TUS Programme

kelly44 · 22-01-2013 1:04am

Im in a tus program at the moment and its muck wish I never got pick for it as I pay 20 euro tax and 19.70 euro prsi so ive lost me 20 euro topup and in also down 20 euro if your earning more than 365 euro on the social welfare they tax you now on it and when your fuel allowance goes your down more money to I claim a family payment. And the place they put me is a joke I was told id be doing this and that made it sound great what a load of bol,,, lox

Karen23 · 22-01-2013 1:31am

kelly44 wrote: »

Im in a tus program at the moment and its muck wish I never got pick for it as I pay 20 euro tax and 19.70 euro prsi so ive lost me 20 euro topup and in also down 20 euro if your earning more than 365 euro on the social welfare they tax you now on it and when your fuel allowance goes your down more money to I claim a family payment. And the place they put me is a joke I was told id be doing this and that made it sound great what a load of bol,,, lox

You should ask to finish your contract early , I was told I wouldn't be expected to complete it if I was down money as this was a valid reason not to take part and would have no effect on my payment.

kelly44 · 22-01-2013 1:59am

Karen23 wrote: »

You should ask to finish your contract early , I was told I wouldn't be expected to complete it if I was down money as this was a valid reason not to take part and would have no effect on my payment.

Thanks for the advice should I talk to the social welfare first or some one in tus as I brought it up before and was told they are trying to get it sorted it out with people paying tax but I think they just want you in tus so thay say anything.
Thanks again for the reply

Karen23 · 22-01-2013 9:48am

Speak to your Tus team leader first and stress that this programme is not suited to you as your coming out with less money each week and its hard enough trying to manage as it is. Tell them this is a valid reason for you to be excused.

Let us know how you get on.
Good luck.

kelly44 · 23-01-2013 10:02am

Karen23 wrote: »

Speak to your Tus team leader first and stress that this programme is not suited to you as your coming out with less money each week and its hard enough trying to manage as it is. Tell them this is a valid reason for you to be excused.

Let us know how you get on.
Good luck.

Will do thanks again

Backstreet Moyes · 23-01-2013 12:10pm

Just wondering started a TUS job a few weeks ago. I have just been contacted about an aptitude test for a factory job next week. It's taking place during my working hours for the TUS job. What way do i approach this do i tell them and take it as a day off although you need to give two weeks notice for a holiday. Or do i just contact the person in TUS who set up the TUS job and let him sort it out. I presume their should be no problem as it is giving me a chance to get full time work.

Faith+1 · 23-01-2013 4:16pm

Nuts102 wrote: »

Just wondering started a TUS job a few weeks ago. I have just been contacted about an aptitude test for a factory job next week. It's taking place during my working hours for the TUS job. What way do i approach this do i tell them and take it as a day off although you need to give two weeks notice for a holiday. Or do i just contact the person in TUS who set up the TUS job and let him sort it out. I presume their should be no problem as it is giving me a chance to get full time work.

Exactly. Tell them the situation and if they are are d*cks about it ring your TUS supervisor. The chance of full time employment is alot more appealing than working for free (Technically).

mrbrown69 · 30-01-2013 11:22pm

How do the hours work on this thing? 19 hrs a week :rolleyes:.. is it three day 6 and a bit hrs a week or full 5 day week of 3 ridiculous hrs? are people placed in positions with companies who have full time employees? thus potentially be seen as something of a general dogsbody

I was always under the impression you had to have committed some menial crime to be "forced" into labour, being unemployed is now seen as a crime it seems :rolleyes:

Karen23 · 30-01-2013 11:42pm

mrbrown69 wrote: »

How do the hours work on this thing? 19 hrs a week :rolleyes:.. is it three day 6 and a bit hrs a week or full 5 day week of 3 ridiculous hrs? are people placed in positions with companies who have full time employees? thus potentially be seen as something of a general dogsbody

I was always under the impression you had to have committed some menial crime to be "forced" into labour, being unemployed is now seen as a crime it seems :rolleyes:

19.5 hours , the company I worked for allowed me to work my hours over 4 mornings so I had Fridays off

but the did have full time employees too.

A lot of people on Tus have said they felt like free labour

dubscribe · 06-02-2013 1:31pm

STEEVEE1SH wrote: »

Hi im a 41 yr old and i currently received a letter from my local signing office. I allready had plans to start my valeting buisness and i have signed up for a buisness fetec level 4. Also i am a youth leader for foroige so most of my time is dealing with the teenagers. I declined the letter from the tus scheme had an interview with my local welfare office and they suspended my claim. I think this is very unfair as i have been waiting to set my own buisness up for some time now. I feel i have been pushed into this and i dont have a say. I will now have to return to the welfare office asap and tell them i will do the tus scheme because i dont know where the next meal will come from. Hope they will still let me do the tuc scheme still. Dont really want this but i have to now. Has anyone else had this problem

I got the letter asking me if I wanted to sign up for the Tus scheme, I filled in the form, including an A4 letter explaining WHY, in my personal situation it was not appropriate ie
a) I live in a tiny seaside village, rely on public transport and if I were placed in the nearest town I could be 36-55 euro a week worse off due to travel costs.
b) I did a 9-month Jobbridge Internship last year in my village and would not go back there again due my bad experience (the only local community option I'm aware of)
c) I'm hoping to relocate later this year to an area where I might have a better chance of getting a real, decent paying job.

I did say, if they were not happy with my explanations and I was in danger of having my benefits cut to let me know immediately.
They got the letter yesterday, I got a phone call this morning.
Basically if I do not agree to sign up for the scheme, my benefits will be cut.

So there you have it - forced labour.
After my experience with JobBridge last year I am very against this kind of cheap/free labour.

After my conversation this morning with Tus, I am furious and specifically came online to find out about other peoples experiences.

I truly sympathise. I am very definitely inclined to think that once you are in the "system", like I did JobBridge last year - you get caught up in it. Having given 9 months of my life and experience to "working for the dole" last year - isn't it someone else's turn to endure the indignity that you are forced to work for next to nothing, or in my case, for 1.28 euro an hour on top of my social welfare.

dubscribe · 06-02-2013 2:00pm

Karen23 wrote: »

I finished my Tus placement this week but for the last two weeks since the budget changes came into effect I have been paying €15.70 PRSI from the €20 top up so I actually only came out with €4.30 extra after working 19.5 hours.

That doesn't sound right!!! When you are on Tús you are exempt from the Universal Social Charge so you should only be paying 4% PRSI - that works out at €8.32 out of the €20 payment.

Is this right - can someone confirm - or am I deluded???

Sephiroth_dude · 06-02-2013 2:32pm

dubscribe wrote: »

I got the letter asking me if I wanted to sign up for the Tus scheme, I filled in the form, including an A4 letter explaining WHY, in my personal situation it was not appropriate ie
a) I live in a tiny seaside village, rely on public transport and if I were placed in the nearest town I could be 36-55 euro a week worse off due to travel costs.
b) I did a 9-month Jobbridge Internship last year in my village and would not go back there again due my bad experience (the only local community option I'm aware of)
c) I'm hoping to relocate later this year to an area where I might have a better chance of getting a real, decent paying job.

I did say, if they were not happy with my explanations and I was in danger of having my benefits cut to let me know immediately.
They got the letter yesterday, I got a phone call this morning.
Basically if I do not agree to sign up for the scheme, my benefits will be cut.

So there you have it - forced labour.
After my experience with JobBridge last year I am very against this kind of cheap/free labour.

After my conversation this morning with Tus, I am furious and specifically came online to find out about other peoples experiences.

I truly sympathise. I am very definitely inclined to think that once you are in the "system", like I did JobBridge last year - you get caught up in it. Having given 9 months of my life and experience to "working for the dole" last year - isn't it someone else's turn to endure the indignity that you are forced to work for next to nothing, or in my case, for 1.28 euro an hour on top of my social welfare.

What a ****ing joke of a scheme by the sounds of it.

Paddy Long Legs · 06-02-2013 4:36pm

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

What a ****ing joke of a scheme by the sounds of it.

I got a letter to attend one of these next week, what if u dont turn up to it.
I want to work but im not goin to be forced into some sh1tty job!

dubscribe · 06-02-2013 4:41pm

Paddy Long Legs wrote: »

I got a letter to attend one of these next week, what if u dont turn up to it.
I want to work but im not goin to be forced into some sh1tty job!

My understanding is that if you don't show up for the interview session, the Dept of SP will be notified, you will then be deemed "unavailable" for work and your benefits will automatically be stopped.

Bottom line - you are screwed. I suppose if you notified them with an acceptable reason e.g. sick / hosp apt, they would simply defer you and place you on the list to be called for the next "gathering" of screwed unemployed people :mad:

Paddy Long Legs · 06-02-2013 4:48pm

dubscribe wrote: »

My understanding is that if you don't show up for the interview session, the Dept of SP will be notified, you will then be deemed "unavailable" for work and your benefits will automatically be stopped.

Bottom line - you are screwed. I suppose if you notified them with an acceptable reason e.g. sick / hosp apt, they would simply defer you and place you on the list to be called for the next "gathering" of screwed unemployed people :mad:

Cheers for the reply Dubscribe.. What if i do show up and turn down all these sh1tty jobs there going 2 offer me..

dubscribe · 06-02-2013 4:55pm

For a start, it may be months before you are offered a job, I gather it depends on where in the country you live and how many vacancies are in your area. My understanding is that you CANNOT refuse a job because then that verifies that you are not looking for work and your benefits will be cut.

I myself have posted asking what are "legitimate reasons" for refusing a position?

To my mind it is madness to be forced to accept a position that will reduce your living standards even further than being on the dole, as would be the case with me if I were forced to pay for travel (I live in a rural area) which I cannot afford with my current benefit.

I gather Tus do try to match your skills with current vacancies. From what I've read on the boards, there have been some very positive outcomes - truth is, there is very little posted about actual experiences from people who have worked on a Tus scheme - but there have also been negative comments too.

Check it out for yourself.

Paddy Long Legs · 06-02-2013 5:01pm

dubscribe wrote: »

For a start, it may be months before you are offered a job, I gather it depends on where in the country you live and how many vacancies are in your area. My understanding is that you CANNOT refuse a job because then that verifies that you are not looking for work and your benefits will be cut.

I myself have posted asking what are "legitimate reasons" for refusing a position?

To my mind it is madness to be forced to accept a position that will reduce your living standards even further than being on the dole, as would be the case with me if I were forced to pay for travel (I live in a rural area) which I cannot afford with my current benefit.

I gather Tus do try to match your skills with current vacancies. From what I've read on the boards, there have been some very positive outcomes - truth is, there is very little posted about actual experiences from people who have worked on a Tus scheme - but there have also been negative comments too.

Check it out for yourself.

My heart goes out to u its tough enough as things are. When have u to meet them then? Also when u say they will cut you're benefits will be cut, do u mean a percentage taking off or will u be completely cut off....

blindsider · 06-02-2013 5:07pm

Without trying to stray off topic, if you feel that TUS is not for you, would you consider a FÁS course? They cover a lot of subject areas, and are of varying durations - and of course you can still job-hunt etc

If you need to travel to a course, you should get a travel & meal allowance, and you're paid by FÁS rather than SW.

There are a wide range of courses available actually there are 1017 currently available:

http://jobseeker.fas.ie/Default.aspx?q=iSRIxZhfcq1m5f+Y0OsKti+tyY9zujTi+SVsEaZYgQqUn8i5blxfFx5wJnE6rSXeVnOAD5wAZ81L+/QZETqlQvFy66U5DpkjRVt1i98EyDVKTjwz/tRuciQzJB00XkAx6Pqqg7zQYJ+mAKoP/PKtDiguQkzml4EDwHbBH6ytqPpX1kiIvwob7fn6e4gxfR72RrCPgZyADOPhXomo+2B5NRlVUTi9jZPVGuClPTLz/cIat0yWGiumaKpfXQPssfJUZ/ctSBWq4t0iACWEMKqBcXw8wRnQAIAns2Uq0VaCzX03H5FoRSaEghniEFiojwn1nshhPrAlSzWqJIx5CUrbKAChDsr/LJfGZljuj3DRa9jDIq2xz0SdXSJCfg5SLbl0PKK/g5UjjgY=

and it's worth looking at IMO - it'd be better to learn sth new than to be pushed towards doing sth you've no interest in.

Faith+1 · 06-02-2013 5:35pm

dubscribe wrote: »

I got the letter asking me if I wanted to sign up for the Tus scheme, I filled in the form, including an A4 letter explaining WHY, in my personal situation it was not appropriate ie
a) I live in a tiny seaside village, rely on public transport and if I were placed in the nearest town I could be 36-55 euro a week worse off due to travel costs.
b) I did a 9-month Jobbridge Internship last year in my village and would not go back there again due my bad experience (the only local community option I'm aware of)
c) I'm hoping to relocate later this year to an area where I might have a better chance of getting a real, decent paying job.

I did say, if they were not happy with my explanations and I was in danger of having my benefits cut to let me know immediately.
They got the letter yesterday, I got a phone call this morning.
Basically if I do not agree to sign up for the scheme, my benefits will be cut.

So there you have it - forced labour.
After my experience with JobBridge last year I am very against this kind of cheap/free labour.

After my conversation this morning with Tus, I am furious and specifically came online to find out about other peoples experiences.

I truly sympathise. I am very definitely inclined to think that once you are in the "system", like I did JobBridge last year - you get caught up in it. Having given 9 months of my life and experience to "working for the dole" last year - isn't it someone else's turn to endure the indignity that you are forced to work for next to nothing, or in my case, for 1.28 euro an hour on top of my social welfare.

That takes the piss man, have to decided what to do?

dubscribe · 06-02-2013 6:12pm

blindsider wrote: »

Without trying to stray off topic, if you feel that TUS is not for you, would you consider a FÁS course? They cover a lot of subject areas, and are of varying durations - and of course you can still job-hunt etc

If you need to travel to a course, you should get a travel & meal allowance, and you're paid by FÁS rather than SW.

There are a wide range of courses available actually there are 1017 currently available:

http://jobseeker.fas.ie/Default.aspx?q=iSRIxZhfcq1m5f+Y0OsKti+tyY9zujTi+SVsEaZYgQqUn8i5blxfFx5wJnE6rSXeVnOAD5wAZ81L+/QZETqlQvFy66U5DpkjRVt1i98EyDVKTjwz/tRuciQzJB00XkAx6Pqqg7zQYJ+mAKoP/PKtDiguQkzml4EDwHbBH6ytqPpX1kiIvwob7fn6e4gxfR72RrCPgZyADOPhXomo+2B5NRlVUTi9jZPVGuClPTLz/cIat0yWGiumaKpfXQPssfJUZ/ctSBWq4t0iACWEMKqBcXw8wRnQAIAns2Uq0VaCzX03H5FoRSaEghniEFiojwn1nshhPrAlSzWqJIx5CUrbKAChDsr/LJfGZljuj3DRa9jDIq2xz0SdXSJCfg5SLbl0PKK/g5UjjgY=

and it's worth looking at IMO - it'd be better to learn sth new than to be pushed towards doing sth you've no interest in.

Thanks Blilndsider - I appreciate your comment. I have in the past done several FAS training courses. My situation is though that I am so well qualified that there are very few courses appropriate to me and none of them available in Wexford, where I live. Waterford run a decent number of appropriate courses but because I live in rural Wexford and am limited to public transport - I cannot make the necessary connections on time to be able to participate on them.:mad:

Most courses which would enable me to retrain/upgrade my skills run in central locations ie the main cities, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Karen23 · 06-02-2013 10:57pm

My brother in law started Tus a month before me , he finished before Christmas and I finished a few weeks ago. because he's a bit ahead of me I've been able to find out what happens next. A week after finishing Tus he got a letter to attend a group session to ' discuss his options ' , after this he was assigned a case worker and then he was more or less told he had to take part in the Job Bridge scheme. He's now working 40 hours for €5.95 an hour , which is €2.70 less than the minimum wage. I have now also received the letter to attend the group session tomorrow morning and was told I will be assigned a case worker so it looks like I'm heading for Job Bridge too. I'm dreading it as working for less than minimum wage just sounds like taking advantage.

dubscribe · 07-02-2013 1:10am

Bottom line - from my experience - it is. But we have no choice

Backstreet Moyes · 12-02-2013 11:16am

I have fallen into a difficult situation and i am not sure what to do with it im not sure if anyone can properly advise me here but i will try. I started a scheme 6 weeks ago and it started out alright. The staff are lovely and i am happy with the office i work in plus im happy to be out of the house. But it's 6 weeks in now and i am finding that i am not getting any proper experience relating to the area i actually studied in college.

I am happy getting some experience in an office and having something on my c.v. but i don't think i'm really gaining the experience like i was told i would. I was told from the man i was taking over from that their is not enough work for me and the other tus employee who works before me in the morning. When i come in to work i get left with at most an hours worth of work and sit around trying to look busy for the other 4 hours. My boss sits in a position where i can barely even get a browse on the internet to make the day speed up a small bit. The days feel like forever and it feels like a chore going in their.

My main issue is the business deals with alot of incoming calls and i feel the only reason they need me their is to answer phones. My problem with this is my hearing is not great and i constantly keep saying to people phoning in sorry could you repeat that. I just also am quiet a shy person and talking on phones is not something i feel entirely comfortable with. I have been pulled in twice to say i need to improve my skills on the phone and i just can't it's just not my personality. I'm sitting their praying a call won't come in and when it does i can just see my supervisor coming over explaining how i done this wrong and that and it's making me dread go into their. Their are some small jobs i have been doing but over the 19.5 hours that benefit me at the most 5 hours is spent on this. The rest is answering phones and doing receptionist like job's that i don't find are any benefit to me. The biggest part of the job is answering phones and that's the area that i feel uncomfortable with.

I like the place in general but if i'm not answering phones than i don't see how they would keep me their. I don't know how to approach it. I could say it to my supervisor in work but i don't want to make life difficult for myself. I could contact my TUS support worker but it's going to get back to my boss in work making things uncomfortable. The only two outcomes for me seems like i will be talked into staying being promised more work that will benefit me and still leave me stuck taking dreaded phone calls. I will probably get cut from my benefits for pulling out of the scheme.

Worztron · 12-02-2013 12:15pm

One of the definitions of slavery: work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay.

rsole1 · 12-02-2013 12:24pm

Nuts102 wrote: »

I have fallen into a difficult situation and i am not sure what to do with it im not sure if anyone can properly advise me here but i will try. I started a scheme 6 weeks ago and it started out alright. The staff are lovely and i am happy with the office i work in plus im happy to be out of the house. But it's 6 weeks in now and i am finding that i am not getting any proper experience relating to the area i actually studied in college.

I am happy getting some experience in an office and having something on my c.v. but i don't think i'm really gaining the experience like i was told i would. I was told from the man i was taking over from that their is not enough work for me and the other tus employee who works before me in the morning. When i come in to work i get left with at most an hours worth of work and sit around trying to look busy for the other 4 hours. My boss sits in a position where i can barely even get a browse on the internet to make the day speed up a small bit. The days feel like forever and it feels like a chore going in their.

My main issue is the business deals with alot of incoming calls and i feel the only reason they need me their is to answer phones. My problem with this is my hearing is not great and i constantly keep saying to people phoning in sorry could you repeat that. I just also am quiet a shy person and talking on phones is not something i feel entirely comfortable with. I have been pulled in twice to say i need to improve my skills on the phone and i just can't it's just not my personality. I'm sitting their praying a call won't come in and when it does i can just see my supervisor coming over explaining how i done this wrong and that and it's making me dread go into their. Their are some small jobs i have been doing but over the 19.5 hours that benefit me at the most 5 hours is spent on this. The rest is answering phones and doing receptionist like job's that i don't find are any benefit to me. The biggest part of the job is answering phones and that's the area that i feel uncomfortable with.

I like the place in general but if i'm not answering phones than i don't see how they would keep me their. I don't know how to approach it. I could say it to my supervisor in work but i don't want to make life difficult for myself. I could contact my TUS support worker but it's going to get back to my boss in work making things uncomfortable. The only two outcomes for me seems like i will be talked into staying being promised more work that will benefit me and still leave me stuck taking dreaded phone calls. I will probably get cut from my benefits for pulling out of the scheme.

Have you tried being unhelpful, disinterested, and showing signs of boredom. Don't know whether they would let you go saying you weren't suitable, or would they sack you and then you'd have problems with the dole.

Also you could go on the sick with depression.

dubscribe · 12-02-2013 3:34pm

Paddy Long Legs wrote: »

My heart goes out to u its tough enough as things are. When have u to meet them then? Also when u say they will cut you're benefits will be cut, do u mean a percentage taking off or will u be completely cut off....

Whether it's a percentage cut or a total cut, either way, it would be a disaster

dubscribe · 12-02-2013 3:42pm

Nuts102 wrote: »

I have fallen into a difficult situation and i am not sure what to do with it im not sure if anyone can properly advise me here but i will try. I started a scheme 6 weeks ago and it started out alright. The staff are lovely and i am happy with the office i work in plus im happy to be out of the house. But it's 6 weeks in now and i am finding that i am not getting any proper experience relating to the area i actually studied in college.

I am happy getting some experience in an office and having something on my c.v. but i don't think i'm really gaining the experience like i was told i would. I was told from the man i was taking over from that their is not enough work for me and the other tus employee who works before me in the morning. When i come in to work i get left with at most an hours worth of work and sit around trying to look busy for the other 4 hours. My boss sits in a position where i can barely even get a browse on the internet to make the day speed up a small bit. The days feel like forever and it feels like a chore going in their.

My main issue is the business deals with alot of incoming calls and i feel the only reason they need me their is to answer phones. My problem with this is my hearing is not great and i constantly keep saying to people phoning in sorry could you repeat that. I just also am quiet a shy person and talking on phones is not something i feel entirely comfortable with. I have been pulled in twice to say i need to improve my skills on the phone and i just can't it's just not my personality. I'm sitting their praying a call won't come in and when it does i can just see my supervisor coming over explaining how i done this wrong and that and it's making me dread go into their. Their are some small jobs i have been doing but over the 19.5 hours that benefit me at the most 5 hours is spent on this. The rest is answering phones and doing receptionist like job's that i don't find are any benefit to me. The biggest part of the job is answering phones and that's the area that i feel uncomfortable with.

I like the place in general but if i'm not answering phones than i don't see how they would keep me their. I don't know how to approach it. I could say it to my supervisor in work but i don't want to make life difficult for myself. I could contact my TUS support worker but it's going to get back to my boss in work making things uncomfortable. The only two outcomes for me seems like i will be talked into staying being promised more work that will benefit me and still leave me stuck taking dreaded phone calls. I will probably get cut from my benefits for pulling out of the scheme.

Nuts102, sounds to me like a mis-match, jobwise, and that is not your fault. I would guess the host organisation mislead Tus by not saying that there was a lot of phone work involved and I gather, had you been told that before you accepted the job, you would have told Tus it was unsuitable for you.

I would suggest you do go back to your Tus support worker and explain it exactly as you have here. You cannot walk off the job because you will loose your benefits. And quite frankly, if you supervisor in work is being an a**hole, that's not right either. I suspect those of us who get landed with these "work for the dole" jobs are considered "less" in the workplace.

He can't give you hassle - if he does, complain to your support worker. That person is there to support YOU, NOT the other way round. Good luck and keep us posted.

Sephiroth_dude · 12-02-2013 4:13pm

Karen23 wrote: »

My brother in law started Tus a month before me , he finished before Christmas and I finished a few weeks ago. because he's a bit ahead of me I've been able to find out what happens next. A week after finishing Tus he got a letter to attend a group session to ' discuss his options ' , after this he was assigned a case worker and then he was more or less told he had to take part in the Job Bridge scheme. He's now working 40 hours for €5.95 an hour , which is €2.70 less than the minimum wage. I have now also received the letter to attend the group session tomorrow morning and was told I will be assigned a case worker so it looks like I'm heading for Job Bridge too. I'm dreading it as working for less than minimum wage just sounds like taking advantage.

Eh maybe I'm wrong here but I thought job bridge was 20 hrs per week plus a 50 euro top up on your weekly benefit no?

phoenix999 · 12-02-2013 4:39pm

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Eh maybe I'm wrong here but I thought job bridge was 20 hrs per week plus a 50 euro top up on your weekly benefit no?

Think you might be confusing it with CE Scheme. Job bridge is full time, 35-40hrs per week, depending on the employer.

Sephiroth_dude · 12-02-2013 4:46pm

phoenix999 wrote: »

Think you might be confusing it with CE Scheme. Job bridge is full time, 35-40hrs per week, depending on the employer.

Must be,feck sake if your working that long why can't the employer just take you on ?

rsole1 · 12-02-2013 5:24pm

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Must be,feck sake if your working that long why can't the employer just take you on ?

Because they get state subsidised labour - and when the nine months are up they go get another slave from the slave market.

phoenix999 · 12-02-2013 5:47pm

Interesting that the dole for work programme in the UK was ruled unlawful by the courts today. I suppose they will argue here that the €50 top up is considered a decent wage.

dubscribe · 12-02-2013 6:03pm

phoenix999 wrote: »

Think you might be confusing it with CE Scheme. Job bridge is full time, 35-40hrs per week, depending on the employer.

Actually, the minimum hours are 30 hrs per week, max is 39 hrs. I know, I completed 9 mth JobBridge last November. The good news is that having now done it I can't do it for another 2 years

9 months is soul destroying and this Tus scheme of a 12 month contract is a nightmare :eek:

Backstreet Moyes · 19-02-2013 11:36am

dubscribe wrote: »

Nuts102, sounds to me like a mis-match, jobwise, and that is not your fault. I would guess the host organisation mislead Tus by not saying that there was a lot of phone work involved and I gather, had you been told that before you accepted the job, you would have told Tus it was unsuitable for you.

I would suggest you do go back to your Tus support worker and explain it exactly as you have here. You cannot walk off the job because you will loose your benefits. And quite frankly, if you supervisor in work is being an a**hole, that's not right either. I suspect those of us who get landed with these "work for the dole" jobs are considered "less" in the workplace.

He can't give you hassle - if he does, complain to your support worker. That person is there to support YOU, NOT the other way round. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for you input. I gave it a few more weeks and i'm just not comfortable with the work i'm doing. I am basically still getting an hours work and then been given simple jobs to keep me a bit busy. I am still having trouble on the phone and dealing with setting up meetings etc.

I am fed up of being constantly told how i need to improve on the phone. I just find i am dreading going into work. I am giving little work and then the head of the office is always asking what are you doing when i don't have anything to do. I nearly packed it in last Friday when i didn't handle a difficult phone call well. I had a very aggressive person on the phone and i was unsure how to handle the situation so i put him on hold to get advice. The boss just stopped short of calling me stupid and took the call saying it's common sense. I bit my lip and stopped myself from walking out and i am glad i did.

I had yesterday off and i am just not in the humour to go in today. I am thinking of ringing up the TUS officer and saying i want to finish up as it is not working out. I will stress i am open to another job. Also i have a interview for a jobsbridge scheme tomorrow morning so i am sure this will help my case. I also have been guaranteed by a friend he will at least get me an interview in his job just to show i am looking. I am in work at 12 and can anybody give me advice before then. I don't want to ring my TUS officer now and end up getting cut from my benefits as i would struggle big time. Has anybody quit a TUS job and can tell me if you can avoid being cut.

danjo-xx · 19-02-2013 12:31pm

Have a similar hearing condition (APD) in my case and I hate answering phones.

I can manage the occassional phone call if the caller has a strong and clear voice and IF there is no background noise in the office, like people talking even.

It can be a night mare for me and I try to avoid like the placque.

Threre is nothing worse than getting bits and pieces of a conversation and worse even thinking some of the info you heard was correct when it's not.

I would explain this to your employer and tus officer, and say that having to constantly answer phones is putting you under great stress and not of any help to you at all.

Explain that your better off working in a back ground situation where you don't have to use the phone or just to take an odd call.

mrbrown69 · 19-02-2013 3:26pm

My brother went to meet a Tus officer today, she told him the social welfare cannot stop your payment if you refuse a position, they can stop your assistance payment if you refuse to be put forward for it ie answer "no" in the initial letter...so basically you're not being "forced" to do any ol job on offer....she mentioned something about a computer refurbishing place that repair old PC's for schools in Africa and the like, doesn't sound too bad to me

Backstreet Moyes · 19-02-2013 5:03pm

Ok so i bit the bullet and rang the TUS office today. I told him my nerves were at me and i wasn't comfortable working their. So i got called in for a meeting and we discussed things and i made it clear i couldn't handle another day working their especially now after they know i wanted to quit. So he was very helpful and said if i didn't feel the job was a right match he would look for another job for me. In fairness to the TUS officer he couldn't have been more helpful and understanding.

He is going to keep me under the TUS scheme for my payments for a few weeks while he tries to find another job for me. He said he will make sure im not cut of the labour which was a great relief. The worrying thing for me is i don't know whats going to happen if in 4 or 5 weeks if i still don't have a job whats going to happen to me.

Right now i feel much better and feel good with the relief knowing i am not dreading going back answering phones.

The annoying thing is i have been trying so hard to find work and now i don't know how i will be if i can't secure employment in a few weeks. Just frustrating when you know people who have no interest in looking for work yet never get hassled at all.

dubscribe · 19-02-2013 7:31pm

Very pleased to hear things have improved for you

rsole1 · 20-02-2013 9:52am

Nuts102 wrote: »

Ok so i bit the bullet and rang the TUS office today. I told him my nerves were at me and i wasn't comfortable working their. So i got called in for a meeting and we discussed things and i made it clear i couldn't handle another day working their especially now after they know i wanted to quit. So he was very helpful and said if i didn't feel the job was a right match he would look for another job for me. In fairness to the TUS officer he couldn't have been more helpful and understanding.

He is going to keep me under the TUS scheme for my payments for a few weeks while he tries to find another job for me. He said he will make sure im not cut of the labour which was a great relief. The worrying thing for me is i don't know whats going to happen if in 4 or 5 weeks if i still don't have a job whats going to happen to me.

Right now i feel much better and feel good with the relief knowing i am not dreading going back answering phones.

The annoying thing is i have been trying so hard to find work and now i don't know how i will be if i can't secure employment in a few weeks. Just frustrating when you know people who have no interest in looking for work yet never get hassled at all.

Well done. Now don't worry yourself unduly. Relax take a deep breath.

21-02-2013 12:29pm

Hi all, i received a letter today asking me would i be interested and to be honest id jump at the chance to do something after relentlessly trying to find employment for so long. For my own mental health id love to do it.

I just have a query regarding payment. Im currently receiving means tested jobseekers of €60 per week. If i am given a place would i only get a top up of €20 on that or do i get the full amount? also i dont drive, would this be an issue for them?

As i said i really would love to do one, surely the experience would be an asset to a CV!

rsole1 · 21-02-2013 12:39pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi all, i received a letter today asking me would i be interested and to be honest id jump at the chance to do something after relentlessly trying to find employment for so long. For my own mental health id love to do it.

I just have a query regarding payment. Im currently receiving means tested jobseekers of €60 per week. If i am given a place would i only get a top up of €20 on that or do i get the full amount? also i dont drive, would this be an issue for them?

As i said i really would love to do one, surely the experience would be an asset to a CV!

As I understand it you get €20 on top of your current welfare payment.

DenMan · 21-02-2013 12:42pm

Hi fiestywonder

Being honest I don't know. It is the basic €188+€20 extra and you are taken off the live register. I am eight weeks into my TUS Programme now. I'm really enjoying it. You will have to ask them during your interview. Best of luck!

StillWaters · 21-02-2013 7:56pm

fiestywonder wrote: »

Hi all, i received a letter today asking me would i be interested and to be honest id jump at the chance to do something after relentlessly trying to find employment for so long. For my own mental health id love to do it.

I just have a query regarding payment. Im currently receiving means tested jobseekers of €60 per week. If i am given a place would i only get a top up of €20 on that or do i get the full amount? also i dont drive, would this be an issue for them?

As i said i really would love to do one, surely the experience would be an asset to a CV!

My understanding is you will get the €208. Tell them you don't drive, it shouldn't be an issue for some of the jobs on offer.

Good luck with it.

Backstreet Moyes · 22-02-2013 4:16pm

DenMan wrote: »

Hi fiestywonder

Being honest I don't know. It is the basic €188+€20 extra and you are taken off the live register. I am eight weeks into my TUS Programme now. I'm really enjoying it. You will have to ask them during your interview. Best of luck!

DenMan quick question were you getting €208. I was getting €198.40. Im not sure if it was emergency tax or what it was.

danjo-xx · 22-02-2013 8:15pm

Nuts102 wrote: »

DenMan quick question were you getting €208. I was getting €198.40. Im not sure if it was emergency tax or what it was.

That could be the USC charge that was deducted, but in my case it amounted to €8.91 (I'm on a CE Scheme)

Anyway C.E. Schemes (and I would guess TUS scheme) as its identical to C.E. is exempt from this charge. We got refunded since.

Check your payslip.

DenMan · 22-02-2013 8:28pm

Nuts102 wrote: »

DenMan quick question were you getting €208. I was getting €198.40. Im not sure if it was emergency tax or what it was.

I didn't get the €208 until a couple of weeks into the new year. I was put on emergency tax for two weeks and got it back after. I got my P60 last week. You'll get it back.

dubscribe · 22-02-2013 8:44pm

danjo-xx wrote: »

That could be the USC charge that was deducted, but in my case it amounted to €8.91 (I'm on a CE Scheme)

Anyway C.E. Schemes (and I would guess TUS scheme) as its identical to C.E. is exempt from this charge. We got refunded since.

Check your payslip.

I can confirm, you are exempt from the USC charge when on the TUS scheme, I've done the research online - HOWEVER, you will be charged 4% PRSI, so of the initial 20 euro extra you get, nearly 9 euro of it goes on PRSI, hence you really get about 11.50 euro extra a week on top of your dole money, for working 19.5 hours a week.

YES, without a doubt, the organisations the jobs are with seem MUCH MORE worthwhile than some of the companies who have exploited the JobBridge Scheme.

danjo-xx · 22-02-2013 9:39pm

dubscribe wrote: »

I can confirm, you are exempt from the USC charge when on the TUS scheme, I've done the research online - HOWEVER, you will be charged 4% PRSI, so of the initial 20 euro extra you get, nearly 9 euro of it goes on PRSI, hence you really get about 11.50 euro extra a week on top of your dole money, for working 19.5 hours a week.

YES, without a doubt, the organisations the jobs are with seem MUCH MORE worthwhile than some of the companies who have exploited the JobBridge Scheme.

not on our scheme, can't remember the details, I'll dig it up tomorrow, all of us here on our scheme get the €208 p.w.

dubscribe · 22-02-2013 10:10pm

danjo-xx wrote: »

not on our scheme, can't remember the details, I'll dig it up tomorrow, all of us here on our scheme get the €208 p.w.

Perhaps you misunderstood. On the Tus Scheme ALL of your income ie your dole money plus the 20 euro top up is liable for tax and PRSI. You don't earn enough to pay tax but you do earn enough to be liable to the 4% PRSI contribution, you are excluded from the USC tax.

Graceland · 23-02-2013 8:32pm

My cousin went for an interview 2 weeks ago. He was asked the usual questions but he was also asked "what do you do all day". He thought it wasn't right to be asked this and wondered if anyone else was asked this question.

TUS Programme

Comments