Studying, Income Support and JSA

Hi All - there has been a lot of discussion on the boards about what happens if you want to study or train when claiming Income Support or JSA. As it's a bit complicated, I thought I would start a separate topic on the matter.

Studying on JSA:
Once you are claiming JSA you are not able to enrol on a full-time course, although you might be able to claim JSA during the summer holidays between terms if you are able to look for work. This is because in order to claim JSA, you must be available for work – so, if you are studying full-time you won’t be allowed to claim JSA as you will be deemed unavailable for work.
You may be able to claim JSA if you are a part-time student. If you are studying outside the times you stated as being available to work, and you think you can reasonably combine work and study, you may be able to claim. Also, if you explain to your adviser that you will change your hours of study, or give up your course if work becomes available, you may be able to claim. The important thing is to discuss your ideas with your adviser.
Also, while claiming JSA you will have access to the New Deal for Lone Parents, the same as when you were on Income Support. If you want more information on learning or training opportunities, speak to your personal adviser and they should inform you of what is currently available. If you have been on JSA for more than 6 months then you may be entitled to pursue an 8-week full-time course while still claiming JSA.

Studying on Income Support:
If you haven’t been moved to JSA yet and are still claiming IS, then you can study full-time and remain on IS until either:
The course finishes (or you stop attending for some reason) OR
Your youngest child reaches the age at which benefit entitlement would have ended under the rules that were in place when you STARTED the course.

To break it down:

Phase 1 – if your YOUNGEST child is 11–15 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 24 November 2008, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 16, whichever comes first;

Phase 2 – if your YOUNGEST child is 9–11 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 25 October 2009, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 12, whichever comes first;

Phase 3 – if your YOUNGEST child is 6–9 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 24 October 2010, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 10, whichever comes first; and
• if you enrol on a full-time course AFTER 25 October 2010, you will be subject to the same rules as other lone parents and your claim to IS will end when your youngest child reaches age 7.

For example, Ms Smith has 1 daughter who is 11 but will be turning 12 in February 2010. Ms Smith enrolled on a full time course for 2 years this September 2009 (before the October changes). As the rules of 08-09 apply to her, she WILL be moved off IS when her child turns 12 in February.

Another example, Mr Jones has 2 children, the youngest of which is 7. He is going to enrol on a full time course for 1 year in September 2010 (before the October changes). Mr Jones will be able to continue to claim IS until the course finishes, as this comes before his youngest reaches 10. After the course finishes, he will be moved off IS.

This is a really useful document containing lots of info on studying full time as a single parent:
http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/portal/page/portal/Website/For%20lone%20parents/single-parents-information-online/Factsheets/Money%20for%20further%20education%20students

If you need anymore examples, let me know!

Hope this is of some help… :)

Sally C