Social Welfare meetings

Micky8728

Got a letter to attend a group job meeting in the social welfare office in cavan. It is over an hour drive from my house. I rang them up as I have no way to get there and I was told if I did not attend my money would be cut. I think this is disgraceful. Anyone else get called to these meeting?

Atlantic Dawn

Define no way to get there.

Micky8728

Well my car is kinda broke I shouldnt be driving it.. And unless I pay for a taxi down to cavan i wont be able to get down.. I couldn afford to pay for a taxi an hour down and back up again plus however long Im in the meeting.. It would be half my dole gone

Micky8728

Micky8728 wrote: »

Well my car is kinda broke I shouldnt be driving it.. And unless I pay for a taxi down to cavan i wont be able to get down.. I couldn afford to pay for a taxi an hour down and back up again plus however long Im in the meeting.. It would be half my dole gone

Rather that than losing it all!

Is there no bus service? Or have you a pal/family member that could drive you? Is that where you usually sign on, if so, how do you get there?

Atlantic Dawn

There should be some bus route, could end up needing to take 2 or even 3, pain in the hole but if you don't go they will be on your case and will cut it.

This site is handy to show all options...
http://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en

The Raptor

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Rather that than losing it all!

Is there no bus service? Or have you a pal/family member that could drive you? Is that where you usually sign on, if so, how do you get there?

If he's in a rural area which I'm guessing he is with an hour's drive, there's only a slip of paper posted to him, sign and send back once a month.

The Raptor

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

There should be some bus route, could end up needing to take 2 or even 3, pain in the hole but if you don't go they will be on your case and will cut it.

This site is handy to show all options...
http://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en

I've been in this situation before relying on buses in a rural area and you might have to have an overnight stay as well if it's at 9am. Or some areas with only one bus a day passing through. It's a nightmare.

Though I'm not sure what the OP's situation is.

The Raptor

The Raptor wrote: »

If he's in a rural area which I'm guessing he is with an hour's drive, there's only a slip of paper posted to him, sign and send back once a month.

Really? I thought everyone signing on full time had to present themselves at their local DSP Office once a Month?

If OP fails to engage with DSP, they could well cut payments. If it isn't possible to appear at that time, that day, they need inform them and arrange a new date.

The Raptor

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Really? I thought everyone signing on full time had to present themselves at their local DSP Office once a Month?

Unless if they changed it recently but i highly doubt it.

wally1990

Out of work and claiming the dole(fair enough)

If they requested you attend the job meeting then you must make it in your best interest to attend at all cost this meeting as it could lead to a job and coming off the dole

Not attending the job meeting because it's an hour away and in your opinion disgraceful will not wash the SW and they will cut your dole. This seems fair

. They cannot be blamed for **** public transport . It's your personal responsibility to attend where they ask you to attend. They are not in the habit (or shouldn't be ) of handing out money and have it in yours and their interest for you to get a job

Make an effort to attend. And best of luck

chillin117

There is always a way if you bother your arse looking for it. It's better than the dreaded ''There's nothing there for you'' when you rock into the Post Office in a week or 2 :eek:

flutered

visit the local welfare officer, he/she may, i repeat may be able to refund you some or all of your travel costs on submission of your recipts, meet them first and see where you stand

flutered

chillin117 wrote: »

There is always a way if you bother your arse looking for it. It's better than the dreaded ''There's nothing there for you'' when you rock into the Post Office in a week or 2 :eek:

you are really some help, hopefully karma meets up

unseenfootage

There is always a way.

Millions of people around the world commute hours every day to and from work.

In England it is not unusual for even professionals who can't afford to live in London to commute for a couple of hours in overcrowded trains at an exorbitant cost to themselves.

Say what you like but social Welfare in Ireland is really exceptional. I don't think people realize how great they have it here.

chillin117

flutered wrote: »

you are really some help, hopefully karma meets up

Think of the alternative. Only the OP knows how to get from home to B. 4 faults at the Post Office is a definite possibility.

Xenji

Deleted User wrote: »

Really? I thought everyone signing on full time had to present themselves at their local DSP Office once a Month?

If OP fails to engage with DSP, they could well cut payments. If it isn't possible to appear at that time, that day, they need inform them and arrange a new date.

A lot of people now do not have to sign for 12 months, but instead see their case officer once every 3 months for a progress type meeting, if they do not find work in that 12 months they are moved on to Jobpath or other activation schemes.

Sleeper12

Micky8728 wrote:

Got a letter to attend a group job meeting in the social welfare office in cavan. It is over an hour drive from my house. I rang them up as I have no way to get there and I was told if I did not attend my money would be cut. I think this is disgraceful. Anyone else get called to these meeting?

Social welfare would be thinking if he can't get here then how could he get to a job. Therefore, by their way of thinking, you are not available for work. Not available for work not entitled to jobs seekers.
Life can be cruel sometimes

wally1990

I have a family member (who is a complete waster) who is 25 . and been on the dole all his life and gets €100 a week

Was on job bridge for 2 days and quit because the builder said he would give him €100 extra a week
So the dole of €188
€50 for job bridge
€100 from builder

And he quit because and I quote ' I'm not working for no extra €20 a day from that builder. I should be on €100 a day'

So he quit and SW cut his dole to €100

He continues to blame society and **** for his crap life

I don't understand people at all.

unseenfootage

wally1990 wrote: »

I have a family member (who is a complete waster) who is 25 . and been on the dole all his life and gets €100 a week

Was on job bridge for 2 days and quit because the builder said he would give him €100 extra a week
So the dole of €188
€50 for job bridge
€100 from builder

And he quit because and I quote ' I'm not working for no extra €20 a day from that builder. I should be on €100 a day'

So he quit and SW cut his dole to €100

He continues to blame society and **** for his crap life

I don't understand people at all.

Hate to say it but there needs to be a sanctions system like they have in U.K to deal with wastemen like that.

SEPT 23 1989

Could you borrow a push bike for the day?

wally1990

unseenfootage wrote: »

Hate to say it but there needs to be a sanctions system like they have in U.K to deal with wastemen like that.

Completely agree. He will never work and lives in an area where it is common

He also told me his friend who has no intention of getting a job had to attend an interview with SW to assist in getting him a job took the piss out of the meeting by saying he likes to excess drink. Would possibly drink on a job and regularly takes drugs so basically the SW said come back when your in a better position .

He knew he would be told F off and did so because he too doesn't want a job.

And this guy doesn't even take drugs or drink much he was all lies because he doesn't want to work

That drives me mad. Wasters like pure and utter waste

njs030

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Social welfare would be thinking if he can't get here then how could he get to a job. Therefore, by their way of thinking, you are not available for work. Not available for work not entitled to jobs seekers.
Life can be cruel sometimes

This is the best post on here op.

How would you travel to work and back?

Heckler

wally1990 wrote: »

I have a family member (who is a complete waster) who is 25 . and been on the dole all his life and gets €100 a week

Was on job bridge for 2 days and quit because the builder said he would give him €100 extra a week
So the dole of €188
€50 for job bridge
€100 from builder

And he quit because and I quote ' I'm not working for no extra €20 a day from that builder. I should be on €100 a day'

So he quit and SW cut his dole to €100

He continues to blame society and **** for his crap life

I don't understand people at all.

What an idiot.

The system is fecked. When I was laid off after working 14 years I got my benefits ( that i paid for) for 9 months. Less than 2 weeks after I started getting allowance I was called in to the DSP to discuss Jobbridge, Courses etc. That was fine by me. I was sick of sitting around all day. Did an online course paid for by the DSP which led me to going back to college for a year.(again paid for by the DSP and still getting payments) A month after the course finished I got a job again.

My problem is they have no interest in going after the long term unemployed. They have written them off .

All in all the DSP actually worked out for me well in the end surprisingly. If you are actually actively interested in working they will try to help you I found.

Bongalongherb

It doesn't matter if you are 200 miles away, a person must be there at the time specified or the persons payment will be stopped, it's just the way it works now. The SW don't mess around, so if they say be there at that time for the meeting, then you need to be there.

myshirt

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Could you borrow a push bike for the day?

You beat me to it.

Op, this is exactly what you should do. Think long term also, this meeting may lead to a job. You need to be absolutely busting your bollix morning noon and night to get a job, that's the deal.

Thargor

Hitch! There isn't a rural area in Ireland where you can't stick out your thumb and have a lift within 2 or 3 cars passing you.

Fries-With-That

Micky8728 wrote: »

Got a letter to attend a group job meeting in the social welfare office in cavan. It is over an hour drive from my house. I rang them up as I have no way to get there and I was told if I did not attend my money would be cut. I think this is disgraceful. Anyone else get called to these meeting?

Hi Micky,

I notice from some of your other posts you have completed a community employment scheme, and were trying to get onto a tus scheme but couldn't because you needed to be off the community employment scheme for a year to qualify.

I think this meeting might be very worthwhile for you as it is about a job rather than a scheme.

I think some posters were tongue in cheek suggesting you get a bike not as daft an idea as it sounds, if you get the job you can fix your car, and wouldn't have to rely on your parents for broadband either.

If i was in your position I would ask anybody I knew to give me a lift to the meeting.

I am curious as to what part of cavan you live in that is an hours drive away from your social welfare office.

The Raptor

Thargor wrote: »

Hitch! There isn't a rural area in Ireland where you can't stick out your thumb and have a lift within 2 or 3 cars passing you.

This. I've done it years ago but not to a social welfare meeting.

loyatemu

wally1990 wrote: »

Completely agree. He will never work and lives in an area where it is common

He also told me his friend who has no intention of getting a job had to attend an interview with SW to assist in getting him a job took the piss out of the meeting by saying he likes to excess drink. Would possibly drink on a job and regularly takes drugs so basically the SW said come back when your in a better position .

He knew he would be told F off and did so because he too doesn't want a job.

And this guy doesn't even take drugs or drink much he was all lies because he doesn't want to work

That drives me mad. Wasters like pure and utter waste

shades of Spud from Trainspotting there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVp9rKF3hag

chillin117

The OP has vanished, Probably started walking. . . . .

FloatingVoter

Genuinely Seeking Work is the big three words nowadays (for the last decade). ^;) Showing up stoned with no forms filled in for the appointment means you need to make another appointment. Another week or three with no cash - the BASI people turn off the tap after an excuse or two as well.
Living full-bodied and able up the side of a hill and unable to meet an appointment with plenty of notice means you are not GSW.
And while we're on hermits, where does the OP go when they need food, sex, drink, batteries, light bulbs, a new computer ?

And not to be mean, here is how a master does the stunt....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHc9w5l2XIk

rawn

Micky8728 wrote: »

Well my car is kinda broke I shouldnt be driving it.. And unless I pay for a taxi down to cavan i wont be able to get down.. I couldn afford to pay for a taxi an hour down and back up again plus however long Im in the meeting.. It would be half my dole gone

I'm guessing this means that the OP would be able for work once it's fixed? (Someone mentioned that if he can't make the interview it means he can't make it to a job so might not qualify). He/she does qualify as they own the car, and if it's only "kinda" broke then should be available soon.

As others have said, borrow a push bike and cycle, or go halfway around the county on 10 different buses to get there or pay for a taxi which would probably cost the same but is more straightforward. When my OH lived in Kingscourt he had to sign on every 3 months, so a few of them would hire a taxi and it would only cost about a fiver each. Maybe a local taxi man can work something out with you? (This would never fly in Dublin but rural Ireland is a whole different kettle of fish!)

The short of it is, you absolutely have plenty of options to get there, and I would choose one and not even MENTION to the SW how awkward/annoying it was. Just show up on time, fully prepared and with a smile on your face

SCOOP 64

wally1990 wrote: »

I have a family member (who is a complete waster) who is 25 . and been on the dole all his life and gets €100 a week

Was on job bridge for 2 days and quit because the builder said he would give him €100 extra a week
So the dole of €188
€50 for job bridge
€100 from builder

And he quit because and I quote ' I'm not working for no extra €20 a day from that builder. I should be on €100 a day'

So he quit and SW cut his dole to €100

He continues to blame society and **** for his crap life

I don't understand people at all.

The builder should just take him on full time and not rely on jobbridge even if it was for €9.15hr it still would be a full time job for someone, even if he wouldn't take it, plenty would , nothing worst then being without a job.

Micky8728

I havent had to sign any slips since I signed on in december.. I appreciate them helping us find work but I think they should come to different towns for people with no transport.. There is only one bus one day a week going to cavan town where I am. And it come back like an hour later so I doesnt suit..

rawn

Micky8728 wrote:

I havent had to sign any slips since I signed on in december.. I appreciate them helping us find work but I think they should come to different towns for people with no transport.. There is only one bus one day a week going to cavan town where I am. And it come back like an hour later so I doesnt suit..

What about getting a bus one way and getting a taxi the other?

Sleeper12

Micky8728 wrote:

I havent had to sign any slips since I signed on in december.. I appreciate them helping us find work but I think they should come to different towns for people with no transport.. There is only one bus one day a week going to cavan town where I am. And it come back like an hour later so I doesnt suit..

If you had no transport how could you travel to a job. I live in Dublin and plenty of people spend an hour or an hour and a half driving to work. some people cycle an hour each way every day. Some walk again anything up to 90 minutes each way every day.
I'm not trying to be smart but If it were me I'd crawl there if I had to

rawn

What needs to be fixed in your car?

chillin117

Micky8728 wrote: »

I havent had to sign any slips since I signed on in december.. I appreciate them helping us find work but I think they should come to different towns for people with no transport.. There is only one bus one day a week going to cavan town where I am. And it come back like an hour later so I doesnt suit..

I don't think they will come to you. Bottom line, Get there or payment cut/suspended. Simple choice really. How would you get to a job if your car does not start when its running again ?

TheChizler

Borrow a car and get your insurance transferred to it for the day?

The Raptor

I think its an absolute stupid question that if he cant get there, how will he get to work.

Nobody knows the difficultly living in a rural area. Did i read that correctly, only one bus per week?

I lived in a rural village. It was a big enough village with a few buses a day. But getting out of town in the evenings, can't be done unless if you hitch home or get a lift.

I was asked the very same question at a meeting about how would i get to work in a different village in the county? Which required two buses in the morning. One into town and another from there totalling about a one hour and 30 minutes journey. But between bus times, you wouldn't be able to start until 10am. If that was the case, you would be missing the bus home, 5 days a week. Just because if you had a car, it would be a 20 minute drive. They even expected mammy and daddy to give me a lift. Daddy left the house, mammy never had a car but they expect you as an adult to rely on your parents. In reality, i was only able for anything on the bus route into town, not a second bus.

My advice, move into a city for work.

Any neighbours or friends driving to work into Cavan town in the mornings to get into this meeting?

rawn

The Raptor wrote:

I think its an absolute stupid question that if he cant get there, how will he get to work.

He has a car. It's just a little bit broke.

Sn@kebite

One of the main (legal) criteria to get JA/JB is you must be able to work.

If you can't get around at all this could be seen as you not being able to work so they might cut your money.

Tread carefully.

Canadel

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Social welfare would be thinking if he can't get here then how could he get to a job. Therefore, by their way of thinking, you are not available for work. Not available for work not entitled to jobs seekers.
Life can be cruel sometimes

People can be cruel all the time.

chillin117

Canadel wrote: »

People can be cruel all the time.

Such is life

mp22

Closed