UC and apprenticeships

Can’t find the answer to this in CPAG/advisernet or DRH.

JCP “don’t know and will look into it”

We have a 32 year old client thinking of taking on an apprenticeship in the autumn.  Will need to claim UC for help with rent.  How will UC treat her as she will be earning significantly below 37 hrs pw at NMW? can they require her to look for better paid or more work?

Under reg 99(6) of the UC Regs there should be no work search or work availability requirements once the claimant earns the equivalent of JSA plus £5 disregard. So as long as they’re earning that they should be OK I think.

Assuming that the “apprentice rate” of NMW (£3.70ph) is paid, your client will probably be exempt from the work search requirement on the basis of earning over £338 per month (CPAG p1046-7) but will still be subject to the other work-related requirements and could potentially be required to take part in the “in-work pilot”.

Your client will probably not be earning enough to be exempt from work related requirements altogether which would normally be 35*NMW which is about £1187 per month. (CPAG p1041-2)

Because of your client’s age, the employer will only be able to pay the reduced NMW for 1 year. If she remains employed after 1 year, the pay will need to be increased.