College!!

[loulou23]

I am claiming JSA and doing a part time college course and I got told by my JCP that I will have to quit college if I get offered a full time job!!! but my college course is to get my qualifications I need to get into UNI so then I can train to be a midwife but no they are piss takers and are more bothered about me coming off the unemployment list than me actually wanting to do something with my life!! I am absolutely boiling at this and going to get advice from my student union!!! can they actually make me do something I don't want to do?????

[boxtops]

Yep, I saw your answer before it was removed - it told people who'd answered you to go and do something unpleasant. Not appreciated on this site, clearly.

[bednobs]

you have 2 choices - either carry on your course and don't claim JSA, or claim JSA but risk having to take a full time job if offered

[sherrardk]

You are not job seeking you are part-time, for you to fulfill your career ambition, job seeking. If you want to be a midwife that much you will find a way. Whilst it is commendable that you want to gain qualifications to do so, it is not up to everyone else to fund you.

[loulou23]

lol at least I didn't tell you to go flump yourself!!!!!!

[pixie373]

Ok, so 16 hours is do-able with a 13 hour course. I would recommend Connexions too, if you haven't spoken to them. They will put you on the right path and they'll have all the information you need.

[boxtops]

well, that's very polite of you, loulou. Some of us actually work in clinical education so we know what we're talking about ....

[loulou23]

apart from the people who have helped me

[belindabee]

loulou - I wish you all the best ! Put £2 on the lotto tomorrow and maybe all your troubles will be over ! x

[loulou23]

anyway im going now cya

[sherrardk]

Ok, I haven't been supportive but I find your sense of entitlement to be greedy. Do you think all the people stacking shelves, etc are happy? I bet loads of them would like to claim benefits to gain qualifications and get the job of their dreams. It doesn't happen, people have rubbishy lives or make sacrifices to get the ones they want/feel entitled to. You are not actively job seeking in the true sense so you are not entitled to JSA.

[Postdog]

Can't believe the arrogance and ignorance of this person!

[Cloverjo]

So, because some people are content to have crap jobs, loulou should also be content to have a crap job?
She is trying to become something this country is short of, and is expressing her frustration at the possibility she might not be able to because of the rules in place regarding JSA.
It's not the same as doing a flower arranging course as an excuse to claim while not actively seeking work.
Give her a break!
I thought the gov was trying to get young people in education, if not work. I hope she finds a way to continue. There must be other money available to people in her position? I hope so.
Loulou, please tell us what advice you get from college.

[factor-fiction]

loulou's position is no different to anyone else's.

Job Seekers Allowance is paid to people who qualify and are seeking work. We don't pay JSA to full time students.

If she starts training to be a midwife she can apply for bursaries and benefits then and look for part time work to support her. That's what lots of nurses and midwives do; it's what people studying/training to be teachers, accountants, social workers etc etc do if they can't get someone to sponsor them.

As I read it she is wanting JSA now to support her studying for GCSEs. IJSA is paid if you are available for work. If her studies prevent her working full time she needs to get by on part time work. Her college may be able to advise on help available.

Loulou- i'd take a pause from answering as you are clearly irritated by many of those who are trying to help. Ask your college. Ask the Job Centre if other benefits would be available. Ask the local authority. See what help is available. You may just have to give up JSA, slog it out and work part time while you get these qualifications, or work full time and study for your GCSEs in the evenings/weekends.

What results did you get in these GCSEs at school?

[factor-fiction]

This may help too.
https://www.gov.uk/grant-bursary-adult-learners
https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/find-course

I can see that there is (and always has been as far as I remember) a bit of an anomaly in that benefits are sometimes paid to someone who has no intention of working for years on end whereas no benefits are paid to someone studying at university for example, but I can't see the latter changing- paying JSA to every full time student would cost billions of pounds each year which just be seen as unaffordable by all the main political parties.

[hc4361]

If you are at college for 13 hours a week you can easily manage to work 20 hours at least and still have spare time for studying.

Consider weekend shop work; care assistant; petrol station. The fact that you are working to support yourself whilst you study will look good on your cv and give you work skills that will help you in any future career.

[Postdog]

EXACTLY! She is only at college for 13 hours. A little bit of research and she could find a part time job to fit in with that.

[2sp_]

With supermarkets opening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week it should be easy to find work to fit round your college hours.

JSA is for people looking for full time employment. As you are on a part-time course you are saying that you are unavailable to work a regular 37 hour week. Therefore, you should't be getting JSA.

Lots of people struggle financially to put themselves through college or uni. You just have to work where you can and look into any student loans, bursaries, grants or other financial help the college can give you.