Applied for Springboard course, jobseekers benefit taken away from me.

JackieChang

Hi folks,

So on the Sprinboard website, in the "Am I eligible" section, it states that you must be in receipt of jobseeker's benefit/allowance to register for a course. It also states that "There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme."

Anyway, 9 weeks into my course, Social Welfare took my Jobseekers Benefit off me. I called to ask what happened, and they said you're doing a Springboard course so you can't get jobseekers anymore. Also, you haven't been on Jobseekers benefit long enough so you can't get Back To Education Allowance.

They told me to drop out and go back on Jobseekers, or stay in the course and get no payments.

This seems to contradict what's on the springboard website.

I kind of feel like I was scammed. Attract jobseekers to the course, then cut it when they sign up! I'm left up **** creek now with no paddle. Two weeks in a row now with no money. Not sure what to do.

Any ideas? Yes I know I can get a part time job and have already started looking. Ideally I would like to have Jobseekers or BTEA so I can focus on the Diploma. Like it says on the bloody Springboard website! It's full time 9-5 and extremely full on. (A level 8 squeezed into two semesters) If my weekends and evenings are taken up with part time work I'll probably do very badly in exams.

mp22

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/part_time_education_option.html

JackieChang

mp22 wrote: »

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/part_time_education_option.html

Thanks, but the course I'm on is full time.

The conditions for jobseekers are be actively looking for and able to attend work. When you’re doing a full time course you don’t meet the requirements

And sorry but you’re not the first person to have to get a part time job while you’re in college/studying so the idea it would affect you’re exams is ludicrous also. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, OP.

KERSPLAT!

I went back to college through Springboard, though part time, and still received my payment for Job Seekers Allowance. This was 2012-2015. If you're full time however, as above, you likely aren't entitled to it. I was even told at the time that if I was offered a job that'd I'd have to drop out and take up employment.

Luckily I managed to get part time work, finished college and gained full time employment. Your only option really is to get a job or drop out. You won't get BTA unless you're unemployed for 9 of the last 12 months I believe

JackieChang

Anna Tasty PunchMGS wrote: »

The conditions for jobseekers are be actively looking for and able to attend work. When you’re doing a full time course you don’t meet the requirements

And sorry but you’re not the first person to have to get a part time job while you’re in college/studying so the idea it would affect you’re exams is ludicrous also. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, OP.

"There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme".

This is exactly what it says on the springboard website. This is the issue I have.

Also I've worked my way through a level 8 degree before. But that was spread out over 4 years. This is a level 8 in two semesters, 9-5 Monday to Friday. I don't think it's ludicrous at all to say my study will be affected.

That’s not what I said?? I said to be eligible for jobseekers you must be capable and actively seeking work. Being in a college course or otherwise is not fulfilling those requirements. Irrespective of what the springboard website says.

Bill nye

What's the issue with the line on the site. It's not misleading.

Your problem is by signing up to the course, you are changing the conditions of your payment. The payment is there for you to actively seek work with. If in college, your not seeking work. If you were on Jobseeker's allowance for long enough, you could get a back to education payment.

wifey28

As others have said above if your doing a full time course then you do not meet the reqs for jobseekers, as you mustbe actively looking and available for full time work which you are not

Part-time or night courses are fine to attend and still stay on jobseekers, in fact they encourage you to skill up or reskill if your long term unemployed, as you could still pick up work aroudn the course.

splinter65

JackieChang wrote: »

"There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme".

This is exactly what it says on the springboard website. This is the issue I have.

Also I've worked my way through a level 8 degree before. But that was spread out over 4 years. This is a level 8 in two semesters, 9-5 Monday to Friday. I don't think it's ludicrous at all to say my study will be affected.

All that means is that you can be admitted onto the course even if your not in receipt of a SW payment.

stinkbomb

JackieChang wrote: »

Hi folks,

So on the Sprinboard website, in the "Am I eligible" section, it states that you must be in receipt of jobseeker's benefit/allowance to register for a course. .

It doesn't, and you don't.

SMCG

That's pretty difficult and seems accidentally misleading.

Thanks for sharing it here as I would need to be aware of this right now also.

Hope something has worked out.

JackieChang

Nothing has worked out. I'm blasting my savings away at an alarming rate.

antix80

JackieChang wrote: »

It's full time 9-5 and extremely full on.

I did a springboard course when they first came out. It was listed as part-time, which allowed social welfare recipients to do it without paying fees or losing their benefits. Funny enough, the college ran a very similar course as full-time for non-springboard recipients.

Springboard means: no fees for social welfare recipients, and 90% discount on fees for others who haven't participated in springboard before.
Part-time springboard courses don't affect your benefits, and also get social welfare off your back. You're still expected to be available for full-time work - in practice, you won't hear anything from social welfare as long as you sign on and collect your payment.

You learn from your mistakes I guess. You could see if the college do a part-time option and transfer to it.

Through the Part-time Education Option (PTEO), jobseekers in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance who wish to pursue a part-time day or evening course of education may retain their payment subject to continuing to meet the eligibility conditions
...
Prior to commencing a Springboard+ course participants in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance should contact their local social welfare office to make an application to retain their payment under the PTEO.

KERSPLAT!

antix80 wrote: »

I did a springboard course when they first came out. It was listed as part-time, which allowed social welfare recipients to do it without paying fees or losing their benefits. Funny enough, the college ran a very similar course as full-time for non-springboard recipients.

Springboard means: no fees for social welfare recipients, and 90% discount on fees for others who haven't participated in springboard before.
Part-time springboard courses don't affect your benefits, and also get social welfare off your back. You're still expected to be available for full-time work - in practice, you won't hear anything from social welfare as long as you sign on and collect your payment.

You learn from your mistakes I guess. You could see if the college do a part-time option and transfer to it.

This is exactly my experience. I was part time too and was told that officially if I was offered full time work I would have to drop out of college but in reality I never heard from SW my whole time there.

It's down as part time but that's class time, with assignments and study I was doing 30-40 hours a week. Managed to get a part time job too which kept me ticking over.

antix80

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

It's down as part time but that's class time, with assignments and study I was doing 30-40 hours a week. Managed to get a part time job too which kept me ticking over.

You need to be careful there too. If you're on a means-tested benefit you can lose the dole if you work part-time.

KERSPLAT!

antix80 wrote: »

You need to be careful there too. If you're on a means-tested benefit you can lose the dole if you work part-time.

I did X's and O's