Can I get assistance?

Ohoopee · 28-01-2017 11:03am #1

Ok so here is my situation. I have NEVER been on the dole in my life. I work for a hotel who is sending me to college to do a management course and at the end of it they are making me a manager. Anyway, the hotel is paying for the college course...3,000 Euro per year. I only have to go to college for two years...twice per year...for a month each. So basically I will only need help for two months a year...this year it will be last two weeks in February and first two weeks in March...then the last two weeks in October and first two weeks in November....next year will be similar. So I am wondering if I would be able to get any help during the periods I am going to college...since I will not be getting paid a wage. From talking to people, I know that if you have to ask them at the dole office if I can get aid...they will say NO...you have to know that you qualify for aid. So anyway just curious.

infogiver · 28-01-2017 12:48pm

Ohoopee wrote: »

Ok so here is my situation. I have NEVER been on the dole in my life. I work for a hotel who is sending me to college to do a management course and at the end of it they are making me a manager. Anyway, the hotel is paying for the college course...3,000 Euro per year. I only have to go to college for two years...twice per year...for a month each. So basically I will only need help for two months a year...this year it will be last two weeks in February and first two weeks in March...then the last two weeks in October and first two weeks in November....next year will be similar. So I am wondering if I would be able to get any help during the periods I am going to college...since I will not be getting paid a wage. From talking to people, I know that if you have to ask them at the dole office if I can get aid...they will say NO...you have to know that you qualify for aid. So anyway just curious.

No your not entitled to anything.
It's between you and your employer.

Wheety · 28-01-2017 12:56pm

Did you ask your employer if they'll be paying you? They want to send you on this course and they'll be benefiting from it at the end.

njs030 · 28-01-2017 1:04pm

If your employer is insisting you go on a course why aren't they paying you?

Ohoopee · 28-01-2017 1:08pm

Thanks, I did ask my employer...they are paying for the coarse which is 3000 Euro per year...for two years so a total of 6,000 they are paying..they said that is all they are going to do...so they are not going to pay me while I am attending classes. What about the PRSI (I think) I know at the bottom of my pay slips it says I have total insurable weeks....last year I had lots...for last pay slip it says 3...could I not claim some of these weeks back? My employer is not "insisting' that I go but they are paying for the coarse and telling me that if I do go, they will make me a manager...I don't have to go...I could just stay at my current position.

Stheno · 28-01-2017 1:09pm

Ohoopee wrote: »

Thanks, I did ask my employer...they are paying for the coarse which is 3000 Euro per year...for two years so a total of 6,000 they are paying..they said that is all they are going to do...so they are not going to pay me while I am attending classes. What about the PRSI (I think) I know at the bottom of my pay slips it says I have total insurable weeks....last year I had lots...for last pay slip it says 3...could I not claim some of these weeks back?

No you cant claim it back. Can you not save while you are working to fund the time in college?

Ohoopee · 28-01-2017 1:17pm

Stheno wrote: »

No you cant claim it back. Can you not save while you are working to fund the time in college?

Well yes but I just only recently found out about this and the course starts in two weeks...not much time to save.

Stheno · 28-01-2017 1:19pm

Ohoopee wrote: »

Well yes but I just only recently found out about this and the course starts in two weeks...not much time to save.

Your best bet would probably be a loan.
Youll pay less tax the first month you are back working as youll have unused tax credits

infogiver · 28-01-2017 2:03pm

It appears from your posts that your employer isn't obliging you to do this course and is in fact being quite fair in paying for it.
So I don't think that there's an employment rights issue here.
SW is available to claimants who find themselves involuntarily unable to finance themselves.
Voluntarily taking time off work to further your education doesn't fit in that scheme, just because you've paid some PRSI doesn't mean you can pick and choose when to get the benefit of your contributions. There are many other conditions attached to receiving benefits then just PRSI.
You need to organise a loan which you can pay back when you get the increased salary of the managerial position you've been offered on completion of the course.
If I were you I might try to get that offer in writing

Ohoopee · 28-01-2017 5:15pm

infogiver wrote: »

It appears from your posts that your employer isn't obliging you to do this course and is in fact being quite fair in paying for it.
So I don't think that there's an employment rights issue here.
SW is available to claimants who find themselves involuntarily unable to finance themselves.
Voluntarily taking time off work to further your education doesn't fit in that scheme, just because you've paid some PRSI doesn't mean you can pick and choose when to get the benefit of your contributions. There are many other conditions attached to receiving benefits then just PRSI.
You need to organise a loan which you can pay back when you get the increased salary of the managerial position you've been offered on completion of the course.
If I were you I might try to get that offer in writing

Oh Yeah, my employer is giving me this as an option...I don't have to do it...but if I do they are just going to promote me. I honestly didn't figure I would qualify for any kind of aid but my flat mate who has been on the dole for years and years and years, said I should look into it. I figured I would get an honest answer here. Thanks,

infogiver · 28-01-2017 6:15pm

Ohoopee wrote: »

Oh Yeah, my employer is giving me this as an option...I don't have to do it...but if I do they are just going to promote me. I honestly didn't figure I would qualify for any kind of aid but my flat mate who has been on the dole for years and years and years, said I should look into it. I figured I would get an honest answer here. Thanks,

I'd be really interested if you asked your flat mate on what grounds he thinks you should be entitled to the dole based on the circumstances you describe.

Ohoopee · 28-01-2017 6:45pm

infogiver wrote: »

I'd be really interested if you asked your flat mate on what grounds he thinks you should be entitled to the dole based on the circumstances you describe.

Well he has been on it for years as I said...they finally made him get work for three days a week and he acts like it kills him. So he probably figured just because I didn't have income that would qualify for aid. As I said, I have never been on the dole and neither have my parents so I have no idea how it even works. If did lose my job tomorrow...I would be clueless as to what to do. I honestly didn't figure there was anyway they would give me aid when I was choosing to not work even if it was for school...but he said I should look into it.

BrianBoru00 · 28-01-2017 8:23pm

You are only doing a part time college course.
If it was full time you could apply for a means tested grant to assist you.
Your PRSI basically insures you for when you lose your job which isn't the case here.

troyzer · 28-01-2017 8:31pm

Why is your course so bizarrely structured?

Unfortunately the department is really unhelpful because basically all education allowances are tied to you being long term unemployed. I think your best bet is to take out a small loan from the credit union or something, live on Aldi beans for a month and then save up for the next three stints on your own.

If you're only studying weekdays see if your employer is willing to throw you weekend work. But to answer your main question, your circumstances are so odd that you won't qualify for any payments. When I finished my Masters I was unemployed (still am actually but moving to Australia soon) and just to get basic job seekers allowance they wanted three years audited accounts from my Dad (because I was under 24) to prove that he couldn't support me. They take this stuff really seriously and look for every opportunity to send you out the door without any money.

Can I get assistance?

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