College student "between courses" - entitled to anything?

LegacyUser

My brother has just finished college. He was doing a pass degree in Engineering (from an IT.) When his results come out, if he gets above 70% average, he is able to transfer into third year of an honours degree course in a university - however his results won't be available for a couple of months.

If he doesn't get 70% average, he'll probably be going back to college in September in some shape or form. However he hasn't registered for anything yet, and as far as the IT he was attending is concerned, he is finished the course he was doing.

He is 20 and living at home with my parents.

Can he apply for JSA? (Obviously he's doing his best to find a summer job, but he is applying for shop work etc as opposed to engineering jobs, as he expects to go back to college in September, although nothing's definite yet.)

Also, when I was unemployed and living at home very briefly a year ago, I was only entitled to around €60 JSA a week (I was 24 at the time) based on my parents income - not that I was scrounging off them or anything!! However I know that 20 year olds are only entitled to €100 a week max. So if, according to SW, my parents income (which hasn't changed since) brought my entitlement down by circa €140 from €200ish to €60 ... does that mean that there's no point in him even applying, if the max he's entitled to anyways is €100?

Techno_Toaster

Im open to correction here but this is the way it was for me. You cannot get paid jsa if you are a student who plans on going back to college.

You need to be 3 months out of college before you can receive anything. The reason for this is if social welfare were to pay every student for the summer months it would be so expensive and extra work. Only if you are not going back to college and cannot find work can you apply.

The rates are gone down now too yes so depending on your parents means his money may be lowered. No harm in going up to social welfare and trying.

Take from the Citizen's Information website:
Students

If you have just left school you cannot get Jobseeker's Allowance. To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be out of school for three months and you be at least 18 years of age.

Balagan

The three month wait before claiming rule is applicable to those who have just left secondary school and have reached 18, not those who have finished a 3rd level course. If the OP's brother has finished his degree course, gets a letter from the college stating he has completed the course and if he has not registered with any college for a course yet, then, on the face of it, he should certainly check with Social Welfare if he can claim for the means tested Jobseekers Allowance, assuming that he is available for and seeking full time work.

Techno_Toaster

Balagan wrote: »

The three month wait before claiming rule is applicable to those who have just left secondary school and have reached 18, not those who have finished a 3rd level course. If the OP's brother has finished his degree course, gets a letter from the college stating he has completed the course and if he has not registered with any college for a course yet, then, on the face of it, he should certainly check with Social Welfare if he can claim for the means tested Jobseekers Allowance, assuming that he is available for and seeking full time work.

Actually as far as I know its applicable for all students. I just completed a two year course and had to wait 3 months. I raised the query of it being for secondary school students but was informed its for all students, right across the board.

I do have a friend who managed to avoid it but she lives in a different county so i could be that it just vary. In my county thought it is a 3 month wait for all students be it secondary or 3rd level. I brought in a letter from the college stamped and all and I was told I had to wait so I'm just speaking from experience. As I said worth a shot anyway

saa

Yeah and what happens if you're not living with your parents, in college not on a high grant and can't find work between courses.... So after I finish my degree next year waiting to go into my masters i'll probably be living in a hostel for the homeless and drug addicts.

eastbono

Students
If you have just left school you cannot get Jobseeker's Allowance. To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be out of school for three months and you be at least 18 years of age.

I have lifted the above from welfare.ie.

The 3 month wait only applies to secondary school. You should go back to your sw office and query their ruling on your claim. Get it it in writing that you were not allowed to claim for 3 months after finishing college and appeal this ruling. (It sounds as if someone is misinterpreting the 3 month rule.)

Techno_Toaster

eastbono wrote: »

Students
If you have just left school you cannot get Jobseeker's Allowance. To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be out of school for three months and you be at least 18 years of age.

I have lifted the above from welfare.ie.

The 3 month wait only applies to secondary school. You should go back to your sw office and query their ruling on your claim. Get it it in writing that you were not allowed to claim for 3 months after finishing college and appeal this ruling. (It sounds as if someone is misinterpreting the 3 month rule.)

I did bring all of that to their attention it was seen by the higher authority in the local office and was still the same ruling. No claim until I was 3 months out of college. They don't pay for summer months be it in college or or out of college.Maybe it varies from place to place but im speaking from experience.

saa wrote: »

Yeah and what happens if you're not living with your parents, in college not on a high grant and can't find work between courses.... So after I finish my degree next year waiting to go into my masters i'll probably be living in a hostel for the homeless and drug addicts.

Welcome to my world. I moved out of home in January (while in college) wasn't on a grant, had no financial funding and entitled to nothing. Went to social welfare and the local community welfare office and they told me that once I was a full time Student you get nothing and you must be 3 months out of college.

Again I don't know I'm just saying from my own personal experience

eastbono

You should really get it in writing from them that you were disallowed on the basis of the 3 months and appeal their decision as someone is definetly misinterpreting this rule. If you were going back to college you would not have been entitled to claim JSA unless you were 23 on the 1st of January before starting the course. But one can claim JSB.

If you appeal their decision it has to go higher than the local office it has to go to the Appeals Office which is and independent body.

Techno_Toaster

eastbono wrote: »

You should really get it in writing from them that you were disallowed on the basis of the 3 months and appeal their decision as someone is definetly misinterpreting this rule. If you were going back to college you would not have been entitled to claim JSA unless you were 23 on the 1st of January before starting the course. But one can claim JSB.

If you appeal their decision it has to go higher than the local office it has to go to the Appeals Office which is and independent body.

I'm wondering if there is even a point seeming as it was a year ago exactly that i claimed. I'll ask again though but I imagine it'll be the same story with them

eastbono

Oh ok did not realise it was a year ago.