Unpaid internship - can you keep social welfare?

midlandsmissus · 03-01-2012 5:34pm #1

Hi,

I have an interview for an internship that I really want to do. Unfortunately it is not on the jobbridge scheme, just an unpaid internship with a big non- profit organisation.
I really want to do it, as I have been out of work for a year and I think it would be a great link for myself back into work.

Does anyone know can you do an iternship like this and keep your social welfare? It is three days a week.

I am afraid to ask social welfare in case they say no and then might be checking up on me to see if I'm doing it.

Any advice?

Thank you.

fl4pj4ck · 03-01-2012 5:53pm

yes it's possible, and yes you have to ask them. there's no reason for them to say no

midlandsmissus · 03-01-2012 6:04pm

Thank you!

Annasopra · 03-01-2012 6:10pm

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Hi,

I have an interview for an internship that I really want to do. Unfortunately it is not on the jobbridge scheme, just an unpaid internship with a big non- profit organisation.
I really want to do it, as I have been out of work for a year and I think it would be a great link for myself back into work.

Does anyone know can you do an iternship like this and keep your social welfare? It is three days a week.

I am afraid to ask social welfare in case they say no and then might be checking up on me to see if I'm doing it.

Any advice?

Thank you.

Ask the company or organisation if they can change it into jobbridge - I did this and it worked for me

Pope John 11 · 23-01-2012 4:30pm

A friend of mine is looking to do the opposite.

He has recently attended an interview for an Intership position, and would be well able for the position.

However he has just found out that he has to be 78 days unemployed in order to take up the Jobbridge position.

Is it possible for him to avoid the paperwork through social welfare and the whole Jobbridge Internship programme.

Should he write to the company following his interview and state that he is willing to take up an unpaid Internship. He really wants this but does not want to sit around for 3 months to get a 9 month internship.

23-01-2012 4:34pm

Pope John 11 wrote: »

A friend of mine is looking to do the opposite.

He has recently attended an interview for an Intership position, and would be well able for the position.

However he has just found out that he has to be 78 days unemployed in order to take up the Jobbridge position.

Is it possible for him to avoid the paperwork through social welfare and the whole Jobbridge Internship programme.

Should he write to the company following his interview and state that he is willing to take up an unpaid Internship. He really wants this but does not want to sit around for 3 months to get a 9 month internship.

So long as he's happy not claiming job-seeker's allowance for the entire length of the internship, it's none of social welfare's business. However, to get JSA, you have to be actively seeking and available for work, which he won't be if he takes on an unpaid internship

Pope John 11 · 23-01-2012 4:43pm

28064212 wrote: »

So long as he's happy not claiming job-seeker's allowance for the entire length of the internship, it's none of social welfare's business. However, to get JSA, you have to be actively seeking and available for work, which he won't be if he takes on an unpaid internship

He understands this.

Whats the best way to convince the company, stating that he is willing to support himself for the 9 month period. The Internship would be local too with him from the local area. Also he has 10 years experience in another form of engineering sector, albeit a different sector.

How best is he to convince the company, as at the interview they have asked him to check up regarding his eligibilty.

23-01-2012 4:46pm

Pope John 11 wrote: »

He understands this.

Whats the best way to convince the company, stating that he is willing to support himself for the 9 month period. The Internship would be local too with him from the local area. Also he has 10 years experience in another form of engineering sector, albeit a different sector.

How best is he to convince the company, as at the interview they have asked him to check up regarding his eligibilty.

If they're only taking Jobbridge interns on, he won't be eligible. If he wants to say to the company "I'll work for free", that's between him and the company, nothing to do with welfare, but the company may not be willing to take on a non-jobbridge intern (I don't know the pros and cons of it)

Pope John 11 · 23-01-2012 4:52pm

28064212 wrote: »

If they're only taking Jobbridge interns on, he won't be eligible. If he wants to say to the company "I'll work for free", that's between him and the company, nothing to do with welfare, but the company may not be willing to take on a non-jobbridge intern (I don't know the pros and cons of it)

Yes, he plans to write a letter with a subject matter 'Unpaid Internship', but the biggest issue is will the company accept him as an Intern. Its looking unlikely.

Surely the pros would be:

1. Less paperwork
2. Working for 'free', as opposed to an additional €50 to be paid by the company
3. He is local.
4. He is mature with additional 10 yrs experience.

Cons, not too sure if there are any. What would stop a company from not allowing a candidate to take up an Internship position. Are companies tied to this Internship Jobbridge Programme, surely not?

23-01-2012 4:57pm

Pope John 11 wrote: »

Yes, he plans to write a letter with a subject matter 'Unpaid Internship', but the biggest issue is will the company accept him as an Intern. Its looking unlikely.

Surely the pros would be:

1. Less paperwork
2. Working for 'free', as opposed to an additional €50 to be paid by the company
3. He is local.
4. He is mature with additional 10 yrs experience.

Cons, not too sure if there are any. What would stop a company from not allowing a candidate to take up an Internship position.

AFAIK, welfare pay the extra, not the company.

Cons (off the top of my head):

Legal reasons: I'm unsure of the legality of not paying someone outside of a sanctioned scheme.
Clarity: the jobbridge scheme provides a clear framework, with a standard length of time etc. If they go outside the scheme, they have to come up with their own form of it
Liability: possible insurance issues

Balagan · 23-01-2012 5:02pm

Yes, the extra €50.00 is not paid by the organization taking the JobBridge intern, but by the Dept of Social Protection.

Pope John 11 · 23-01-2012 7:04pm

28064212 wrote: »

AFAIK, welfare pay the extra, not the company.

Cons (off the top of my head):
Legal reasons: I'm unsure of the legality of not paying someone outside of a sanctioned scheme.

Clarity: the jobbridge scheme provides a clear framework, with a standard length of time etc. If they go outside the scheme, they have to come up with their own form of it

Liability: possible insurance issues

Well, I suppose he won't know if he does not ask. Surely an Intern could state that they would want the Internship unpaid or perhaps not.

I understand the insurance issues, but again would this not be the same for the Jobbridge applicant

Has anyone been taken on with the last year in an unpaid Intern position that is not a Jobbridge Intern?

Pope John 11 · 27-01-2012 6:02pm

Pope John 11 wrote: »

Has anyone been taken on with the last year in an unpaid Intern position that is not a Jobbridge Intern?

Surely, someone has accepted an Intern position outside of Jobbridge, any updates appreciated.

saa · 27-01-2012 6:48pm

In the eyes of social welfare surely if you're doing a part time internship you're still available to look for work on weekdays off?

I'm still not sure of if you should tell them?

mad_shopaholic · 27-01-2012 7:33pm

id be very interested in this as well cant take up an internship with jobbridge as i have a young child and would not be able to pay for full time childcare out of an extra 50euro a week.
would love to know if i could do a few hours unpaid work experience with a company(studying accounting at night)

cee_jay · 27-01-2012 9:01pm

saa wrote: »

In the eyes of social welfare surely if you're doing a part time internship you're still available to look for work on weekdays off?

I'm still not sure of if you should tell them?

You are obliged to tell SW of any change in your circumstances - especially one where you are working on some days.