSA sometimes does qualify you for further support, BUT i've never seen just NI Credits as a qualifying benefit for support).

I'm even wondering if the government recognise me as "unemployed" any longer? (i.e. once my 6 months of nJSA came to an end, do i come off their unemployed statistic??) 

What ive pieced together (from a number of websites) is:

Am i 19 or over ---> yes
Do i earn below £25k or unemployed ---> yes unemployed 
Therefore you (me) could get access to a Level 3 qualification for free
No other criteria ---> question is, does the government recognise me as unemployed when claiming just NI Credits?

What ive also uncovered is that i might be able to:-
a) claim NI credits by writing to PT Operations (whoever they are?) https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility [scroll down to section "on a training course"
b) automatically be awarded NI Credits if i'm in full time training on a Government sponsored course https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/getting-credits-towards-your-state-pension#:~:text=Credits for people in full-time training,-If you are&text=This does not apply to,apply for Class 1 credits. 

So there might not be any need to go to the job centre to get my NI Credits (via form JSANC1).


I'm getting more confused!

Grumpy_chap

singhini said:

I think my work coach remains the same. 
I've been looking online for the last few hours to see if these "free courses for jobs" are means-tested but i can't find anything.

They were not means tested for my wife.

singhini

Just found this on the Gov Publication for Adult Skills Funding Rules 2024/2025* (subsection: Unemployed)

For funding purposes, we define a learner as unemployed if one or more of the following apply. They:

receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules-for-2024-to-2025/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules-2024-to-2025#unemployed

*I'm assuming 2025/2026 hasn't yet been published yet