Job Seekers Allowance and College.

[amandad192]

Hey all.
I'm hoping someone here has experience of my situation and can help me.

My situation: I live with my OH, neither of us are working. He claims JSA and I am his partner on claim. We receive child benefit and child tax credits and housing benefit.

It won't be long before my partner returns to work (hopefully) so I want to do a course at college so that I can get a decently paid to job too.

If I start college this September will it affect out income while still on JSA?

Thanks
x

 

[MissMamma]

I dont think you can claim jobseekers whilst at college because you have to be actively seeking work...although i'm not 100%. can't you get maternity allowance and other benefits rather than jsa because you're a mamma?

 

[amandad192]

I don't know because I don't have to be actively seeking work, my OH does. I'm classed as dependent on him. I can't claim income support when he's claiming JSA.

What I don't understand is all the fee waivers. If you get IB-JSA you don't have to pay tuition fees, but if you do the course, you might not be entitled to JSA. It's all so confusing.

The college have an open day tomoz, so I'll be going to check it out and see what I think.
I'm quite nervous, I left 6th form in november 08 and haven't been in any sort of education since. College scares me. And I'm not much of a people's person.
I'm also kind of worried about getting a load of bull because I'm a young mum, and because I didn't grow up where I live now. IYKWIM?

 

[annawrigley]

um i think it might affect it if you are in college for 16 hours+ a week. not 100% though
can you claim EMA?
and how old are you? can you claim Care to Learn?xx

 

[amandad192]

I'm 18. I should get EMA but if we only get one persons JSA and EMA it would mean we were getting less money. And I don't know how it will affect our CTC and housing benefit because they are both in my name.
And I will also get care to learn, but while my OH is out of work he would probz have LO anyway.

 

[MissMamma]

Its all a load of rubbish isn't it! I'm just trying to get my head round it all as well
Go to your job centre - or if you have a local centre, mine's called an Acorn Centre - go there and have a chat. It might be better than going to the job centre because i know you don't really want to give too much away or tell them something you shouldn't!
Good Luck, i hope it gets sorted!

 

[piglet_1984]

me and my oh are both on jsa and get housing a council tax benfit, unforts if you go to college you will lose your jsa as you wont be seeking employment if you work under 16hours a week thay take what you earn of your jsa bar £10!
and you still have to sign aswell.
if your partner doesnt work he can put in a clam for council tax & housing benfit by himself but you wont get your rent payed in full and that will take a few weeks to sort out!

Me and my oh have had all sorts of problems! dont ever let the job centre sort out your council tax and housing benfit as thay never sent off the forms for us.

Hope this helps abit x

 

[casann]

I'm in the same situation as you and i've been told that it won't effect the income as it's the partner who has to be seeking work .You should ask when you next go into the job centre though as it wouldn't be the first time the job centre have given us the wrong information xxx

 

[PleaseBaby]

It wont affect your income at all as you don't have to be seeking work your partner does, plus you'll get EMA on top of your JSA and EMA isn't counted as income so itwont affect any of your other benefits

 

[amandad192]

Went to the open day today, and yes pleasebaby you are right. It won't effect any of our income
My partner is starting a course soon from JC so if that's still ongoing when I start college (I don't know how long it is) I will also get C2L
I'm soo happy I'm finally going to make something of myself for my little boy.

 

[PleaseBaby]

Awww glad it's all worked out for you x