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JSA and Online Education

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MarkM88
MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,127 Connected
in Education
I wanted to ask if anyone had any thoughts or information. 

My mum still receives JSA with SDP, alongside her PIP. The reason she still receives JSA is because she is not trying to say she cant work and she actually wants to work badly, obviously she would just need reasonable adjustments made, so she prefers to stick to JSA. 

She wants to complete a BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Business Admin which is an online distance learning course, she isn't asking for any help with the cost, as she will use her savings. 

She can still fulfil her commitments and even take up a job offer because the course can be done around everything else, so she can choose what times and days to study. 

Does anyone know if this will impact her claim?

She's sent an email to her work coach but they haven't responded yet. 
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  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,652 Disability Gamechanger
    edited January 2021
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    Hi @MarkN88

    How are you? 

    Great to hear your mum wants to start studying! 

    Given that your mum can fit the study around other things like any prospective work, I imagine it's part-time studying. With that in mind, please find the below from Turn to Us about JSA:

    "If you are unemployed and trying to find work and are already getting Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you might be able to carry on getting it if you start studying part time. Because you usually have to be available for full-time work, you need to show that you are still available for work around your study hours.

    You may be able to alter your agreed pattern of availability, but remember that, unless otherwise agreed, you will be expected to be willing to give up the course if suitable full-time work becomes available.

    If you receive student support in the form of a grant or loan, this will probably reduce the amount of income-based JSA you can get."


    So reading that, it appears that she should be fine doing the course if she can also commit to full time work alongside it. But it's worth keeping in mind how any grants or loans would impact things. Speaking with her work coach is the best option here, just so everything is clear. Hopefully they get back to you soon.

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  • newborn
    newborn Community member Posts: 832 Pioneering
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    It sounds from the wording as if the officials still  cannot grasp the idea that there is any such thing as part time or online study.  Hmm....Maybe when it gets to the first hundred year anniversary of Open University they will manage to realise people can actually study from home, in free time?   Duh...   People are even doing school work from home, doing work set by conventional universities at home.   After this pandemic, a lot of students of all ages, just like a lot of office workers, simply will not be willing to do things in a medieval way.
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  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,127 Connected
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    Ross_Scope said:
    Hi @MarkN88

    How are you? 

    Great to hear your mum wants to start studying! 

    Given that your mum can fit the study around other things like any prospective work, I imagine it's part-time studying. With that in mind, please find the below from Turn to Us about JSA:

    "If you are unemployed and trying to find work and are already getting Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you might be able to carry on getting it if you start studying part time. Because you usually have to be available for full-time work, you need to show that you are still available for work around your study hours.

    You may be able to alter your agreed pattern of availability, but remember that, unless otherwise agreed, you will be expected to be willing to give up the course if suitable full-time work becomes available.

    If you receive student support in the form of a grant or loan, this will probably reduce the amount of income-based JSA you can get."


    So reading that, it appears that she should be fine doing the course if she can also commit to full time work alongside it. But it's worth keeping in mind how any grants or loans would impact things. Speaking with her work coach is the best option here, just so everything is clear. Hopefully they get back to you soon.

    Thanks Ross. 

    Pretty much what you have said is what the work coach said to her yesterday. 

    They have made a note and said they are happy for her to do it because she still can take up a job offer and study in her own time and that's what distance learning is all about for it to be flexible. 
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,651 Connected
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    23 years ago I was on JSA and it was a complete nightmare, they expect you to look for work 24/7, and go for pointless "interviews" where the job's already gone to some 16 year old barely out of school.

    Well that's what they frequently did to me anyway.

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