Rule 113.2

I'm sorry I don't have much constructive to say but I couldn't let this:

The helpdesk literally told me I had to contact the helpdesk.

pass without comment! Drives me mad, swear it's getting worse again...

Would hang on to them if you can because there should be a way of doing it... When are they doing their EPA?

Hello Steve,

We haven't booked EPA yet because we had no way of knowing if there was any actual guidance available yet. It turns out that if you can find the correct person at the helpdesk that it is possible to get a sensible answer - thank you Ian.

Claims would be made using the Earnings Adjustment Statement (EAS) but have to be authorised by the helpdesk first. Evidence of authorisation would be kept for audit purposes to prevent money be clawed back. I also need it in writing from the EPAO that they are happy to proceed based on the apprentice's current employment status. I had to provide the ULN of the learner along with our UKPRN, the EPAO name and Organisation ID as part of the authorisation process.

I'm just waiting for the approval email to come through after providing all the information they requested and then I can move forward with booking EPA for the apprentice.

I hope this is useful information for others who may need to claim in the same way.

Excellent Reporting Back here, Kate!

Good to know there *is* (finally) a system!!!

Hi Kate

Sorry late to the party on this one. Can I just check the final outcome, did you receive the approval email? Also, I know there was confusion last year around this whereby the helpdesk were advising this was not being applied retrospectively and it was only for new starts from 1/8/23 which didn't make sense (as it was a clarification, not a new rule). I assume, however, that your apprentice started before this date, and so it can be applied retrospectively?

Many thanks

Hi Callum,

No I haven't received the approval email yet though I have chased a number of times. I keep getting the holding email to say my request has been escalated to the Technical team and they will be in touch within 10 days.

My apprentice did indeed start before August 2023 and when raising my original query I provided the start date and ULN of the learner. Maybe his start date is why I have not received the approval email. yet.

Regards

Kate

Ok thank you for letting me know. 

I recently had a response from the technical team that took around 7-8 weeks, so hopefully you wont be waiting much longer. 

Thought I'd give a quick update.

I received the approval email from ESFA which we submitted to the EPAO when booking/scheduling the assessment. The apprentice has gone through EPA in March 2025 and successfully achieved. We are reporting the completion this month in our R08 return. I will also submit an EAS and see if we are successful in claiming the funding.

Thanks Kate, appreciate you following up.