Fuel allowance and FAS..

denlaw

I was made redundant in August 2011 after 26 yrs, I decided not to sit on my arse and went after some FAS courses, I got a couple of IT certs over the 11mths I was with FAS. My question is, do SW take into account my 11mths on FAS when looking for the fuel allowance ?, I've only just come off JSB onto JSA because of the 11mths I was doing the courses, if I'd of not bothered looking or doing anything I'd be well past the 390 days you need to be on a fuel all payment .. TIA

danjo-xx

Your time on Fas courses won't count but time on Job Seekers Benefit does count to make up the 390days required in your case.

• Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance (390 days) (Fuel Allowance is payable to people who have been getting a jobseeker’s payment for 390 days, if they satisfy the relevant qualifying conditions. Days of unemployment on Jobseeker's Benefit count towards the 390 days if the Jobseeker’s Benefit claim was immediately before the award of Jobseeker’s Allowance.)
  
  

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/206_National-Fuel-Scheme.aspx

denlaw

danjo-xx wrote: »

Your time on Fas courses won't count but time on Job Seekers Benefit does count to make up the 390days required in your case.



http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/206_National-Fuel-Scheme.aspx

thanks for that..

that's a bit unfair, i'm trying my best to retrain and this is how they treat you..:mad:

autobiz

I have just been told the same thing by the social welfare office that I don't qualify for fuel allowance because I decided to retrain. I have another FAS course starting in Oct and am now wondering if I will be entitled to the €20 extra. I have been on welfare since June 2012 but did a 3 month FAS course from 7 May to 27 July 2013. Does the fact that I wasn't continuously on welfare for 12months matter or do they count the months before and after I did the FAS course as this would put me over the 12 months required?

denlaw

autobiz wrote: »

I have just been told the same thing by the social welfare office that I don't qualify for fuel allowance because I decided to retrain. I have another FAS course starting in Oct and am now wondering if I will be entitled to the €20 extra. I have been on welfare since June 2012 but did a 3 month FAS course from 7 May to 27 July 2013. Does the fact that I wasn't continuously on welfare for 12months matter or do they count the months before and after I did the FAS course as this would put me over the 12 months required?

I'm afraid you won't get that €20 extra from FAS, you have to show that you've been signing for over 313 days, when I started the last course I thought I'd get it after being out of work for over 18mths but I'd only used up 275 days of my JSB so I didn't qualify for it.
It's typically Irish to punish those looking to retrain and pamper those who never have any intention of ever looking for work and only take up places on the threat of losing their dole..

autobiz

I was afraid that that would be the case. As you say the more you try to better yourself the more they knock you back. Was hoping the extra would cover my travel this time as I live outside the city and pay €40 on top of the FAS travel allowance. Another winter of wearing 2pairs of long johns and 4 jumpers to keep warm indoors.