Turas nua/Jobpath

Blondiee

I know there's plenty of posts on this but I can't seem to find anyone else in my position.Got a letter inviting me to a meeting with turas nua only problem is I've a one year old and no transport.Now before anyone jumps down my throat I am actively seeking work anywhere and in anything possible but to no luck.As for transport I'm living in a very rural part so there isn't even a bus so its going to cost me €30 taxi fare there and the same back researching online and it seems after the initial meeting I'll be called in twice a week,how am I suppse to afford that when I have a child to support that's even without childcare?Now if it was a job interview I'd be hoping to get the job same as if it was a job I'd be making the money to cover costs of travel and childcare.I'm not co habitating I live with parents but dad works full time and my mum is not well and has to go for an operation in a few weeks so this letter couldn't have come at a worse time as otherwise my mum would of been able to mind my daughter.

infogiver

Blondiee not here to argue ok!
Is there a reason your not on OPFP which is the same money and much more suitable for you?

Blondiee

infogiver wrote: »

Blondiee not here to argue ok!
Is there a reason your not on OPFP which is the same money and much more suitable for you?

I never saw the need to. I am actively seeking work as a job is what I need the most and its the same amount of money anyway.

smjm

Blondiee wrote: »

I know there's plenty of posts on this but I can't seem to find anyone else in my position.Got a letter inviting me to a meeting with turas nua only problem is I've a one year old and no transport.Now before anyone jumps down my throat I am actively seeking work anywhere and in anything possible but to no luck.As for transport I'm living in a very rural part so there isn't even a bus so its going to cost me €30 taxi fare there and the same back researching online and it seems after the initial meeting I'll be called in twice a week,how am I suppse to afford that when I have a child to support that's even without childcare?Now if it was a job interview I'd be hoping to get the job same as if it was a job I'd be making the money to cover costs of travel and childcare.I'm not co habitating I live with parents but dad works full time and my mum is not well and has to go for an operation in a few weeks so this letter couldn't have come at a worse time as otherwise my mum would of been able to mind my daughter.

Might be best to just get in contact with them tomorrow Blondiee. See what they say and maybe post back here with their response. Their contact details and blurb are here: http://turasnua.ie/content/view/Service+statement

Edit: by the way, no one is allowed to "jump down your throat." If they do, report the post!

infogiver

Blondiee wrote: »

I never saw the need to. I am actively seeking work as a job is what I need the most and its the same amount of money anyway.

Ok, so it's your choice then. You can be on OPFP and still look for work in your own time and on your own terms and if you do find work you can have the first €110 of your wages disregarded in the means test, and if you can get 19 1/2 hours you can also get FIS, so you would have wages, OPFP and FIS.
But it's your desicion to make so best of luck with your meeting

Blondiee

smjm wrote: »

Might be best to just get in contact with them tomorrow Blondiee. See what they say and maybe post back here with their response. Their contact details and blurb are here: http://turasnua.ie/content/view/Service+statement

Edit: by the way, no one is allowed to "jump down your throat." If they do, report the post!

Thank you any idea which would be best an email or a phone call?

smjm

Blondiee wrote: »

Thank you any idea which would be best an email or a phone call?

I guess whatever you're more confident with really. If the meeting date isn't too soon, then maybe try email first. At least then you'll have any response in writing. You can always ring them afterwards if they're slow answering or if the meeting date is fast approaching.

If they're no help, then perhaps you can contact the Community Welfare Officer and see if they can help, either directly or by referral to some other agency. I don't know if they can, but no harm in asking: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/community_welfare_officers.html

misstearheus

I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere (Don't ask where 'cos I can't remember, it was possibly a Boards post,) that you get Expenses for Travel for going to 1 of those Meetings? So that might be a teeny bit of help with the Taxi.... Have you tried a Neighbour or extended family to look after your child? You could get asked what would you do with your child if you had to intend an Interview.... But another point as well though is.... what would a person at home with kids do if they had to attend Bi-weekly Meetings.... They would have to have arrangements in place for the kids too. Just throwing up some potential problems....

Have never been with Turas Nua, but I'm just curious what would happen if you told them it would not be possible to attend due to a family member who had no assistance being in Hospital, but that you would co-operate with any Phone-calls or Paper-work or whatever, and would be very willing to re-schedule for a future date.... I know their point of view would be that oh well you wouldn't be able to do that for an Interview and how would you manage to get to work if that happened, and they are dead-right too, you wouldn't be able to do anything like that for an Interview! But I'm just really curious as to what a person would do in that case.....

O.P. I don't know where you are but if you're anywhere near Galway pm me and we'll see if there's anything I can do to help....

Blondiee

So little update got a phone call from them not helpful in anyway mainly just if I don't turn up money will be cut and thats it.Asked and they can't help out with a taxi only public transfer such as a bus which I already stated there is no bus here.I'm not close to any neighbours very much keep to myself so I don't know who I would even trust with my child and she's 1 so won't just stay with anyone not that I would let her either.Absolutely no idea where to go from here.

infogiver

Blondiee wrote: »

So little update got a phone call from them not helpful in anyway mainly just if I don't turn up money will be cut and thats it.Asked and they can't help out with a taxi only public transfer such as a bus which I already stated there is no bus here.I'm not close to any neighbours very much keep to myself so I don't know who I would even trust with my child and she's 1 so won't just stay with anyone not that I would let her either.Absolutely no idea where to go from here.

I hate to see people upset unnecessarily. You are the only one who knows why you didn't apply for OPFP, which is the payment, based on the info in your posts, that you should be on.
No expectation that you be looking for or available for work, and more generous then JSA if you DO find a job.
If you at least have discussion about it in your local office then maybe they could clear up any quieries you have.

Elliot192

Blondiee wrote: »

So little update got a phone call from them not helpful in anyway mainly just if I don't turn up money will be cut and thats it.Asked and they can't help out with a taxi only public transfer such as a bus which I already stated there is no bus here.I'm not close to any neighbours very much keep to myself so I don't know who I would even trust with my child and she's 1 so won't just stay with anyone not that I would let her either.Absolutely no idea where to go from here.

Hope your mam makes a speedy recovery!

First port of call would be to go back your local Intreo Office and change over to OPFP?

Otherwise you will have to bring your daughter to this meeting and engage with Turas Nua for twelve months or until you find a job.

The OPFP is there to support people in exactly your situation. JA and JB are not.

Blondiee

Elliot192 wrote: »

Hope your mam makes a speedy recovery!

First port of call would be to go back your local Intreo Office and change over to OPFP?

Otherwise you will have to bring your daughter to this meeting and engage with Turas Nua for twelve months or until you find a job.

The OPFP is there to support people in exactly your situation. JA and JB are not.

Thank you that is what I am going to do now.I already told lady over the phone I would have to bring my child with me and she said there would be no point that I would be turned away at the door.

mollygreene

Blondiee..

my advice would be most definitely switch over to OPFP and try do so BEFORE you have to go in for your meeting, if you're not on Jobseekers, you're not expected to attend. Once you've done that, inform them and they'll confirm it with social welfare and you'll be grand.

I was told they don't allow children in their offices because they're not covered under insurance

Blondiee

mollygreene wrote: »

Blondiee..

my advice would be most definitely switch over to OPFP and try do so BEFORE you have to go in for your meeting, if you're not on Jobseekers, you're not expected to attend. Once you've done that, inform them and they'll confirm it with social welfare and you'll be grand.

I was told they don't allow children in their offices because they're not covered under insurance

My meeting was today and she told me not to turn up if I have my child as I will be turned away.Just dreading next week cause I know my money won't be there and I haven't gotten in to my local office yet to change over.Yeah she said over the phone they are not insured which I completely understand but they are really not the easiest people to deal with.

infogiver

Blondiee wrote: »

My meeting was today and she told me not to turn up if I have my child as I will be turned away.Just dreading next week cause I know my money won't be there and I haven't gotten in to my local office yet to change over.Yeah she said over the phone they are not insured which I completely understand but they are really not the easiest people to deal with.

blondiee you can get SWA while you are waiting for your OPFP to be processed

mollygreene

Your money will still be there, 100% - you have only missed one appointment - it's not enough to report you to the social.

Go in to your local office before next week and change benefit

as far as I know OPFP is processed quicker than most benefit changeovers and as infogiver just advised, you'll stay on your jobseekers until your payment is changed to OPFP

You appear quite anxious so I would advise go and get your payment switched as soon as you can just to put your mind at rest. I would also tell Turas Nua that you're going to do this - they're not going to argue with someone trying to get themselves on a more appropriate benefit.

Blondiee

mollygreene wrote: »

Your money will still be there, 100% - you have only missed one appointment - it's not enough to report you to the social.

Go in to your local office before next week and change benefit

as far as I know OPFP is processed quicker than most benefit changeovers and as infogiver just advised, you'll stay on your jobseekers until your payment is changed to OPFP

You appear quite anxious so I would advise go and get your payment switched as soon as you can just to put your mind at rest. I would also tell Turas Nua that you're going to do this - they're not going to argue with someone trying to get themselves on a more appropriate benefit.

Thanks everyone for the help.Feeling very anxious and just had a phonecall to say DSP will be in contact or my money could just be cut.I'm not one to publicaly slate a company or person but these people make me feel like I'm some sort of criminal when in fact I'm just unemployed and definitely not through choice.I have a one year old that depends on me and these people just don't care about any of that.