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No Savings, No Job, No Entitlements

  • 05-11-2009 7:50pm
    #1
    Maximoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    A bit of background. I finished my leaving cert in 2005 and went straight to college. I applied for a VEC grant and I needed to submit A LOT of paperwork due to the fact that my father was self employed at the time. After 3 months of college I decided the course was not for me so I dropped out and got a full time job. Since I dropped out I didn't bother to send the remaining paperwork to the VEC office because I didn't need the grant. I was never sent a letter to confirm that I was not entitled to the grant (this will be relevent later).

    So I started a full time job as a cashier in 2005 and worked my way up the ladder from senior staff, supervisor, trainee manager, manager and HR manager. I was easily paying €300 in tax per month (a lot considering I was on laughable wages). After 4 years in the job I realised I had gone as far as I would in that company so I decided to go back to college to get more qualifications.

    I applied for a grant with the VEC in July this year. I was refused! They said something along the lines of "due to the fact that you applied for the grant in 2005, dropped out of your first year course and are now taking ANOTHER first year course we cannot issue a grant but contact us when you move into second year and you will qualify". WTF!

    My managerial job finished on Aug 20th and I began my job hunting right away. I didn't take into consideration how difficult it would be for a former HR manager to get a part time job. I've applied to any and all jobs advertised I was qualified for but between Aug and Nov and I have not gotten as much as an interview. I'm talking about jobs like lounge staff, bar man, supermarket jobs, cashiers. How qualified do you need to be to do work like that!?

    My last resort was when I went to the social welfare office today. I went to the new claims window and gave my pps number. I said "I'm just wondering if I'm entitled to anything at all?" She looked at the computer and said "yes, you qualify for job seekers allowence" I said "even if I'm a full time student?". "Oh!" she said "If your a full time student you don't qualify for anything". And that was that.

    How backward is Ireland if someone who is just out of school and can't be bothered to go to college or find a job can get €204 a week for sitting on their arse when the likes of me who has been working since he was 14 and paying taxes, decides to go back to college to better himself is not entitled to anything!

    RANT OVER!

    The job search continues.....in the meantime has anyone got idea if I am entitled to ANYTHING from anywhere else other than socail welfare?


Comments

  • #2
    Atwork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭Atwork


    You will qualify for the back to education allowance after 9 months on jobseekers allowance as far as i know.Should be perfect for next year and do a FAS course(s) between now and next September. Why did you not research this before leaving your job?


  • #3
    ToniTuddle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,964 ✭✭✭ToniTuddle


    Maximoo wrote: »
    I applied for a grant with the VEC in July this year. I was refused! They said something along the lines of "due to the fact that you applied for the grant in 2005, dropped out of your first year course and are now taking ANOTHER first year course we cannot issue a grant but contact us when you move into second year and you will qualify". WTF!


    My last resort was when I went to the social welfare office today. I went to the new claims window and gave my pps number. I said "I'm just wondering if I'm entitled to anything at all?" She looked at the computer and said "yes, you qualify for job seekers allowence" I said "even if I'm a full time student?". "Oh!" she said "If your a full time student you don't qualify for anything". And that was that.


    The job search continues.....in the meantime has anyone got idea if I am entitled to ANYTHING from anywhere else other than socail welfare?


    It has to be about 5 or 6 years since you last applied for a VEC grant(check website to confirm if it's 5 or 6).
    Thankfully It has been that long for me so I should be getting mine(no word yet though grrrr)

    If you are unemployed for 6 months before starting your college course you will be entitled to Back To Education Allowance for your 2/3 years of study. This is €204 a week(why the woman in the social didn't mention that I don't know:confused:).

    Your best option is being unemployed for those 6 months before you start your college course next year and then you end up with VEC grant AND Back To Education.


  • #4
    Maximoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Maximoo


    I knew about the back to education allowence before leaving my job but I had never planned to claim this. I expected to qualify for a college grant and in the mean time I would find a job and work for my money.

    For me to qualify for back to education allowence I need to be on job seekers allowence for 9 months. I don't qualify for job seekers because I'm in college at the moment.

    The point I'm trying to make is, it seems here in Ireland the only way for the government to help you out financially is if you sit on your arse and do nothing. If I dropped out of college tomorrow I'd qualify for job seekers allowence. Not gonna happen though


  • #5
    ToniTuddle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,964 ✭✭✭ToniTuddle


    Maximoo wrote: »
    I knew about the back to education allowence before leaving my job but I had never planned to claim this. I expected to qualify for a college grant and in the mean time I would find a job and work for my money.

    For me to qualify for back to education allowence I need to be on job seekers allowence for 9 months. I don't qualify for job seekers because I'm in college at the moment.

    The point I'm trying to make is, it seems here in Ireland the only way for the government to help you out financially is if you sit on your arse and do nothing. If I dropped out of college tomorrow I'd qualify for job seekers allowence. Not gonna happen though

    Oh so you went ahead with the college thing even though you are not getting a grant this year.
    But you can get BTE and the grant. Means you wouldn't have to work part time and you would be able to spend more time on your studies.
    They have dropped it to 6 months (even though on some forms it still says 12 months/9months). The Job Facilitator should confirm this. You are perfectly entitled to claim BTE. Esp if you are a mature student. Even if you aren't, if you meet their conditions then you are entitled to it.

    The government is meant to be closing in on people who have been spending years on the dole. They are planning on cutting it in half. Not sure for which exact criteria of people but the plans in motion as far as I know.


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