Internship, getting work and the Social welfare

ArtieBucco

Hi
I was recently participating on a Jobbridge scheme, i had about 6 months done, and the host employer mentioned to me that i may not have a job at the end of the nine months, that they where tendering for new contracts etc, and that they where unsuccessful.

I said fine, and i decided to look for work, and one day a company called me and asked if i would be interested in doing a trial run with them. So i did, and unfortunately it did not work out, so i decided to make contact with the first company about finishing my jobbridge. they told me that they had signed me off the jobbridge scheme.

During the trial run, i was not getting paid, and i decided to keep the benefits...and yes i know i was wrong, and should have mentioned it.

now the social welfare have picked up on it, and are looking for reasons on why i never mentioned it, and its getting very nasty. I tried to be honest and told them my situation, and unfortunatley they are not happy. I'm not working now and cannot claim any benefits.

What should i do?

Thanks for any advice

Mrs OBumble

Go to Citizen's Advice, and ask them to help you figure out how long you are disqualified from claiming for.

PopTarts

You shouldn't be disqualified from claiming a benefit if you have evidence that it was a trial and you're no longer there. They can raise an overpayment for the period you were on trial though.