Terus Nua

Nomis21

I am 4 weeks off my 62nd birthday, an age at which I no longer have to 'engage' with work activations.

Terus Nua have sent me an appointment letter for an interview with them saying that I will have to work with Terus Nua for one year, even though this would be 11 months longer than my 62nd birthday.

Is this really possible...?

eastbono

Yes once you are under 62 years of age when you are called by Tuaras Nua you have to engage with them.

Nomis21

Yes but do I have to continue to engage with them after my 62nd Birthday? They say that I do.

mp22

There is a lack of information about that point on the depts website,one would have to presume that as you have been selected prior to your 62nd birthday you may have to engage with turas nua for a year.You need to ask them and the dept for clarification,but do so in writing.

Nomis21

Thanks mp22

I am producing medical certificates to cover the period until my 62 nd birthday as I have an illness.

Will this mean that I will not have to engage with Terus Nua at all, even though they first approached me by letter before I was 62?

I have not signed any agreement with them or attended any meetings with them.

mp22

Nomis21 wrote: »

Thanks mp22

I am producing medical certificates to cover the period until my 62 nd birthday as I have an illness.

Will this mean that I will not have to engage with Terus Nua at all, even though they first approached me by letter before I was 62?

I have not signed any agreement with them or attended any meetings with them.

If you are ill you should not be claiming JSB/JSA,you would need to be claiming illness benefit or something similar.

Nomis21

I am applying for Disability allowance but the DSP said to stay on JA until a decision is made.

mp22

Fair enough,they probably should never have called you.

eastbono

You can remain on JA until a decision is made on your DA application. If you applied for DA then your engagement with Turas Nua should be paused until there is an outcome on your DA application.

Nomis21

So as I will be over 62 years old when there is an outcome on my DA decision, would I be free of the clutches of Terus Nua at that point in time...?

wmpdd3

My father was refused da and appealed twice, he gave up at 63 and stayed on JSA for 6 months.

When he turned 63.5 he received a letter saying he would no longer have go engage in activation measures etc and only had to sign on annually.

In my opinion, turas nua are picking low hanging fruit, you must look lightly to gain employment. Bring a copy of your da application and don't engage in anything that may damage your health.

hope this helps

Nomis21

Thanks wmpdd3,

But at 62 years old and being a bus driver and now with no driving licence and out of work 6 years with multiple health issues would really classify me as 'Low hanging fruit'...

wmpdd3

They only have to get you working for 6 months, even if they get you one shift a week, there get paid.

There are loads of courses where you get your driver's liecence. They probably have your earmarked for one these.

There's a check list, you must score high.

You are closer to the labour market than some!

The final appeal letter from the server said my father (previously a builder) could work for 2 hours per day at a computer. It was ruthless.

I hope you can get a resolution to this.

I'm sure you have found these links, but just in case:

http://www.joanburton.ie/social-welfare-and-pensions-bill-2013-second-stage-speech/

However, in recognition of the difficult position facing some older workers – as well as their longstanding contribution to the State – I have instructed Departmental staff that, from January 2014, such compulsory conditions will no longer be applied to older people who seek the support of the jobseeker schemes in advance of pension age. In addition, arrangements will be made so that these older people will only have to register with their local office once a year and will have their jobseeker payments paid directly into their bank accounts.

This instruction means that persons on the jobseeker schemes aged 62 or over will not be subjected to the activation-related sanctions which are provided for in legislation, such as payment rate reductions and temporary withdrawal of benefit. However, where a person over 62 wants support to reskill or re-train, they may voluntarily seek to avail of an array of such supports. In this way, we will continue to support longer working while acknowledging the contribution of those moving towards retirement.

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Jobseeker's-Benefit.aspx

Penalty rates

Your payment can be reduced if you refuse or fail to attend meetings requested by the Department or if you refuse or fail to participate in an appropriate employment support scheme, work experience or training. You can find out about sanctions for not meeting the conditions of your jobseeker's payment. Penalty rates do not apply to people aged over 62 from 1 January 2014.

My reading of this is, if you do not engage, the SW cannot reduce / cut your payment.

Nomis21

The problem is that if you are summoned to be included in the programe of Terus Nua ANYTIME before your 62nd birthday, you are then obliged to continue with Terus Nua for one whole year, even if this takes you past the date of your 62nd birthday.

What I am not sure about however is that if one is exempt from Terus Nua because of an application for disability allowance that is made before my 62nd birthday, but I am thenturned down for DA after I am 62 years old, will I still have to engage with Terus Nua as I was summoned to Terus Nua originaly before my 62nd birthday?

LegacyUser

A lot of misinformation about Turas Nua and Seetec is being bandied about. Their aim is to help long term jobseekers to find full time work (30 hours per week) and facilitate independent living. If you find part time employment you will still be required to engage with them.

Jobseekers are selected at random by Department of Social Protection Central Office and referred to either Seetec or Turas Nua, they do not cherry pick their customers. They are committed to providing a fair and equally accessible service to each individual. Every customer is given the same opportunity and access to services.

Each jobseeker, by signing on and accepting their weekly payment is affirming that they are:
a) genuinley seeking work
b) available for work
c) capable of working
If a jobseeker does not satisfy any of the above 3 criteria they should not be claiming a jobseeker payment.

With regards to customers who are under 62. If a person is referred when they are 61 they are required to engage until their 62nd birthday. Then it becomes a local issue. Some local DSP offices send letters to customers saying that they may withdraw from activation measures with no financial penalty, others do not. Seetec and Turas Nua have no power or right to remove a person from the programme, it is entirely a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Nomis21

Ms. Information wrote: »

A lot of misinformation about Turas Nua and Seetec is being bandied about. Their aim is to help long term jobseekers to find full time work (30 hours per week) and facilitate independent living. If you find part time employment you will still be required to engage with them.

Jobseekers are selected at random by Department of Social Protection Central Office and referred to either Seetec or Turas Nua, they do not cherry pick their customers. They are committed to providing a fair and equally accessible service to each individual. Every customer is given the same opportunity and access to services.

Each jobseeker, by signing on and accepting their weekly payment is affirming that they are:
a) genuinley seeking work
b) available for work
c) capable of working
If a jobseeker does not satisfy any of the above 3 criteria they should not be claiming a jobseeker payment.

With regards to customers who are under 62. If a person is referred when they are 61 they are required to engage until their 62nd birthday. Then it becomes a local issue. Some local DSP offices send letters to customers saying that they may withdraw from activation measures with no financial penalty, others do not. Seetec and Turas Nua have no power or right to remove a person from the programme, it is entirely a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

You say that each recipient of JA should be capable of work but in fact if one applies for DA then one is not available for work although sstaying on JA.

marguerite2000

Does anyone know if you can take holidays whilst engaging with jobpath ,same as on jobseekers allowance ,my other half has recently started with jobpath and already had taken half his allowed days to go see an ill family member before starting,we must go again in few months ,he would still have had 1 week left does this still count now,

blindsider

Nomis21 wrote: »

You say that each recipient of JA should be capable of work but in fact if one applies for DA then one is not available for work although sstaying on JA.

TBF - that's a temporary situation. It will be resolved one way or the other when a decision on DA is made.

blindsider

marguerite2000 wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can take holidays whilst engaging with jobpath ,same as on jobseekers allowance ,my other half has recently started with jobpath and already had taken half his allowed days to go see an ill family member before starting,we must go again in few months ,he would still have had 1 week left does this still count now,

AFAIK, JobPath hols are exactly the same as DSP-allowed hols.

I reckon that your OH is still allowed another week. Is he travelling abroad to see the family member? If not, a shorter break or long w/e might do.....?

LegacyUser

If you have submitted an application for DA then you are paused on the Jobpath programme while awaiting the decision. You will not be required to engage during this time. If your application is successful you will be removed from the programme, if not you will be required to re-engage.

You are entitled to two weeks holiday while on a jobseekers payment, the same applies to Jobpath. You must inform both your local Department of Social Protection and your Jobpath Adviser when you wish to take holidays. You may take one week at a time or two weeks together.

Nomis21

"Seetec and Turas Nua have no power or right to remove a person from the programme, it is entirely a matter for the Department of Social Protection."


Turas Nua removed me from their programme when I filled out a disability allowance application in their office. So they do have the power to remove someone from their programme.

wmpdd3

It would seem you might be 'paused' rather than removed from. Just a heads up in case they try to re - engage you after DA refuse you and you have to appeal.

Nomis21

Today I was asked for my bank account details to be paid by bank credit instead of at the post office and told I don't have to sign on for another year. The woman on the DSP front desk said that she could not see anything on her screen to say that I was engaged with Turas Nua,

I think it takes several months to process a DA claim and I can't imagine at that time unless they are completely bloody-minded, that when I am well passed my 62nd birthday that Terus Nua would waste their resources on someone of my age who has multiple health issues, especially as they only get paid by results.

Or am I deluding myself...?

aoife1924

Does anyone know anything about actually working as a service advisor for Turas Nua?

mp22

Back on topic please.