A Bit More About Me

 I have put up a video on my youtube channel to give a bit more background about myself and when I am trying to do, so why not check it out.

Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZfTaxn8Wk

DVLA Have Finally Opened It

 Finally got a text today (13/07/2021) to say that the DVLA have opened my application.

It has taken them just over a month just to open it. Which is really annoying as they have had it since 11/06/2021.

Just got to play some more of the waiting game now as I am having to wait for them to process the application.

I still haven't heard from the DWP but fingers crossed that would be coming through at some point soon.

Still Waiting On My Licence

 

AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH. That is a little better now that I have got that out of my system. Basically to try and speed up the process from when I (hopefully) get the yes from the DWP. I decided to self fund my driver medical and send off my standard car licence along with my D2 & D4 to the DVLA to apply for the provisional entitlement.

This is a process that should only take up to 3 weeks to be processed. Yeah no not at the moment. Due to the current world situation mixed in with industrial action going on at the DVLA office in Swansea. There is a massive backlog of applications and I have been reading that they are saying that it can take up to 10 weeks for applications to be processed.

So yeah this is getting very annoying and also to top this if you try and call the DVLA to ask for progress you just get an automated message saying that all lines are busy call back later. This is so annoying not helped that they have my driving licence photocard so even if the DWP said tomorrow no to the funding. I don't even have my photocard licence to be able and just drive vans for a while. GGGGRRRRRRAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH. Fingers crossed that I will hear something soon.

Now don't mind me I am just going to plan my infiltration into the DVLA to get my photocard back incase the worst happens.

Applying For DWP Funding

 

There is a process that you have to go through to apply for funding from the DWP towards your HGV licence. There is a lack of information out there so here is my best attempt in giving some advice.

Firstly you need to be unemployed and have applied for universal credit. The process is aimed at getting people back into work so there for if you have a job then it is very much unlikely that you will be accepted or even be able to put in an application.

Next speak to a couple of your local training providers and get a series of quotes for how much they will charge for class 2 licence training.

The next step is an important one that will speed up the process. Contact some of your local haulage firms and ask if they are willing to take on new drivers. If they are then get them to send you an email stating that fact and basically saying that if you had a licence they would give you an interview at the very least. If you are struggling to get firms to do this for you then all try contacting HGV driver agencies and ask them the same thing. You will need at least 2 emails from companies/agencies that get attached to your application.

After you have got those quotes and emails then contact your work coach through the journal on the universal credit website portal. You don't need to leave that note if you are already having weekly calls with your work coach at the DWP (job centre). Say that you would like to apply for funding to get your HGV category C (class 2) licence. State that you have got quotes from training firms on how much it will cost.

The member of staff at the DWP will then fill in some forms on your behalf and will also ask you to forward the emails that you have to them.

Once all that has been done then it becomes a waiting game. There is a process that goes on within the DWP to look at your application and decide on whether they are going to fund your training. From what I have been told by my work coach the short version of what happens is the following.

First the form that they fill in gets submitted to their line manager. When that has passed that stage then it gets submitted to the DWP Newcastle office. They will then review the application to see if they believe that if they fund your training it would result you in getting a job. Apparently this stage can be bounced back and forward between themselves and your work coach many times to make sure that all the I are dotted and T are crossed.

After this point then the DWP will put your training out to tender for training firms to bid on. When there is a price that the office is happy with then you will be given the details of who you are going to be doing your training with.

I have been told that this process can take on average 8-10 weeks so yeah it can take time.

I hope that this information can help someone, I am currently going through this process myself and am currently at the 2 weeks of waiting stage so fingers crossed for me and good luck to you.