D
dec2010
Guest
I have been in receipt for OPFP for quite a while now as I was in full-time education however, I decide to take a break from my studies for a few years. I have been actively seeking employment - sending out CVs to anything resembling a job that has been advertised anywhere within commuting distance of where I live. Finally my persistance has paid off and I have just found out that I have be successful in getting a job. I have no idea yet how many hours it will be a week, however I expect it to be somewhere between 25-40 hours and will start off on a trial basis. I am aware of how the level of your gross earnings affects your OPFP, however my question/dilemma is:
I would really love to finally get off Social Welfare as while I am grateful for the assistance up until now (my course didn't allow for part-time work), I really want to stand on my own two feet. I do not want to be seen as any stereotypes that may exist in society regarding single parents. I DO NOT smoke, drink, take drugs, gamble and I don't even socialise that much anymore and I have become particularly good at budgeting to ensure the my child does not go without anything. I'm living with my parents and my child is older now and doesn't require the same level of care as a younger child and I'm extremely lucky that my mum has agreed to watch her after school while I will be at work.
What I want to know is: can I voluntarily forfeit my entitlement to SW while I am in employment, as I feel that even if I only end up earning the same amount as I currently obtain via my SW payment, surely it is more beneficial to me to do so by working myself. The job I have found is actually in the same line as stuff I already enjoy doing as a hobby so I know that I will be happy doing it and I want to set a positive example to my child. I previously worked full-time and only claim SW while in education.
I am so delighted to have finally found a job, as I know that I was chosen from a huge group of applicants and my employer reckons that due to my 'partial' studies, I have additional skills to what they required for the job that will eventually allow me to gain additional responsibility within the business and earn more. I will be earning a little more than minimum wage and even if I was to work a full 40 hour week, I would still be below the €425 cut off point whereby you can maintain a partial payment, but I desperately want to get off SW.
While it is not a typical question to ask during a recession, I feel that now that I am no longer in full-time education, I am available to support myself in some shape or form, even if I don't have a high earning potential. If I inform the SW that I want to get off OPFP and any other payment option that they may offer me, while I attempt to throw all my energies into successfully carrying out my new role, would I be able to reapply at a later stage should anything happen the business that I will be working such as less work becoming available ie, by turning down the SW's help now, would I be "biting off the hand that feeds you". I feel that if I stop receiving any SW payment, I will be forced to support myself and my child and that this will really motivate me to work as hard as I possibly can to prove myself to new employer.
Any advice?
I would really love to finally get off Social Welfare as while I am grateful for the assistance up until now (my course didn't allow for part-time work), I really want to stand on my own two feet. I do not want to be seen as any stereotypes that may exist in society regarding single parents. I DO NOT smoke, drink, take drugs, gamble and I don't even socialise that much anymore and I have become particularly good at budgeting to ensure the my child does not go without anything. I'm living with my parents and my child is older now and doesn't require the same level of care as a younger child and I'm extremely lucky that my mum has agreed to watch her after school while I will be at work.
What I want to know is: can I voluntarily forfeit my entitlement to SW while I am in employment, as I feel that even if I only end up earning the same amount as I currently obtain via my SW payment, surely it is more beneficial to me to do so by working myself. The job I have found is actually in the same line as stuff I already enjoy doing as a hobby so I know that I will be happy doing it and I want to set a positive example to my child. I previously worked full-time and only claim SW while in education.
I am so delighted to have finally found a job, as I know that I was chosen from a huge group of applicants and my employer reckons that due to my 'partial' studies, I have additional skills to what they required for the job that will eventually allow me to gain additional responsibility within the business and earn more. I will be earning a little more than minimum wage and even if I was to work a full 40 hour week, I would still be below the €425 cut off point whereby you can maintain a partial payment, but I desperately want to get off SW.
While it is not a typical question to ask during a recession, I feel that now that I am no longer in full-time education, I am available to support myself in some shape or form, even if I don't have a high earning potential. If I inform the SW that I want to get off OPFP and any other payment option that they may offer me, while I attempt to throw all my energies into successfully carrying out my new role, would I be able to reapply at a later stage should anything happen the business that I will be working such as less work becoming available ie, by turning down the SW's help now, would I be "biting off the hand that feeds you". I feel that if I stop receiving any SW payment, I will be forced to support myself and my child and that this will really motivate me to work as hard as I possibly can to prove myself to new employer.
Any advice?
) and will be earning €10 per hour so that gives a maximum gross earning potential per month of €400.