National Employment Service(NES)/ Seetec

Cloudbee

I recently just finished a VTOS course and signed back onto jobseekers last week and have gotten a letter from nes/seetec this week about the new 52 week work program to help me find employment, that would be fine but I am currently waiting to get a place in a university course which I should know by the end of august if I have a place or not and plan then to apply for BTEA but I need to be on jobseekers to be able to get BTEA, I have a meeting with nes/seetec soon and I don't know what to do? I know I have to engage with them but do I tell them about my plan to go back to education? will that effect my jobseekers?

Dempo1

Unfortunately once in receipt of a Jobseekers payment you will be referred to jobs activation programs. Waiting to get a place in university won't stop the process.

Engage, explain your plans, it won't affect your payment. Seetac won't be impressed but there's absolutely nothing they can do about it.

Cloudbee

Thanks for replying! yeah I don't have a problem with being sent to an activation program but I do plan to engage, and I will explain my plans, I'm just worried that they will threaten to suspend my jobseekers, as I am wanting to go back to education, instead of a job. Can I refuse to sign any contracts? like the PPP form, I have read about?

WIZWEB

Yes refuse to sign the contract as this limits their powers and ability to make commission. They may even lose interest in cajoling you then. Legally you are not obligated to sign it but you must offer to engage as required. Unfortunately it's a complete and utter waste of time and taxpayers money. Have a Google of Seetec to see their unethical practices both here and the UK

Cloudbee

yeah I've read the horror stories about seetec, it's why I am so nervous about meeting them. I have no problem engaging with them but I will tell them I have data privacy concerns and will not sign anything but will engage with the service. I'm mostly worried, they will effect my ability to apply for btea in august if I get my spot in uni, if they suspend my jobseekers.

Dempo1

This Story might be on interest.

https://x.com/griptmedia/status/1795387466704187504

Cloudbee

I don't think that applies to me? I am fully planning to engage with seetec, just won't sign anything and the article speaks about intreo service not seetec service. thank you for the information though

mondeoman72

If they call you, explain that all of your calls are recorded. I used an app called cube acr. They were not happy about this and the girl said she didn't consent. I pointed out the seetec switchboard says all calls are recorded. So she had to. She wouldnt deal with me anymore. Do a search on seetec. That will tell u what you need to know.

Cloudbee

even though i fully plan to engage with seetec, I am still on jobseekers correct? so if i get a spot on a course, if i apply for btea, my jsa will count for the required time along with my time on vtos, so im wondering can they reject my application because I am doing seetec?, the course I am hoping to do is in computing and would be more beneficial than seetec and lead to better employability skills,

sorry for asking so many questions but I am really nervous about not being able to get the BTEA at all now

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122196224#Comment_122196224

As explained, Seetac & DSP careless what your plans are, all they look at is you being on a Jobseekers payment, what you hope or plan to do, education wise is of absolutely no concern to them. Until such time you are actually in education, they consider you unemployed. Engage but don't sign anything.

Cloudbee

okay thanks , I was reading an old post about someone else asking something similar and it worked out for them, hopefully it will work out for me

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058200744/seetec-jobpath

Cookiee

Hey, I'm the one in that post from 2021, I was basically only on jobpath for a few weeks, and then started my course. The advisor was pretty nice and understood my plans to do a course (which now I've finished, and consequently going back to a Seetec for a meeting in a couple weeks!).

Basically, go along with them and engage, just don't sign the PPP, I didn't when I was on jobpath and I assume it's the same as the new 'National Employment Service'.

Tell them about your intentions with your course, then once you're on the course your BTEA payment will start (it happened in my case) and your time with them will end and only start again with them after the course is finished if you're still unemployed - which is whats going on for me at the moment.

Cloudbee

Thanks for the information! I got my qqi results back today got distinctions in most subjects and a pass, I now have the required results and points for the course and i am pretty confident I will get a place, I was just worried that seetec would refuse/ not allow me to continue my education(even it benefits me in the long term) and stop my payments and stop me from applying/getting btea, I will engage and go along with them and not sign any ppp or anything else they try make me sign, Thanks again

Cookiee

No worries. I had the same worries when I was waiting to start my course, I did a PLC, then got put on jobpath for the few weeks of summer and then started my 3 year degree.

My jobpath advisor was happy for me to further my education, as long as I still engaged with them before my course, I didn't sign the PPP but I did everything else including going to CV workshops and interview skill workshops etc. which were grand!, I also just kept my advisor updated on my BTEA decision and once I started the course my time on jobpath/Seetec ended. Best of luck with your course!.

Cloudbee

yeah exact same situation, finished the plc and now waiting for the course to start and I should know by end of july/august about a spot. I have no problem engaging and doing any workshops or anything like that, while I wait to sort out my course, btea, just won't sign the ppp.

Thanks again, you've really put my mind at ease about this whole situation.

Cloudbee

Small update : I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me with my questions, my seetec meetings have been going great, because I already have a plan, they've basically been quick 10-15 minute meetings, just keeping my case officer updated on my progress. Regarding the BTEA I am happy to say I have been provisionally approved BTEA for my course and now just have to wait to hand in my registration letter to be transferred over to BTEA in September.

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

Cookiee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122535082#Comment_122535082

Really glad to hear that and best of luck on BTEA!