Apprenticeship Completion Payment Small Employer

Yeah, good luck with this.

Add the SEM flag now, but that won't remove the employer contribution from last academic year. You need to request permission to use LDM code 361 to waive the contribution as the lack of SEM flag was an admin error on your part.

NB last time I had to do this it took FOUR MONTHS to get permission, so get it in now so it's sorted for R14...

I'd try coding them as small retrospectively, but I think we had similar case, and it didn't back date into a previous academic year. We weren't then owed any payments for the current year any more, but we still were for the previous year. I may have got that a bit muddled, so do try adding the small employer indicator and see what comes out of the R08 reports. If it doesn't fix it, you have two options; charge the employer, or take the hit on the completion (or hopefully get permission to use LDM 361 as Steve has pointed out). Small admin errors can cost dearly when it comes to apprenticeships unfortunately!

We always record the employer fee in our student records system (and Finance use that info), and I now have a report that looks for records that aren't flagged as small, aren't a levy payer (we have another way to record that since ACT is now always 1), and there's no fee. That helps us avoid accidents like this.

Hi Steve

Thanks for your response

Do I just raise this with the A/S or does it need to go via our contracts manager etc?

Thanks

Chris

Thanks for your feedback Ruth

Chris

Just via the AS Service Desk in the first instance (might need to moan to your Contract Manager if nothing is happening ;))

Thanks Steve

I'll get this moving ASAP

Chris

With regards to this topic,I've just received this reply from the A/S

As the error was not rectified prior the R14 deadline - this co-investment will remain as due on your Co-investment contributions report. This cannot now be adjusted and the co-investment due will need to be recorded in your ILR.

Can I clarify that if I apply to use LDM code 361,will this mean that it waives the expected employer contribution for the previous contract year ?

Thanks

Chris 

Yes, although I'm super annoyed that they're saying you have to collect something purely due to input error from an employer that is clearly exempt...

I'm trying to work out what would happen if you withdrew the initial record back to start date and added a new set *with SEM* starting the next day (assuming the next day was in the same calendar month...)... I know this is the option for some errors post-R14, but worried the records might just be too similar for it to work in this instance...