If individuals you are in touch with who are seeking employment and have training needs, or if employers you know feel reluctant to take older people onto their books because of training needs, it may be that information about the training grant should be brought to their attention. Please be aware that as a result of TAEN raising this issue, the London Region is sending clarification out to all Districts of Jobcentre Plus confirming that the package is available, as follows:
Training Grant payments
1. New Deal 50 plus customers may be eligible for Training Grant payments of up to £1500 after they start work.
2. Up to £1200 can be awarded at any time during the claim period for job related training
3. Up to £300 can be awarded at any time during the claim period for life long learning
4. Training Grant must only be given to address training/learning needs identified and agreed on an Individual Training Plan (ITP) The ITP must be agreed between the customer and the adviser, before the training commences.
5. Training Grants can be paid in one or more instalments to the customer, an external provider or an employer.
Eligibility
6. The Training Grant is available to customers that satisfy the following conditions on the day their training takes place/commences:
- They have had a New Deal 50 plus initial interview.
- They are in a job on the day their training takes place/commences.
- An Individual Training Plan (ITP) to address training/learning needs has been produced and agreed.
- The ITP must be agreed between the customer and the adviser, before the training commences.
Claim period
7. Customers can make a claim for the Training Grant up to two years from the start date of their employment or self-employment. If a customer has a break in employment and makes a claim for benefits for less than 26 weeks before returning to work, then the initial date of the first employment stands for the two years claim period.
8. However if a customer makes a claim for benefit for 26 weeks or more then a new claim for the Training Grant can be applied for.
Visit: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Aboutus/wisecouncil/Dev_014958.xml.html for more information.
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