financial difficulty / help required

LegacyUser

Hi there,

Ive recently finished college and during my time there I was a claimaint of BTEA.
Once I finished, I changed my claim to a job seekers allowance. This was back in June of this year.

I have now been offered a really good, well paying job, but due to the payment schedule with the company, I will not be paid for 6 weeks.

Ive worked out that I would require roughly 700 for rent/deposit, 350 for an additional months rent in 4 weeks time, bills, food, travel, etc to a total of around 1500 for the 6 weeks.
Sadly, due to other bills, college, etc I have a grand savings of 200 euro....

I have applied for a short term loan with my bank and credit union, but both have turned me down as I do not have sufficient savings over the last few years (because I was a student).
My family are all feeling the pinch lately and cannot help me out. This was my last resort as im in my late 20's and would not like to borrow from family.

after some discussion with the person on the phone, their final advice was to not take the job and to remain on welfare.

I feel sick right now. it seems there is no solution for me to get off welfare and to start working.

can anyone offer some advice? or maybe a solution I have over looked.

im desperate!

Beruthiel

buscuit123 wrote: »

I have now been offered a really good, well paying job, but due to the payment schedule with the company, I will not be paid for 6 weeks.

Have you explained your situation asked HR if they can advance you some money?
I know our company has done so in the past for someone starting with us who needed it.

LegacyUser

thanks for the reply,

I obtained the job through an agency, and I spoke to them in length about this issue. I suggested this, and they quickly dismissed the idea.

frag420

I was in a similar situation a few yrs ago. Now I am not telling you to do this. I am saying that I did this.

I said nothing and claimed for the first month. I justified it by thinking that In the long run it would cost the welfare more if I was honest with them and if I didnt lie to them then I would not have a job.

Again I am not suggesting you do this but I didnt get caught and you must realise that there is nothing out there to help people in that intial period when they start work so sometimes you have to do something about it yourself.

I trust you will make the right decision

Squiggler

I'd try HR first.

You could also go to either your bank or your credit union. You should be able to get a loan or overdraft to carry you through the first few weeks, especially if you explain the situation and can show them a signed contract. I had to do that many years ago when I found myself in a similar situation.

cch

6 weeks sounds like an excessively long time, are you sure you haven't misinterpreted "salary paid monthly in arrears" as paid the month after? If you start in the middle of the month you should get two weeks pay at the end (if that's when their payday is).
Also make sure your prompt with giving them your tax details to avoid emergency tax.

But would also second checking with HR if this is not the case.

savvyav

Maybe try the Community Wefare Officer? Someone told me once they can help in cases like that...not sure how true that is though.

LegacyUser

Go talk to someone the SW or community welfare office. They won't cut you off the second you tell them you've got a job, you tell them your start date and that will be the day they stop your payment how If you explain when your starting work and the situation regarding your first salary pay they should be able to help you as at the end of the day their goal is to get you off welfare.

Taltos

frag420 wrote: »

I was in a similar situation a few yrs ago. Now I am not telling you to do this. I am saying that I did this.

I said nothing and claimed for the first month. I justified it by thinking that In the long run it would cost the welfare more if I was honest with them and if I didnt lie to them then I would not have a job.

Again I am not suggesting you do this but I didnt get caught and you must realise that there is nothing out there to help people in that intial period when they start work so sometimes you have to do something about it yourself.

I trust you will make the right decision

frag420 - your "not suggesting" post is still in breach of our forbidden topics per the boards FAQ. Stongly suggest you review not only our Charter but said FAQ as well as these types of post regularly result in immediate bans.

The Princess Bride

buscuit123 wrote: »

after some discussion with the person on the phone, their final advice was to not take the job and to remain on welfare.

I feel sick right now. it seems there is no solution for me to get off welfare and to start working.

Good jobs don't come around every day-especially nowadays.
Look at your weekly budget, and see exactly what you can do without,for the duration of those few weeks until pay day.

This could be the cloud with the silver lining,you know.
If you take the job and it works out,think of how wonderful your life will be.

thefeatheredcat

buscuit123 wrote: »

after some discussion with the person on the phone, their final advice was to not take the job and to remain on welfare.

Was that someone in SW or the agency?

If you've gained employment through a recruitment agency, since they have to get paid by the company and they pay staff (minus their fee) they are less likely to offer anything upfront. Did you ask about getting paid weekly, rather than monthly to meet your needs if they could be flexible on that?

In your position I'd discuss with Citizen's Information what the options are or speak with someone in SW or CWO and if no joy anywhere, ask SVP for help. It may mean scaling back any expenses, and I think it would be worth it in the end once you get your first salary. I don't think sacrificing the chance of a great job and be told to stay on the dole would be worth it, not when you don't know if it was SW that said that to you could be used against you and also that you don't know when the next job that provides flexibility of payment comes around.

I think though even if your family were struggling, they might be willing to help.

Ellsbells

Yeah I would ask Svp and make a donation to them when you get back on your feet. Well done re job!!

LegacyUser

buscuit123 wrote: »

Ive worked out that I would require roughly 700 for rent/deposit, 350 for an additional months rent in 4 weeks time, bills, food, travel, etc to a total of around 1500 for the 6 weeks.
Sadly, due to other bills, college, etc I have a grand savings of 200 euro....

OP get on to your community welfare officer and see what they can do to help you but also look at reducing the above figures. Look for somewhere short term to live to start - you can stay in a youth hostel for the 6 weeks then look for a long term rental option. Most Youth Hostels offer good rates for month rentals or longer or look into renting a room rather then a whole flat/house. Not alot of people like renting from an owner/occupier as you've few rights but for a short term solution it could work as you won't need to give any notice period when moving out. Personally I'd look into the Youth Hostel, I've done it for two months and had several friends who came from Australia do it for the short term when they arrived and had to look for somewhere to rent - 85 euro per week or roughly 500 euro for the 6 weeks with no deposit needed and most include breakfast in the price so you'd cut down on your food bill and wouldn't have any utility bills to pay while still having access to a kitchen to cook cheap meals rather then paying for meals. Most also have free internet access and you may meet other people looking to share a house or flat. Don't give up OP, you might find yourself living on rice and beans for a couple of weeks but you can get through it!

shellyboo

Another vote for the COmmunity Welfare Officer -- he/she will look for copies of your bank statements, etc but should be able to give you a dig out. They actually do give short-term loans as well! So if you go to them with the intention of paying it back (rather than a one-time payment) they might be more amenable to you.

Whatever you do, take the job!! Couch surf with friends, stay in a hostel, eat nothing but Koka noodles & multivitamins for a month... but you'll kick yourself if you don't try to make it work! Best of luck

LegacyUser

Hi everyone,

sorry for the delay in replying.
much praise to you all for the help! just to update, a family member has stepped in and offered to help by taking out a loan in their name for me.

its made my year! im delighted. ive now got enough to see me through to pay day and I can happily say im now employed!

once again, thanks for all the advise!

grizzly

buscuit123 wrote: »

Ive worked out that I would require roughly 700 for rent/deposit!

Could you not delay moving in somewhere until you're getting paid. Stay with friends/family?

techsavysista

Have you tried talking to your landlord? Or maybe going to hr to get a letter just to say you got a job, the bank might then allow you a loan/overdraft?