I'm on Job Seekers and have to pay for an access course, it's BS!!..What the hell?

Okay, so basically I did a level 3 BTEC National Diploma 2 1/2 years ago and because of that, I can't study this access course for free. I managed to find out if the course still had places, which it did, so I applied and now I'm having trouble with the financial support side of it.

I am on Job seekers allowance, but they won't allow me to study the course for free or even reduce the price because they say that the course doesn't lead to work.

It's absolute BS!! I mean yeah, I studied a level 3 course 2+ years ago, but now they're saying I can't study this access course without even a little financial help. I am jobless at the moment, so It's impossible to afford the monthly payment, unless I ask my dad if he can help me out for the first few months and then I try hard to look for work (even though there isn't much work about in my area).

Education is meant to be free, but now they won't even allow some leeway on funding.

My tutor of the course said I can start tomorrow, but how can I now? Especially when the college is saying they can't enrol me until the funding is sorted out! I'm so annoyed right now.

I'm unemployed and trying to better myself by doing this access course, but job centre can't even help me out with the funding.

The course is £1400 spread over 10 months, so it's not a huge amount a month, but it's a lot with no job! What can I do? I can't start tomorrow as nothing has been sorted out at all.

My friend's mum said I should go ask the doctor if I can go onto "Disability Living allowance" as I'm on medication for my anxiety, but I'm not sure If I can. If I went onto that, I most probably wouldn't have to pay for the course. I'm getting depressed because I really want to do this access course for Uni next year. Any advice?

Going to see if I can reply to this bit by bit because there are several different issues.


OK. You need to be talking to the finance office at your college.

This isn't clear - did you ask the college or the Jobcentre?

Agree that it's BS.

If you do believe that education is meant to be free, by the way - you're in something of a minority and when you've got some spare time please please get involved with some of the work for free education!

USE THIS. Start straight away regardless of what the finance office says. Don't let yourself out of their sight. You'll be making your place and getting the education you deserve at the same time. Fight for it. If nothing else, just attend the classes and pretend you don't know anything - it will save having to catch up later.


OK. Funding for education is not what Jobcentre provides. I'm glad you tried asking them, but I'm sorry you were disillusioned. Again - the people you need to be talking to are the finance office at your college, and I wish you the best of luck.

I'm sending you a lot of spare cojones in order for you to be able to go in tomorrow and just take your seat in that classroom. Be strong!

Your friend's mum is misinformed - what she is suggesting you apply for is Employment and Support Allowance (DLA is a different benefit). It's also not true that ESA would exempt you from fees for the Access course - in terms of fee exemptions it's no different to JSA. I need to give you another post on ESA because it's a different issue, but it might be able to help you out financially.

Do you know if you're claiming contributions-based or income-based JSA?

I don't know what your family situation is like, but is there any way you could arrange to pay back the Access fee as a long-term family loan? If your dad can pay, even if it's a stretch and a financial burden right now, it could be possible to put forward a case that this is very important to you, an absolutely worthwhile investment, and can be paid back in full to him either once you graduate or before then if you have enough disposable income.

Enormous virtual hugs to you for this massive stress. I promise there's a way through it, whatever form that takes.

Going to see if I can reply to this bit by bit because there are several different issues.


OK. You need to be talking to the finance office at your college.

This isn't clear - did you ask the college or the Jobcentre?

Agree that it's BS.

If you do believe that education is meant to be free, by the way - you're in something of a minority and when you've got some spare time please please get involved with some of the work for free education!

USE THIS. Start straight away regardless of what the finance office says. Don't let yourself out of their sight. You'll be making your place and getting the education you deserve at the same time. Fight for it. If nothing else, just attend the classes and pretend you don't know anything - it will save having to catch up later.


OK. Funding for education is not what Jobcentre provides. I'm glad you tried asking them, but I'm sorry you were disillusioned. Again - the people you need to be talking to are the finance office at your college, and I wish you the best of luck.

I'm sending you a lot of spare cojones in order for you to be able to go in tomorrow and just take your seat in that classroom. Be strong!

Your friend's mum is misinformed - what she is suggesting you apply for is Employment and Support Allowance (DLA is a different benefit). It's also not true that ESA would exempt you from fees for the Access course - in terms of fee exemptions it's no different to JSA. I need to give you another post on ESA because it's a different issue, but it might be able to help you out financially.

Do you know if you're claiming contributions-based or income-based JSA?

I don't know what your family situation is like, but is there any way you could arrange to pay back the Access fee as a long-term family loan? If your dad can pay, even if it's a stretch and a financial burden right now, it could be possible to put forward a case that this is very important to you, an absolutely worthwhile investment, and can be paid back in full to him either once you graduate or before then if you have enough disposable income.

Enormous virtual hugs to you for this massive stress. I promise there's a way through it, whatever form that takes.

Its not really BS, once you've studied at level 3 without paying you're expected to pay. You've already studied at level 3 therefore have to pay, not the tax payers fault you didn't achieve quite what you would have liked or chose the correct subject. (Why don't you contact unis regarding the level 3 course you've already completed?) Also you can't claim JSA if you are attending an access course, same with ESA, it would be benefit fraud if you did that. Yes that part sucks, but kids at college don't get benfits whilst they study at college, why should you? Some parents do but the government look onto it that its the same as being 16 when in theory its not, but thousands of people starting access courses now will be experiencing the same thing as you, losing benefits and some having to pay for their courses despite being on benefits (Those who have already completed level 3, such as yourself). Speak to the colleges finance department and see if theres any bursary's you can receive (Pretty sure you would be eligible for Discretionary Learner Support), there might be one or two other things what the individual college offers.

Just be lucky your dad is in a position to pay for it, yes it sucks for your morals, but I know loads of people who are in no position to come off benefits or quit their full time jobs to go back to college.