Jobseeker's Allowance Requirements

Twilightning

Hey guys, I haven't posted here before but I'm just looking for a bit of advice.

I'm 19 and I repeated my leaving cert from last September to June. I've decided I'm just going to take a year out to work to get out of the country for a few months and I've been looking for a part-time job for the year. Trouble is it's difficult, as I'm sure you all know, and I might be looking at going on Jobseeker's Allowance until something eventually does show up since I have no source of income at all.

I went to the Welfare Office near where I live and they told me I have to be 3 months out of school before I can apply, and it'll be 3 months the last week of September. However, they told me I need proof that I've been looking for work and other things. What does the proof entail? And the other stuff? I just want to make sure should I be making the application at the end of the month as I don't want to waste any time.

Thanks all, much appreciated!

Mr. Loverman

Refusal letters (PFO) from employers will do the trick. You should get these a few weeks after you apply for a job (or if not, e-mail them and use their response as your PFO).

Twilightning

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Refusal letters (PFO) from employers will do the trick. You should get these a few weeks after you apply for a job (or if not, e-mail them and use their response as your PFO).

That's fair enough but what if you simply don't hear back from them? And one thing I wanted to mention, I remember standing in a shop and some girl went up to the counter with a form asking for a job. When they said they had no vacancies she got one of the staff to sign a form to say she was there looking for work or something along those lines. What's that about?

Mr. Loverman

Twilightning wrote: »

That's fair enough but what if you simply don't hear back from them? And one thing I wanted to mention, I remember standing in a shop and some girl went up to the counter with a form asking for a job. When they said they had no vacancies she got one of the staff to sign a form to say she was there looking for work or something along those lines. What's that about?

She was getting proof she is looking for a job...

Twilightning

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

She was getting proof she is looking for a job...

Obviously I know that, I wasn't looking for a smart response. Is there any specific form you need to get to accomplish this? Otherwise I could just ask any Joe Soap on the road to sign a piece of paper and say on it I was looking for a job.

Mr. Loverman

Twilightning wrote: »

Obviously I know that, I wasn't looking for a smart response. Is there any specific form you need to get to accomplish this? Otherwise I could just ask any Joe Soap on the road to sign a piece of paper and say on it I was looking for a job.

I wasn't giving a smart response, I am trying to help you.

As stated, when you apply for a job, contact the employer to see if you've got it or not. Some of them will reply saying no.

Or do as the girl did, get the person in the shop to write and sign a note (on company notepaper) saying you applied for a job.

Or see if jobsites have a "job application history" section. For example, Staff.ie and Jobs.ie have one of these.

Twilightning

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I wasn't giving a smart response, I am trying to help you.

As stated, when you apply for a job, contact the employer to see if you've got it or not. Some of them will reply saying no.

Or do as the girl did, get the person in the shop to write and sign a note (on company notepaper) saying you applied for a job.

Or see if jobsites have a "job application history" section. For example, Staff.ie and Jobs.ie have one of these.

Sorry, I'm just getting a bit frustrated these days and I misread things in the wrong tone of voice.

Those are all great points. Thank you.

pow wow

They will accept proof of your application without any response from the employer i.e. a copy of your 'here's my application, please pick me' letter that you sent in (or any confirmation emails you got if you submitted applications online).

They are more than aware that very very very few employers even bother saying 'thanks but no thanks' to applicants these days, so don't worry if you haven't got any proof from the employers that you've applied.

gerrycollins

Ive been on JA now since may and I was assessed by a social welfare officer and she said the same thing to me. So far they have not looked for proof however thats not to say that they might tomorrow.

the girl going to the counter issue. in my past Ive actually refused to sign these for people as they were coming from people who had no interest in getting a job and only in keeping the welfare happy to keep their cash flow going.

thats not to say that the girl you saw was acting improper but im referring to a time where jos were plenty but certain aspects of society never bothered actually getting a job.

wmpdd3

Often get asked for a refusal letter or to sign a letter saying we have no vacancies but can't do it. I wouldn't go asking anywhere you actaully wants to work to sign those letters.