Upskilling

You'll keep getting your full benefit payment. 

Once you've completed the 4 weeks and come to an appointment with proof of the training you’ve done, you'll be back on track with your obligations. You’ll move back to green in the traffic light system. 

When we'll put you on Upskilling

If you move to orange in the traffic light system, you need to meet with us while you're at orange. At that meeting we may decide to put you on Upskilling activities when you move to red, instead of reducing your benefit.

You may be put on Upskilling activities if:

• this is the first time in the last year you haven't met your obligations
• you don't have a good reason for not meeting your obligations
• you meet with us while you're at orange in the traffic light system
• you have dependent children or a dedicated case manager.

We'll also make sure Upskilling is suitable for you. We may not put you on Upskilling if, for example:

• you're already doing job search activities, or
• you're not required to look for work as part of your benefit obligations.

Once you've completed the 4 weeks you'll need to come to an appointment with us, and bring proof of the training and courses you've done. We'll check this to make sure you've done everything you need to for Upskilling. If you have, you'll be back on track with your obligations and you'll move back to green in the traffic light system.

If you haven't done everything you needed to for Upskilling, you'll move to red in the traffic light system. This means your benefit will either:

• reduce to 50% if you have dependent children, or
• stop if you don't have dependent children.

Your benefit will reduce or stop from the start of the week when you stopped meeting the Upskilling requirements. This means you may have been overpaid, which could result in a debt.

What you need to do

When you're on Upskilling, you'll need to complete at least 5 hours of employment-related training programmes or courses each week for 4 weeks. This might mean doing more than one course. You’ll also need to report these in MyMSD, and we'll book you an appointment to meet with us at the end of the 4 weeks. 

Step 1: Decide on a course 

At your appointment we'll help you find a training programme or course to do. This needs to be approved by your case manager. Our Digital Suite has lots of free, online training and courses. These include things like: 

• digital skills
• skills to help you prepare for work
• AI skills.

If the Digital Suite training and courses aren't suitable for you, your case manager will work with you to find something that fits your needs. 

Step 2: Get proof 

You need to collect proof of the training you've done. This is important so you can show us what you've completed when you come to your appointment at the end of the 4 weeks. 

Proof can be things like: 

• emails you've received about your courses or programmes 
• screenshots showing you’ve completed a course 
• online certificates. 

Step 3: Record your training in MyMSD 

You need to complete at least 5 hours of training or courses each week, and record this in MyMSD at the end of each week, for 4 weeks. 

Once you're logged in: 

1. Scroll down to 'Upskilling activities'
2. Select the 'Record hours' button
3. Select your course 
4. Record the hours or minutes you've completed this week 
5. Select confirm.  

Step 4: Come to your appointment and bring your proof 

At the end of the 4 weeks, come to your appointment and bring proof of the courses or programmes you’ve done. We'll check your MyMSD and the information you show us, to confirm you've completed Upskilling properly.  

If you've done everything you need to, you'll be back on track with your obligations. This means you'll come off Upskilling and move back to green in the traffic light system.

What happens if you don’t do your Upskilling

If you don't record Upskilling activities, your benefit will be stopped from the beginning of the week you don't record anything. 

If you can't do your training or courses for a week, or can't record them, tell us straight away. 

Not completing your Upskilling will affect your payments. How it will affect them depends on whether you contacted us in time, and whether you had a good reason or not.  

If you have a good reason 

If you have a good reason for not completing Upskilling: 

• your benefit will be reduced by 50% 
• we'll arrange for you to do a different activity instead 
• once you’ve completed that activity, you'll move back to green in the traffic light system and get your full payment again. 

If you don't have a good reason 

If you don't have a good reason, your benefit will either: 

• reduce to 50% if you have dependent children, or 
• stop if you don't have dependent children. 

Your benefit will reduce or stop from the day you stopped doing your Upskilling training or courses. This means you may have been overpaid, which could result in a debt.

We'll arrange for you to do a different activity. Once you've done the activity, you'll move back to green in the traffic light system and get your full payment again.