A chara, – My story is similar to Niall McKee’s (March 21st) in that it highlights the anomalies in our welfare system that encourage one to remain in the welfare system, rather than seek a job.
I’ve been receiving “Jobseeker’s” Allowance for more than a year. During this time, I have a position, one day a week, with the VEC. For this day, I get wages of approximately €77 after taxes, USC, etc. I am then deducted €66 from my welfare payment for wages received. However, this gives me a weekly income of approximately €199, instead of €188 I could receive if I didn’t work at all. I work because I want to, and hope to get more hours with the VEC.
Further to this, I recently saw a job advertised as part of the Community Employment Scheme (CE Scheme). I had all the relevant experience and qualifications, and it was a local position. Perfect! I thought to myself. So, I called the welfare office to see was I eligible for scheme.
I was told to ring Employment Services, and there I was given numbers for another department, where I was told to ask the dole office, and so on and so on, until finally I was told that I was not eligible to apply.
Why? Because I had worked more than 30 days in a 12-month period. (I might add that after the closing date of application for this post, I saw this job re-advertised. Did they not get enough suitable applicants?)
How does this make sense? I feel penalised for working. I am classified as a jobseeker, yet, because I try to work, I can not seek a job that I know I would be an ideal candidate for. So, what is the point in working at all? – Is mise,
MIRIAM O’CONNELL,
Ard na Sidhe,
Clonmel,
Co Tipperary.