Orlene Wilkes

AEB Full Funding or Co-Funded - 3 Month Wageslip/Benefit Rule

Edited

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Dear Community, asking for your views on the following please.

When collecting evidence to ascertain whether a learner is co-funded or fully funded the rules state: "You must have seen evidence of the learner’s gross annual wages in these circumstances. This could be a wage slip or a Universal Credit statement within 3 months of the learner’s learning start date". Could you please advise whether it is acceptable for evidence to be dated 3 months before and after the start date?

ESFA Response:- As long as the date of the wage slip or UC statement is within 3 months of the learner start date, it can be used as evidence. This would include 3 months after the start date, so long as you are confident it supports the learner's claim for funding.

We always go with what evidence is available on the start date. Funding rules could be read either way. Would you feel confident accepting the guidance from the ESFA? Just aware they do change their minds.

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Steve Hewitt

I'd be printing and laminating this response and putting it in my special "to be waved at auditors" folder...

Have to say I'd never really thought about "within three months" going in both directions before now, but if they're saying it's fine, then I guess it's fine. I'd generally accept something a bit older than three months if it was all they had though (eg Self Assessment return for self-employed), but I am a bit of a softy.

Orlene Wilkes

Thanks Steve, that one is definitely being saved.