Do I still need to Sign on? (Long) and a moan

CANYOUHELPME_2

My OH has been looking for a job since my youngest went to school in September.
She went to see if she can claim JSA and was told because of the money i earn(It ain't that much!) she wasn't eligible for any help, but needs to sign on to get her NI Paid
So my point is we are in receipt of CB and i thought HRP(Home responsibility protection) covered this or am i wrong?

Now she is also being told that if she can't prove she has applied for 3 jobs in the 2 week period they can stop there contribution, is this correct?

Now the Job centre is about 3 miles away from our house but she has to go on public transport because the time they have given her is to near the end of school day to walk and they won't change it!:mad:
Today she walked there and bussed it back 50 minutes to get there on foot for a 5 minute chat and £3 on the bus later.

Is there anyway she can do this with out having to go?should she have to go if she receives HRP,what would happen if she just stopped going?

They keep wanting her to go on I.T.courses to improve these but because she does't get any JSA she would have to pay(What with i ask myself,:rolleyes: that would be the money she isn't getting from them!!!)

Moan over, if you are still with me thanks for sticking with it.

Now your turn, are they right? does she have to keep going or should HRP be covering her NI contributions?

Thanks

CANYOUHELPME

dmg24

HRP only gives credits towards the state pension, and not against other contributions based benefits. Therefore it is her choice as to whether she wishes to build up NI Contributions for possible future claims (although some benefits also require Conts paid through employment) or whether she just wishes to protect her pension.

Now the Job centre is about 3 miles away from our house but she has to go on public transport because the time they have given her is to near the end of school day to walk and they won't change it!:mad:
Today she walked there and bussed it back 50 minutes to get there on foot for a 5 minute chat and £3 on the bus later.

I really don't see your problem here. Will she be this unwilling when it comes to travelling to work?

CANYOUHELPME_2

DMG24
Thanks for the prompt response, please can you advise what other benefits require NI Contributions?

As for the moan about using the bus to go and sign on - When she gets a job it won't be a problem as money will be coming IN as it stands she is spending money she/we don't have and we at this moment in time are seeing nothing for it.

CANYOUHELPME

LittleVoice

CANYOUHELPME wrote: »

They keep wanting her to go on I.T.courses to improve these but because she does't get any JSA she would have to pay(What with i ask myself,:rolleyes: that would be the money she isn't getting from them!!!)

Are you saying she would have to pay whoever runs the courses? As she has been signing on for six months, if the Jobcentre is suggesting specific courses, then I think these will be fully funded as to tuition costs. If she attends one of these courses, where the provider has a contract with the Jobcentre, then there will also be the provision for her to claim her travel costs on a weekly basis - by providing bus tickets/passes to cover the journeys.

CANYOUHELPME_2

Little Voice

Whenever they mention a course to her the reply by them is because you don't receive any form of benefit she would have to pay for it.
She was recently put on a free course with regards to CV's and interview technics that was for a week but she wasn't refunded the money for her bus tickets and the reason given again was because she isn't receiving any benefits.
Yet the other person on the course(should have been 20,but only 2 could be bothered to attend all week and one of them was her!) - was given her money back for the bus tickets and her child was paid for in nursery for the week!

terryw

To get back to your main question

CANYOUHELPME wrote: »

Now your turn, are they right? does she have to keep going or should HRP be covering her NI contributions?

Thanks

CANYOUHELPME

I honestly do not know, but there has been a recent change on the number of NICs required for full pension. It is now thirty years. If you think your missus will have 30 years before she retires then the current signing on is a waste of effort.

Here's a link to the rules on the HRP stuff........I started to read it to try and answer your question but I kept nodding off as the stuffis so tedious, so I'll leave you to read it!

Best wishes

terryw

Got2change

Hi - the joys of JSA.......... I sympathise.

If she is going to continue to sign simply for the credits (and I see that others have advised re. this), then I would wonder how much of a hold the JC would have over her if she wants to go to College - as in, "if you're signing on (even for nothing?), be prepared to give up whatever you are studying for to go and work for NMW" - which is, IMHO, an cr***y situation to be in as it hardly encourages anyone to be comitted to a course of study and therefore in medium/long term increase their employability and earning potential :mad: ....

ANY way, what I wanted to point out is that SOME Colleges may offer fee remission for courses that are the students first study at that particular level, i.e. NVQ 2 if no other qualifications at that level, ditto NVQ 3 I suspect.
I was lucky enough to be given a place on a course to study Accounting right up to diploma level (but had to withdraw) that should have cost minimum £500. When I enrolled I had an income but in no way would it have covered the course/exam fees but the Course Tutor was very helpful and once I said that I *didn't have* A levels, she got me onto the course fully funded. It can be done - it will depend on the college I suppose. She could maybe also check out Learning Direct, sometimes their courses are free.

Best of luck.

terryw

Got2change wrote: »

Hi - the joys of JSA.......... I sympathise.

If she is going to continue to sign simply for the credits (and I see that others have advised re. this), then I would wonder how much of a hold the JC would have over her if she wants to go to College - as in, "if you're signing on (even for nothing?), be prepared to give up whatever you are studying for to go and work for NMW" - which is, IMHO, an cr***y situation to be in as it hardly encourages anyone to be comitted to a course of study and therefore in medium/long term increase their employability and earning potential :mad: ....


Best of luck.

The JSA would have a great hold here. They take the rather narrow view that JSA means "Job Seekers Allowance". This means seeking a job. They would argue that it does not mean "I am really a student and not really looking for a job and furthermore I would not pack my college course in if I was actually offered a job".

On the other hand there are loads of courses which would not affect JSA. It surprises me that more people do not obtain a degree via the OU. This could be done whilst claiming JSA, without any kickback from the JSA people, and with the added bonus that there are no fees to pay and the student loan debt is negated. Or have I got this wrong?

terryw

CANYOUHELPME_2

All thanks for your input,much appreciated

When i was refering to an I.T Course earlier i was refering to a useful course for her to go back into the office based environment she was in before her career break.
As she can use a PC she admits herself that she is bobbins at using Microsoft Office products and all the jobs she has been looking at are after good knowledge of these products amd some even say need an ECDL qualification.

So due to this she is going to do an ECDL course at home, my only gripe is that We foolishly thought that as the government keep saying working mums wanting to get back to work they can help you do this, then we thought they may help and arrange a course similar to this but for free(but we were wrong!)

Anyone think of any other ways to get an ECDL type qualification for free.

All this has digressed from the original idea of the post which was does she still have to sign on?

terryw

CANYOUHELPME wrote: »

All this has digressed from the original idea of the post which was does she still have to sign on?

I thought I gave you a link in my earlier post about this.

terryw

Got2change

terryw wrote: »

The JSA would have a great hold here. They take the rather narrow view that JSA means "Job Seekers Allowance". This means seeking a job. They would argue that it does not mean "I am really a student and not really looking for a job and furthermore I would not pack my college course in if I was actually offered a job".

On the other hand there are loads of courses which would not affect JSA. It surprises me that more people do not obtain a degree via the OU. This could be done whilst claiming JSA, without any kickback from the JSA people, and with the added bonus that there are no fees to pay and the student loan debt is negated. Or have I got this wrong?

terryw

I note what you say re. being a student = not looking for a job. But in the OP's case, I'm not sure if there is any value to her signing on (esp. with the NI vs HRP issue.....) so, IF there was no value, I would in her case look again at what the college(s) can offer in terms of vocational courses. Anyway - repeating myself ....
...As for the OU; I totally agree with you there - in fact, am due to start a short course with them myself in June. The length of time their courses take is a bit daunting but they can of course be studied around work/family and courses are "free" when income is below a certain level (I am sure the OP's OH would be eligible). As for student loans, I don't think OU courses are eligible but the OU itself does have hardship funds on a case by case basis.