Summer finance?

lilhappydude

My name is Darren and I'm 22 years of age. I'm a full time student studying a level 8 in law at Carlow I.T. Now that it is the summer months I have no means of finance. I am not entitled to Jobseeker's and have been rejected for the supplementary welfare allowance. No one really knows what to do as I was in Foster care and I have no family that can help me financially. I've tried everything as far as the social welfare goes and I'm facing homelessness in the next week. I have depression which after a suicide attempt at 19 I began taking medication for and I do love and appreciate my life but this situation is really bringing me down. I have no money for food or rent and I really don't know where else to turn. I'm trying to make a successful life for myself and although this only my first year in law I have received an internship at EPIC ( Empowering People In Care ) which works towards changing the law for people in my circumstances. I'm actively looking for work, I really am but I've not got any funds right now. I'm looking for advice as to how I am to avoid living on the streets over the summer. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time in reading this. Have a lovely day.
I really needed to vent!

mrssnuffy

Hi Darren,

I am so sorry you find yourself in this position. Am just wondering does the social work department who were working with you while you were in care have an aftercare team. I know the new aftercare policy is in the making but not sure its implemented yet and it states the socialwork dept can fund children leaving care up to age 23 so long as they remain in education maybe Epic would have more info on this. Is there any way you could contact a previous foster carer for support or failing that even a call to the social work dept might yield some more info. Failing all of that can u go to your local td and outline the circumstances. i dont know if any of this will help you.best of luck.

Rovi

[Midlands mod]

Thread moved from Midlands forum to State Benefits forum.

[/Midlands mod]

Ham Sambo

A colleague of mine who is a mature student is getting a 'back to education allowance' while she is it college, this is due to stop when her placement is finished in July this year, what she has been told is that she is entitled to sign on for Jobseekers Allowance when she finishes college, I would double check with Social Welfare just to be sure, you could contact the student assist office in your college to see what they say. Best of luck.

danjo-xx

You should have a chat with citizens information people, they are there to advise people of their entitlements/options and its free and confidential.http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/
As well as welfare rights, they have info on 'Youth homelessness' http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/losing_your_home/youth_homelessness.html which might be of some help on how to get help and prevent becoming homeless.

Carlow CIC
St. Catherines Community Services Centre, St. Josephs Road, Carlow
Phone: 0761 07 5130

lilhappydude

Thank you for posting! I don't qualify as a mature student and the reason I was given for being rejected for Jobseeker's and the Supplementary welfare allowance is that I'm in full time education! It makes no sense to leave someone with nothing don't you think?

lilhappydude

Just an update: I have found a home where the landlords are kind enough to wait for rent until I get some sort of payment. I've looked for work all over town and am awaiting a call back (fingers crossed) but no word from the social in regards to my appeal!

Balagan

lilhappydude wrote: »

Thank you for posting! I don't qualify as a mature student and the reason I was given for being rejected for Jobseeker's and the Supplementary welfare allowance is that I'm in full time education! It makes no sense to leave someone with nothing don't you think?

Have you tried the Child and Family Agency (Tusla)?
After Care

The Child and Family Agency provides leaving and aftercare services for young people which are responsive and relevant to each young person’s circumstances under Section 45 of the Childcare Act 1991. All young people who have had a care history with the Agency are entitled to an Aftercare Service. Services are provided on the basis of assessment of need, age and the length of time the young person was in care.

Services are provided in partnership with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Preparation for leaving care starts when a young person enters into the Care system but formal preparation should begin no later than the young person's 16th birthday and the approach to aftercare is informed by the wishes and agreement of the young person. Services can be provided up to 21 years of age or 23, if in full time education, for those young people who are eligible as per Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991.
http://www.tusla.ie/services/alternative-care/after-care/


Contact details:
Child and Family Agency,
Block D, Park Gate Business Centre,
Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8.
Ph: 01 6352854
E-mail: info@tusla.ie

The agency mentioned above, Tusla, should be able to help you but if you try and they are not able to help you, you should make an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance again bringing with you documentation about your time in foster care, your education course etc., and evidence that TUSLA have been unable to help you. EPIC should be able to provide support and advocates for you to seek the help you need.

SMJSF

Darren, I was in the exactly the same position as you last summer (2013).
I had to scrape together every penny for the year before in college just to survive the summer months... and I only was able to save €400... and my aftercare services expected me to live on that for 4 months - which I had to pay rent, bills, food.... did anybody help? Nope!
I feel that foster kids aren't helped enough, and there is very little services available for us.

Tusla is a total mess!
They don't know how much the stopping of finances for the summer months effect the people who have to go true with it!