Examples - studying or training on Sole Parent Support

A client receiving Sole Parent Support with a child aged 2 years old wishes to take part in full-time training that is not an approved training programme.

She advises the case manager that the training is 25 hours per week on site, and that while she attends the training her child would be in early childhood education.

The case manager explains that the client would still have to meet their work-preparation obligations while they undertake training. This may mean arranging time to come in for an interview during standard course hours if necessary.

However, as the training is employment-focused, the client is encouraged to complete the training as it can be considered part of their efforts to meet their obligation to take steps to improve their work readiness. The conversation is noted in the client's engagement log in CMS.

A client applying for Sole Parent Support has a 5 year old dependent child and wants to start studying full-time by correspondence.

He has three 6 hour shifts during the week while his child attends school, but his income is not enough to make him ineligible for Sole Parent Support. The course he is planning on taking is a Level 2 course.

On discussion with his case manager, the client believes he can meet all of his part-time work obligations while studying. He estimates that he will spend 35 hours per week studying, and he will do this at home across the 7 days of the week, including in the evenings.

The case manager should grant Sole Parent Support and note all relevant discussions and training details in the engagement log. The case manager should remind the client that his commitments to study will not mean he is exempt from meeting his part-time work obligations.

The case manager should also assess the client's entitlement to education and employment-related assistance.

A client on Sole Parent Support is considering starting a Certificate in Computing and Business Administration at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Auckland to help their long-term employment prospects. This is a full-time National Certificate Level 2 course that lasts for 20 weeks.

However, the client's child will turn 14 years old, 2 weeks after the client's proposed start date for the course. The client would not be eligible for Jobseeker Support while they are in full-time study.

The case manager recommends that the client considers either:

• applying for Student Allowance and Student Loan to support themselves while they study or
• consider taking an approved training course while on Jobseeker Support to help them increase their employment prospects

The client chooses to apply for student assistance. The case manager confirms the date the client will start studying and adds a future suspension for that date. The case manager then shows the client the StudyLink website and explains that they can apply for student assistance online.

A client has booked an appointment after receiving a letter informing them that they will have part-time work obligations from when their youngest dependent child turns 3 years old in 4 weeks' time.

They are worried because they are currently studying full-time, and their course finishes in 6 months' time.

The case manager explains that they may be eligible for an exemption from their part-time obligations, but they need to provide evidence that they are enrolled and that they have passed at least 50% of their previous year of study.

The client returns for an appointment a week later with the required evidence, and the case manager records an exemption in SWIFTT until their course end date, and notes their discussion in the engagement log in CMS.

For more information see:

• Studying or training on Sole Parent Support