Returned emigrant - no help or training to find work?

Jobseeker 1980 · 29-08-2016 5:57pm #1

Hi there,

I wonder if anyone has any insights that can help me. I'm a recently returned emigrant, coming back from France with my family. My wife is moving within her company and has a job here, but I don't. I last worked in France a couple of years ago, but once my last contract finished I decided to stay at home with the kids until we moved back to Ireland.

Fast forward to now, and it seems that due to my wife's huge salary (55k or so before tax) I am not eligible for any sort of jobseeker's allowance or benefit, and worse again (as I want to get back to work ASAP) I do not qualify for any sort of training or educational courses that will bring my skills up to date and get me back into the workplace.

The guy at the Intreo office was very nice, and his position was that, by denying me the ability to register any sort of claim, I was essentially a non-person from the government's point of view and would not appear on the live register as unemployed. He said it's not in their interests to recognise my existence, even though with a 6-month or 1-year course, I'd be straight back into work and they would never see me again.

So, does this sound right? Basically, that I qualify for no government help at all with regard to finding work?

And secondly, does anyone have any suggestions for (ideally cheap or free) courses or programmes in IT or business that I could access regardless of my being denied 'jobseeker' status?

Thanks for any help.

ttsnar · 29-08-2016 8:34pm

Try Springboard.ie for free courses for unemployed.

Jobseeker 1980 · 29-08-2016 8:36pm

ttsnar wrote: »

Try Springboard.ie for free courses for unemployed.

But this is the problem - officially, I'm not unemployed as I don't qualify for a payment. I don't exist!

yenom · 29-08-2016 10:40pm

It's to deter welfare tourism.

Jobseeker 1980 · 29-08-2016 10:46pm

yenom wrote: »

It's to deter welfare tourism.

I'm not sure how it would, as apparently the problem is my wife's salary. Because she earns over x amount (I'm not sure what the cut-off would be) I'm a non-person as far as Intreo is concerned.

SusanC10 · 29-08-2016 11:02pm

I was told the same thing. Because my Husband earns a certain amount that I was not able to access any courses etc. I am not a returned emigrant.

Jobseeker 1980 · 29-08-2016 11:11pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

I was told the same thing. Because my Husband earns a certain amount that I was not able to access any courses etc. I am not a returned emigrant.

I suppose it's cold comfort to learn that I'm not alone. I wonder does anyone have any advice, tips or solutions?

MouseTail · 29-08-2016 11:50pm

You do not need to be on the live register to access the Springboard ICT conversion courses.

30-08-2016 6:17am

Go to Citizens information . They will know of any help or supports you can access in getting back into the workplace . You may not be entitled to anything but you need to sign on for credits and build up a social insurance record . They really are excellent &#55357;&#56832;&#55357;&#56397;

Eire Go Brach · 30-08-2016 6:23am

Can you not claim credits and do part time courses at least. I was refused JA when we got means tested. But I was eligible to claim credits and I was under the impression I could do part time courses.

BaaLamb · 30-08-2016 6:29am

http://www.skillnets.ie/eligibility-criteria-unemployed-people#eligible-individuals-not-welfare

You're eligible for skillnet courses if they're of any interest?

CalamariFritti · 30-08-2016 6:42am

Its a bit of a dramatisation to call yourself a non-person or a non-citizen. Your household is simply being means tested and you come out at the wrong end. Happened to me, too.

Jobseeker 1980 · 30-08-2016 5:00pm

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Its a bit of a dramatisation to call yourself a non-person or a non-citizen. Your household is simply being means tested and you come out at the wrong end. Happened to me, too.

Many thanks for all the helpful replies. With regard to your point, Calamari, I have no problem with means testing, or even of falling foul of means testing - my contention is that means testing should not be linked to providing training or skills for unemployed people trying to get work, as seems to be the case.

I'm going to look up all the suggestions provided thus far - if anyone else has some guidance or ideas, please do share it.

wmpdd3 · 30-08-2016 9:07pm

My friend was in the same boat when he came home from Canada, his wife is a vet.

He signed up to be an apprentice electrician!

It was the only way.
He qualified this year though he had no interest in working in that sector, it got him out of a hole.

He went into the office On the Friday he came home and started the apprenticeship 10 days later.

FloatingVoter · 30-08-2016 9:37pm

So a qualified vet. Fair play. Nice living.
Now married to an electrician. When will Ireland get over the fact that some minimum wage untalented computer programmer / confused accountant is worth more than someone with the ability to save a life or wire a house / office.

I would rather be a painter / decorator (for real, not dealing on the side) than someone with Python / J++++ skills who takes a nap and goes out of date.

OP, you may not be that...but keep the options open.... and with leadership skills, let the kids invent the future while you figure out how to form teams that work together. Most bosses are out of touch with the cutting edge. They enjoy hearing about rumours of it over tea.

Pawwed Rig · 30-08-2016 9:43pm

Can you not pay for a course yourself OP? If you can't afford it then beg borrow or steal to do it. Not meaning to be harsh but the State doesn't owe you anything. You've had the luxury of staying at home for the last few years which is something many people would love to afford to do.

Jobseeker 1980 · 31-08-2016 12:21am

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Can you not pay for a course yourself OP? If you can't afford it then beg borrow or steal to do it. Not meaning to be harsh but the State doesn't owe you anything. You've had the luxury of staying at home for the last few years which is something many people would love to afford to do.

I'll look into it, but after creche fees and the mortgage, we will not exactly be swimming in cash. I'd rather not have had the 'luxury' of staying at home and would have preferred the luxury of earning thousands of euro instead...

Pawwed Rig · 31-08-2016 5:39am

In your opening post you said you decided to stay at home rather than were forced to.
You could save on creche fees by doing a course at home (IT suits home study). Try Open University for example.

uck51js9zml2yt · 31-08-2016 6:09am

You should be able to sign on for credits.
This will entitle you to courses etc.

31-08-2016 6:28am

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Can you not pay for a course yourself OP? If you can't afford it then beg borrow or steal to do it. Not meaning to be harsh but the State doesn't owe you anything. You've had the luxury of staying at home for the last few years which is something many people would love to afford to do.

Staying at home is often not a "luxury" but a necessity when you do have young kids and do the sums .
OP question is how to get on courses now he's back in Ireland , not about whether was so lucky and had the luxury to be a house husband .

None of us know people's circumstances or lives to make those judgements .

Again I would say go to your local Citizens Information .....signing on for credits is a must! You should never be invisible from a social insurance record point of view 😏

Pawwed Rig · 31-08-2016 7:11am

Deleted User wrote: »

Staying at home is often not a "luxury" but a necessity when you do have young kids and do the sums

Agreed

Deleted User wrote: »

None of us know people's circumstances or lives to make those judgements

We do know his circumstances coz he told us

Jobseeker 1980 wrote: »

I last worked in France a couple of years ago, but once my last contract finished I decided to stay at home with the kids until we moved back to Ireland.

He decided to stay at home for a couple of years and now is short of money. Cause and effect.

OP apologies if you thought I was being judgemental here but genuinely trying to give you advice.

If the State start giving benefits to families on 55K then we will need to increase social welfare spending significantly. You have no record in the last few years in contributing to the DSP by way of PRSI therefore have no entitlement to non means tested benefits. You were means tested and found not to be in need. On that basis you need to stand on your own two feet and sort this out yourself.
Stay at home while doing your course to mind the kids. Study in the evening time after they goto bed or get the Mother to pitch in freeing up your time.
IT lectures are often streamed so are easy to fit in around your schedule whatever that may be.
You are going to need to make sacrifices to get where you want to go and it is not going to be easy but it is achievable if you put your mind to it.

livedadream · 31-08-2016 10:39am

its one of those things, you are not entitled to anything because you have not paid into the system.

you chose to move back and your wife effectively makes too much money for the state to need to support you.

try looking at local courses, ETB etc they are cheaper than college courses and might give you the start you need.

Jobseeker 1980 · 31-08-2016 5:07pm

livedadream wrote: »

its one of those things, you are not entitled to anything because you have not paid into the system.

you chose to move back and your wife effectively makes too much money for the state to need to support you.

try looking at local courses, ETB etc they are cheaper than college courses and might give you the start you need.

I paid into the system here for years, and then paid into the system in France. But this, just to emphasize, is not the problem - I don't care about getting money for sitting on my backside, I care that they have linked training to benefits payments. It's bizarre that, if my wife earned 5k less, or we had anther child, I'd be entitled to training (to get back to work and paying taxes). A motivated and educated person can go swing, it seems, depending on the income of their spouse. It seems perverse and unfair.

As for 'deciding' or being obliged to stay at home, let's just say that these decisions usually occur on a spectrum and are not black and white, and I opted not to bore people with an exact blow-by blow.

uck51js9zml2yt · 31-08-2016 5:17pm

As I said earlier, you are entitled to sign on for credits.
Once you do this, you will be able to get courses etc.
Happened a friend of mine. His wife earned too much. He signed on for credits and did a springboard course.
You will also be able to do skillnet courses once your registered with social welfare.

MouseTail · 01-09-2016 6:19pm

You are entitled to free training and further education, from unaccredited right up to Masters level (if, as tatranska says you sign for credits). You won't receive payment or an allowance, but you can access the courses free. Intreo have no interest in dealing with you, you are not their client group, they engage with people on the live register.

Sign for credits, do your research on free courses out there, and apply. Simples.

Returned emigrant - no help or training to find work?

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