Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

July 2013

This leaflet identifies a

wide range of services, supports,

advice and tips to help you

with your jobseeking.

For further information contact the INOU.

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

✆ 01 856 0088

welfare@inou.ie✉e redundancy@inou.ie✉e

websites: www.inou.ie www.redundancy.ie designed and printed by printwell design, dublin 3.

Supports to assist you into work

VOLUNTARY WORK OPTIONVoluntary work can help you gain new skills and canincrease your chances of getting a job. If you areunemployed you can take up voluntary work whileon a Jobseeker’s payment under the Voluntary WorkOption. You will need to fill in the VW1 form,available from your local Social Welfare Office /Intreo Centre

Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteerdevelopment agency and a support bodyfor all local Volunteer Centres in Ireland.For more information on volunteering:

visit: www.volunteer.ie call: (01) 636 9446email: info@volunteer.ie

WORK EXPERIENCE OPTION

The aim of JobBridge – theNational Internship Scheme is tohelp break the cycle wherejobseekers are unable to get a job

without work experience. The Scheme provides up to8,500 work experience places in the private, public,community & voluntary sectors for those in receipt ofthe relevant social welfare payment or signing forcredits. Interns get an additional allowance of €50 aweek on top of their social welfare payment for theduration of their internship. For information on howto qualify for JobBridge visit: www.jobbridge.ie orcontact the INOU.

EMPLOYER INCENTIVE OPTION

Jobs Plus is a new employerincentive from the Department ofSocial Protection which encourages

and rewards employers who offer employmentopportunities to the long term unemployed. To checkyour eligibility or to apply on-line visitwww.jobsplus.ie

This leaflet has been produced with financial support from the Department of Social Protection

Supports to assist you into work

Outlined below is a short description of somesupports that might help you to get back into work.For more information contact the INOU or visit:www.inou.ie or www.welfare.ie

THE PART TIME JOB INCENTIVE SCHEME (PTJI)The PTJI allows you to work part time (under 24hours a week) and get a Part-time Job Allowanceinstead of your Jobseeker’s Allowance payment. Theallowance will be paid regardless of the money youearn in your job. However, your wages will be taxablein the usual way.

SECONDARY BENEFITSIf you have been getting a Jobseeker’s payment for 12months or more, you can take up full-time work andkeep your medical card for 3 years. If you take up parttime work you will not get to keep your medical card.You may also be entitled to Rent or Mortgage InterestSupplement.

THE FASTTRACK SYSTEMThe Department of Social Protection operates a fast-tracking system for customers who sign-off aJobseeker’s payment to take up work for a shortperiod of up to 8 weeks. If the job doesn’t work out,the Fast Track system allows you to sign back on toyour claim without the need to go through theprocess of being a new claimant. This system ensuresthat your original Jobseeker’s payment is re-instatedwithout delay.

ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCESIf you are getting a Jobseekers payment and thinkingabout starting a business, you may qualify for anEnterprise Allowance. There are two types ofallowance, the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance(BTWEA) and the Short Term Enterprise Allowance(STEA). Talk to an Enterprise Officer in your LocalPartnerships / Local Development Companies for

more information or visit: www.ildn.ie

WORKING FOR WORKWorking for Work is a comprehensivebook on entitlements, education,training and back to work options.This book is available to downloadfrom the INOU website:www.inou.ie

FREE

www.inou.ie

Lookingfor

Work

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JOB CLUBS provide support to jobseekers suchas support with preparing CV’s, improvinginterview skills and identifying possible jobopportunities. The Job Club service is deliveredthrough workshops and Individual ‘one to one’support sessions. Job Clubs also provide a ‘drop-in’ service for Jobseekers to avail of the facilitiesof the Job Club. Job Clubs are delivered, undera contract arrangement, on behalf of theDepartment of Social Protection. For moreinformation visit: www.welfare.ie

CONGRESS CENTRES NETWORK can supportyou with your jobseeking efforts by helping youprepare a C.V. or with mock interviews and withother resources such as photocopying, typing upassignments, thesis etc, Business Support forstart ups, FETAC accredited courses, LocalTraining Initiatives, Information Provision andAdvocacy, employment through CommunityEmployment schemes and Community ServicesProgrammes. For more information visit:www.ictu.ie/ccn/

LOCAL RESOURCE CENTRES are a range ofindependent organisations including FamilyResource Centres that offer different services tohelp unemployed people find work. They canhelp you with welfare rights queries, filling inapplication forms / preparing a C.V. or coverletters, Information on local job vacancies andaccessing the internet and daily newspapers.Some centres may also run Job Clubs. Visit:www.familyresource.ie or the Find your localservices map on www.inou.ie

WORKLINK is an employmentnetwork that assists unemployedpeople to successfully transition into

full employment. Worklink providesprofessional mentoring and support directly toJobseekers through Jobseeker groups andorganisations. For more information visit:www.worklink.ie or Phone 01 291 6603

Online jobseeking resources

Jobs Ireland is an online resource forJobseeker’s. You can find information on full-time and part-time work opportunities, work

experience programmes such as JobBridge andvacancies on schemes such as Community Employment. Jobs Ireland can be accessed easily and in a number ofways: visit: www.jobsireland.ie Freephone: 1800 611 116Download: the FREE jobseekers app

Twitter#jobfairyYou don’t even need to create a Twitteraccount just type jobfairy into the twittersearch box and view the results. Results will

show all tweets relating to Ireland. Many of the jobsadvertised will not be publicly seen elsewhere. Visit:https://twitter.com . Other twitter tags which may be ofinterest to you: #INOUIreland and #welfare_.ie

LinkedIn is a business orientated socialnetworking website that can be used fornetworking or as a job seeking tool. LinkedIntakes your professional network online,

giving you access to people and possible jobopportunities. Visit: www.linkedin.com

INOU Jobs Watch page This page showsthe latest jobs being created which aretracked through the local and nationalmedia. Visit: www.inou.ie/jobsboard

Find your local services ONLINE

www.inou.ieServices include:

l Intreo / Social Welfare Offices

l Local Employment Services

l INOU Member Organisations

l Local Resource Centres

web

I am looking for work – Where can I find help?

There are a range of services and supports available tohelp you with your jobseeking efforts and improve yourchances of finding work. Some of these key services andsupports are outlined in this leaflet.

INTREO is a new employment and incomesupports service from the Department of SocialProtection (DSP). Intreo provides supports tojobseekers. Intreo can help you to get back towork and increases your chances of finding work.The Intreo service is currently being extendedacross the Department's network of offices.

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES givejobseekers support in a number of waysincluding: Guidance interviews, informationprovision and a Jobseeker Pack.

The service is delivered through the Departmentof Social Protection’s Employment Service officesand Local Employment Service offices (LES).Employment Service offices are currently beingincorporated into the Department of SocialProtection’s new Intreo service.

For more information on Intreo or EmploymentSupport Services visit: www.welfare.ie

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (LES) staffcan provide you with support in a number ofways: through guidance interviews; providinginformation; in helping you to develop a careerplan and in identifying job opportunities. Theycan also assist you in identifying training andeducational supports to help you enter/re-enteremployment. The LES is delivered, under acontract arrangement, on behalf of theDepartment of Social Protection. For moreinformation visit: www.welfare.ie

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS / LOCAL DEVELOPMENTCOMPANIES offer a range of supports for peoplelooking to start a business. Enterprise Officers canadvise you on enterprise allowances. For moreinformation visit: www.ildn.ie

i

IRISH LOCALDEVELOPMENTNETWORK

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