If unemployed is Jobs Path Mandatory?

Clickety Elephant

Hello,

just wondering if you become unemployed is Jobs Path mandatory?

I was on it before, a few years ago and found it to be totally useless, while I was on it I was also doing a springboard course.
Have since found work, but that looks likely to be coming to an end soon. If I cannot find replacement employment and claim social welfare will I be placed on jobs path again?

What happens if a claimant refuses? What sanctions are placed?

I am looking for work and will try to avoid any social welfare if at all possible, but just found them to be no use at all in the past, and I really didn't need their help, not that i received any help. They just brought me in to their appointments and went through the motions they let me complete my course and get my qualification, but they really were of no use. I found employment through my own efforts. I would rather not waste any further time with them and wonder what would happen if a claimant were to refuse to participate with them again?

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight

Jim2007

Clickety Elephant wrote: »

They just brought me in to their appointments and went through the motions they let me complete my course and get my qualification, but they really were of no use. I found employment through my own efforts.

They are there to ensure you are making effort to get off benefits not to provide some sort of career guidance service. Providing courses etc, are provided for the same reason, to a career development service.


If you don't see the cash as a benefit and the advice is no use, then don't bother signing up. It is as simple as that. I'm in the same situaiton here in Switzerland, but I do see the cash as making it worth while.

Clickety Elephant

I'm not sure you have had any direct experience of Jobs Path, it doesn't sound like it. Perhaps you read the brochure. If you haven't Here's some of their bumpf:

"We’ll get to know you to really understand your needs – giving you access to a team of specialist people with the right information, advice and guidance to help you through your journey. We also offer additional support to make sure you’re ready for work and have the skills you need to succeed".

So it seems they do give guidance. Although you say they don't. Either way I didn't experience any of it.

I had already signed up to a Springboard course before I was placed on Jobs Path which is nothing to do with Jobspath, completely separate.

On my first day at Jobspath we were given a lecture by a social welfare rep who amongst other things advised everyone we could do the type of course I had signed up for (Springboard) then I went into the room next door to meet my " Jobspath handler" who promptly told me I could not do that course, even though five mins earlier I had just been told by social welfare that I could! It was a case of Oh...um...errr, well...I don't know...er...we'll have to see...err...
A clear example of their "specialist people with the right information".

They had absolutely no links whatsoever at all to any local employers. Every appointment I went to whatever was mentioned was completely forgotten about come the next appointment, absolutely no consistency or follow through with anything. Amateurish to say the least.

They are not there to ensure anything other than hope they get their percentage quota. If a person finds a job themselves off their own back they still try to claim their whack from Social welfare.

I have no intention of claiming social welfare, I was just trying to find out what happens if in a 'worst case scenario' for me if I have to claim benefit.
When you say "don't bother signing up" do you mean to Jobspath? Because I'm not sure its an option, I was trying to find out if it is compulsory or not? When I find work through my own efforts I don't see why a private 'for profit' company masquerading as specialists with advice and guidance should benefit from the Irish taxpayer.