IR ESA and partner doing apprentiship

[rachmac83]

Hi everyone

 

im on esa in the sg, currently on IR as OH is unemployed, he is thinking of retraining as competition for jobs is so high we don't see one coming his way soon try as we might.

 

the main pathway of training for what he has chosen is an apprenticeship which he can do as an adult, but in his first year will be on apprenticeship wage of 2.60ph, he plans to try to negotiate a part time one so he can continue caring for me.

 

if not most are based on 40 hrs which i fear will wreak havoc with our benefits, are the rules for apprenticeships the same as all other jobs, so as is it over 24 hrs we will loose entitlement to IR so loose CBT and SMI as well.

 

was just wondering if because the wage is low, there are any other options, we could claim WTC but it will still be a drastic reduction in income.

 

any pointers or advice would be much appreciated as always

 

thanks

 

rach

[Nystagmite]

You might be able to claim CTB on the basis of a low income. You don't need to be claiming other benefits to qualify.

[flumps1976]

Has your partner ever been invited to a Partner Work Focused Interview at the local JCP office?

If not you could request an appointment so that this can be discussed in more detailand then after that if there wasn't time available during this interview he could book a further appointment for an In Work Calculation to determine if it would be financially favourable to consider that idea.

 

By requesting this appointment you are not going to be signing him up to immediately available to look for and start employment mearly finding out what options are available to you both.

If you haven't been called in for this interview yet it probably wouldn't be that long until they were called in anyway as it is a mandatory interview at some point of the claim so you may as well use it your advantage