Jobbridge Fuel Allowance?

Irishmaster

Hi, Im on jobbridge and ive heard that for the last 2 months of your internship(6 months) you can receive a fuel allowance back when you show your receipts etc. Is this true?

danjo-xx

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056893202

ABajaninCork

Are you already on Fuel Allowance? If you are, then it'll be paid as usual from September onwards. If not? Oh well...You won't get a penny.

eastbono

In view of the fact that your CT or cumulative total of days is frozen when you start jobbridge that it might be worth a shot applying to your community welfare officer for fuel allowance especially if you would have qualified for fuel allowance if you didnt partake in jobbridge. Natural justice and the saver clause could come into play here with the cwo.

ABajaninCork

eastbono wrote: »

In view of the fact that your CT or cumulative total of days is frozen when you start jobbridge that it might be worth a shot applying to your community welfare officer for fuel allowance especially if you would have qualified for fuel allowance if you didnt partake in jobbridge. Natural justice and the saver clause could come into play here with the cwo.

You would hope so, but no. The rules are unfortunately very strict. If you're out of work for 390 days (15 months) or more, then you'll get the FA. If you're doing a Jobbridge, for some bizarre reason (;))you're taken off the register and those days don't count. Several people have written on the thread quoted and elsewhere who have been stung by this rule. Complete BS, but there you sadly have it.

eastbono

ABajaninCork wrote: »

You would hope so, but no. The rules are unfortunately very strict. If you're out of work for 390 days (15 months) or more, then you'll get the FA. If you're doing a Jobbridge, for some bizarre reason (;))you're taken off the register and those days don't count. Several people have written on the thread quoted and elsewhere who have been stung by this rule. Complete BS, but there you sadly have it.

The community welfare officer may pay FA in this instance.You are not taken off the register you are still in receipt of jobseekers but the number of days is frozen while you are on jobbridge but if you would have reached 390 days whilst you are on jobbridge then the cwo may pay fuel allowance.. I know that they pay FA to people on back to education allowance as they are not eligible either on their sw payment.

Balagan

In 2012, the following question in the Dail outlined how those on JobBridge who were not in receipt of FA before starting the internship would not be awarded it during course of the internship. However, as eastbono mentions, perhaps they have dealt with the anomaly by having the CWO award it instead.

Department of Social Protection
Fuel Allowance Applications

All Written Answers on 24 Oct 2012
« Previous answerNext answer »

Question: Tom FlemingTom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person on jobbridge who applies for the fuel allowance does not have the required 390 days on jobseeker's to qualify, if he will allow for the shortfall in days to come from the length of time a person has spent on jobbridge so as to allow these applicants qualify; his views on whether there is discrimination against all applicants in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46739/12]

Answer: Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Minister, Department of Social Protection; Dublin West, Labour)

My Department will spend almost €215 million in 2012 on the fuel allowance scheme benefitting some 400,000 people. In 2005 there were 265,000 on the fuel allowance at a cost of €82 million. The cost of the scheme has risen by over 160% in seven years. The current fuel season commenced in October this year and will run for 26 weeks until April 2013. I have no plans to amend the guidelines to allow the time spent on jobbridge to count towards the accrual of time for eligibility for the fuel allowance.
An intern participating in jobbridge will continue to receive the social welfare entitlements, including secondary entitlements such as fuel allowance, that they were receiving immediately prior to commencing the scheme. However, during their jobbridge internship, interns will not receive additional benefits, such as fuel allowance, if they were previously not entitled to this benefit before they began their internship. The objective of the jobbridge scheme is to keep unemployed people close to the labour market and to give them the opportunity to gain quality work experience thereby increasing their employability. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2012-10-24a.260

eastbono

I know they wont get fuel allowance directly onto their sw claim from the department but they should apply to their community welfare officer to see if they would get a top up as those on back to education certainly get a top up towards fuel.

Irishmaster

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Are you already on Fuel Allowance? If you are, then it'll be paid as usual from September onwards. If not? Oh well...You won't get a penny.

No im not on fuel allowance or anything like that. I work with people that were on jobbridge and have now got the job. He just said one day, that for the last 2 months of the internship you get some money back for cost of travel or something. Why the last 2 months I don't know. I was just wondering if this was the case. Any travel expense back would be helpful as the extra 50 doesn't really cover it to be honest.

Sue Ellen

The only additional payment on Jobbridge is the €50. There is no payment for travel and nothing extra in the last 2 months.

Irishmaster

Sue Ellen wrote: »

The only additional payment on Jobbridge is the €50. There is no payment for travel and nothing extra in the last 2 months.

Ok!