Accompanying Partner Support Services

We realise that it is just as important, if not sometimes more important for spouses to be able to communicate in German with the locals! Language courses are held for all secondees, and we extend the invitation for all spouses to join BAESG language classes. Depending on time available/personal requirements; we will assist in identifying a suitable internal language course. Please contact the Open Learning Centres for details and information on language tuition available. See also Language Learning Section for more information on in-company language classes, and other private language classes.

If you have given up your profession in the UK in order to accompany your spouse overseas, you should be able to claim benefits. You can claim a "Jobseekers Allowance" for up to 13 weeks from departure from UK. The following provisions should be met to be able to receive/transfer benefits overseas. The BAES Germany office will assist in the formal paperwork required; any application for a Job Seeker's Allowance can only be made after a residence permit has been obtained.

You may be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance in the EEA if you:

"Open universities and open learning will have a central role in higher education in the new century." Those are the words of Sir John Daniel, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University (OU), the UK's largest and most innovative university, speaking recently at a conference in Frankfurt. The OU, which calls itself "the university of the future," offers its courses throughout Europe and has more than 700 students in Germany.

The school, founded by Royal Charter in 1969, has opened the door to higher education for more than 2 million persons. It has always been in the forefront of using new technology to meet the needs of its students, and has developed its own unique "supported open learning" methods. These are aimed at students who study on their own time, at home or wherever is most convenient for them.

More than 60,000 of OU's students study courses that require the use of a computer. Some 80 percent of the OU's 5500 students in mainland Europe are online, and about 20,000 mail messages and 150,000 online conferencing messages are read daily by OU students and tutors. Students receive specially designed course materials which include books, videos, audio tapes, CD-ROMS and, for some science courses, experiment kits. Each of them is given his or her own personal tutor and keeps in touch with these tutors and their fellow students by mail, telephone, fax or e-mail. The OU is moving increasingly into the world of the e-university, offering courses and materials via the World Wide Web. All materials come through the course website, all the assignments are carried out online and the tutor feedback also comes via the Web. To find out more about the Open University and studying in Germany, look at the OU's website at http://www.open.ac.uk

Unfortunately, there is no financial sponsorship available for employees or accompanying family members to attend the Open University Course. However if a course is undertaken, there is a financial incentive in the way of spouses' being able to be included in participating in the "PASS" Scheme, which rewards successful completion of academic study, currently �150 net. Please contact the BAESG HR Officer for further details.

Are entitled to contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance on the day you go abroad

Some EU countries require diplomas, titles, certificates or other special qualifications as a condition for access to certain salaried and self-employed occupations (the 'regulated professions'). It can sometimes be difficult to have your own training and skills fully recognised. This is because of significant differences between training courses and diplomas in each EU country and also of course the 'Laws of the Land'.

The EU has therefore set up systems for recognising diplomas and professional qualifications that enables you to make full use of your training and skills in another EU country. The basic principle is stated as, if you are qualified to exercise a profession in your home country, you are qualified to exercise the same profession in any other EU country. Please contact the BAESG office for further information.

Have registered as a jobseeker for at least 4 weeks before you leave. This can be less in special circumstances

Are available for work and actively seeking work in Great Britain up to the day you leave

Are going abroad to look for work

Register for work at the equivalent of a Jobcentre in the country you are going to within 7 days of last claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK. If you do not, you may lose benefit

Follow the other country's system for claiming benefit, and

Follow the other country's benefit rules, such as being available for and actively seeking work, that would have applied if you had stayed in the UK.

For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the Department for Work and Pensions: http://www.dwp.gov.uk - Go to Benefits and Services the find 'Jobseeker's Allowance'

The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8th June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment