Rent on Fás apprenticeship

DamienH

I'm in the running for a job in Kerry which is a trainee scheme funded by fás (€200 a week). I'd be living away from home here so would I be entitled to some kind of assistance with regards to rent costs? I can't be expected to pay for a room out of €200 can I? I plan on going into Fás asap and should get in there tomorrow, but hopefully someone can give me a hand here.
Thanks.

m.j.w

If you are doing an apprenticeship as (eg bricklaying, electrican etc) you are entitled to nothing because you are considered to be in full time employment even though you are earning less that someone on the dole gets. Think this is a total disgrace, im a first year apprentice electrician and im renting an apartment which is costing me a fortune but i was in the lease before I got this job. I tried to see if I was entitled to rent allowance or any other supplement but had no luck. I think its a disgrace the way apprentices are entitled to nothing, even students get discount cards in shops so I dont see why apprentices should not get them aswell, i know its something small but still!!!

DamienH

Hmm. I know my friends here went to Dublin to do a phase of their training and they got about €70 a week towards their rent. I went in today to the fás office and they were pretty confused. I ahve to wait for the employer to ring me back so I can ask him a few questions. I mean if I'm to get €200 a week, for a year, and spend almost half of it on a flat there's no way I could take the job. Why should I... Working for €2.50 an hr isn't fun.

m.j.w

you will get an allowance in your college phases if you have to travel or live where you are going to college but in the phases where you are going to work you are entitled to nothing. i dont mean to be the bearer of bad news but ive checked all this myself and you cant get anything. ive tried fas, citizens advice and the community welfare officer.

the_syco

DamienH wrote: »

Hmm. I know my friends here went to Dublin to do a phase of their training and they got about €70 a week towards their rent.

Pretty sure "Dublin rent money" only applies to Dublin.

DamienH

Right so feck that then. It's stupid that I'm willing to work for the equivalent of weekly dole, but I'd still come off far worse. My friend spent some time in Tralee aswell and he got some kind of a subsidy towards rent so it's defo not just Dublin. I think there might be something a bit weird going on. The job isn't an apprenticeship as it's only one year, and it's not a course as I'd be the only person working. If it's just a normal job, paid below minimum wage, I should be able to get some money from the welfare office to bring me to minimum wage. Either way I'm mightly confused, this benefit system is a bitch to get your head around. I'll post back what happens either way.

m.j.w

You wont get anything if you work more than 25 hours a week at the job even if you are earning lower than the minimum wage. Its so stupid but if you look on the benifit site it clearly states if you are in full time employment you are entitled to no supplement or rent allowance. I thought that because I was earning 170 quid a week i would be entitled to something but I wasnt. :mad:

DamienH

well that's fecking mental so. In fairness, how is the guy expecting to employ anyone, if they'll have to pay at least €70 a week for a gaf and bills. I'm all for getting off the dole but not if I have to take that decrease in payment.


edit: Are you positive with regards not recieving any supplement to bring you in line with minimum wage?

m.j.w

DamienH wrote: »

well that's fecking mental so. In fairness, how is the guy expecting to employ anyone, if they'll have to pay at least €70 a week for a gaf and bills. I'm all for getting off the dole but not if I have to take that decrease in payment.


edit: Are you positive with regards not recieving any supplement to bring you in line with minimum wage?

yea 100%, there is something you are entitled to called income supplement which will bring your wages in line with minumin wage but again if your in full time employment you are not eligible for it.

Xiney

The apprenticeship should open doors for you in the future, though.

It's a bit of lean living while you're learning, but you get a career out of it.

IT Loser

Xiney wrote: »

The apprenticeship should open doors for you in the future, though.

It's a bit of lean living while you're learning, but you get a career out of it.

Exactly. My brother borrowed €500 off me when he was an apprentice mechanic and he had to pay it back to me in increments of €25 per week he was so broke. He was getting €125 a week at the time.

6 months ago, now a fully qualified mechanic, he got a job in an American factory making health products- he gets around €800 basic, VHI, pension etc.

If he did not have the Mechanics papers he most likely would not have got that job, we know because another friend, who did not have FAS qualifications, tried to get the same job and failed.

Sweat it out kid. Nothing worse than sign-on day.

DamienH

Hmm I'm still mightly confused. Believe me I've got no problem with lean living, the dole isn't what I'm after. The job is only a year long though, it's just some experience with no qualifications etc. upon completion. I'm waiting for him to ring me back and I'll ask the questions. Thanks very much for all the replies.