Introduction. Helen Keogh National Co-ordinator VTOS

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1 Introduction This handbook of VTOS FAQs is a response to the need identified by VTOS coordinators for a publication which would bring together information on administrative elements of VTOS such as eligibility, payments, childcare and other more general issues. The handbook is intended for the use of VTOS staff, especially the VTOS co-ordinators. The handbook is not intended for distribution to VTOS students or members of the general public. A number of the questions in the handbook will be answered on under Learners and Trainees/Further Education/FAQs and under FAQs on the VTOS website at (Now - In early 2001 all VTOS co-ordinators were invited to submit questions in relation to VTOS that arise in their work from day to day. The contribution of the following VTOS co-ordinators to the development of the handbook is acknowledged: Mary Campbell, VTOS Athy, Co Kildare VEC Colette Cunningham, VTOS Ennis, Co Clare VEC Denis Dodd, VTOS Bray, Co Wicklow VEC Cathal Larkin, VTOS Ballinsloe, Co Galway VEC Jim McNamara, VTOS Dromcollogher, Co Limerick VEC Áine Moynihan, VTOS Dingle, Co Kerry VEC Christy Mullane, VTOS Kilmallock, Co Limerick VEC Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha, VTOS Rosmuc, Co Galway VEC Fergal O Boyle, VTOS Sligo, Co Sligo VEC Carmel Sheridan, VTOS Limerick, City of Limerick VEC The handbook is a work-in-progress and the responses within it are correct at the time of going to press. As all VTOS co-ordinators will be aware, VTOS rules and procedures change from time to time so co-ordinators are asked to keep the handbook up-to-date. As new issues or responses emerge, updated FAQs will be forwarded to co-ordinators for adding to the handbook. Co-ordinators are also urged to forward to the National Coordinator VTOS any new FAQs that they themselves may encounter in their work. Margaret Kelly, Connie Larkin, Fiona Lynch and Maria Sheehan, Further Education Section, Department of Education and Science, called on their vast experience of VTOS to draw up the responses to the questions forwarded by the VTOS co-ordinators. Siobhán Corcoran, VTOS National Office, produced the handbook. Helen Keogh National Co-ordinator VTOS September 2002

2 Editor Connie Larkin, Department of Education and Science Editorial Assistants Fiona Lynch, Department of Education and Science Maria Sheehan, Department of Education and Science Cover and Production Siobhán Corcoran, VTOS National Office, CDU September 2002

3 1. Eligibility

4 Q. What are the qualifying conditions for VTOS? A. An applicant for VTOS must be at least 21 years of age and getting one of the following payments for at least six months (156 days): Unemployment Benefit Unemployment Assistance One-Parent Family Payment Invalidity Pension Disability Allowance Disability Benefit* or Be signing for Credits for at least six months or Be a dependent spouse of an eligible person * People on Disability Benefit should, in the first instance, contact their local Social Welfare Office about exemption/entitlement to the continuation of their Disability Benefit payment. Periods spent on FÁS Training Courses, Community Employment schemes, Job Initiative or Youthreach Programme or time in prison can count towards this six-month qualifying period, but a person must be getting one of the relevant social welfare payments immediately before starting the programme. The following categories of people are also eligible to join VTOS provided they are at least 21 years of age and can satisfy the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs that they have not been engaged in paid work for at least six months and are in receipt of one of the following payments: Blind Person s Pension Deserted Wife's Allowance Deserted Wife's Benefit Widow/Widower's Contributory Pension Widow/Widower's Non-contributory Pension Prisoner's Wife's Allowance Q. How is the 156 day qualifying period calculated? Does a short period of employment within the six-month period prior to applying to join VTOS make one ineligible? A. Unemployment Benefit cannot be broken for more than 13 weeks and Unemployment Assistance has a 52-week limit for links. You can accumulate156 days within a maximum of a 52-week link. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs should confirm the number of days the applicant is in receipt of a social welfare payment or signing for credits.

5 Q. I am 20 years old but will be 21 during the middle of the course. Can I then apply for VTOS? Can a person under 21 join VTOS? A. No. A person must be at least 21 years of age by the course commencement date. Q. If a person is eligible for VTOS can their dependent spouse/partner join the scheme at the same time? A. Yes Q. I am on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) for over 6 months. My local Health Board pays this allowance. Am I entitled to join VTOS? A. A person on SWA is not entitled to join VTOS. However, there may be some instances where a person was receiving SWA pending a decision by the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs on their entitlement to a social welfare payment. If a person is subsequently granted a relevant payment prior to joining VTOS and D/SCFA backdates this entitlement, this time can then be counted towards the six-month (156 days) eligibility requirement. Q. What are the requirements regarding eligibility for VTOS for Asylum Seekers? A. Asylum Seekers with a right to work, i.e. those who entered the country before 26 July 1999, who have been waiting at least a year for a determination on their case and are in possession of the notification of their right to work from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, are entitled to join VTOS. They must also be at least 21 years of age, and have been unemployed for at least six months (time spent on supplementary welfare or in direct provision can count for this), and have been in receipt of the relevant payment immediately before joining the programme. Q. What are the requirements regarding eligibility for VTOS for people with refugee status? A. Refugees who satisfy the normal conditions of VTOS are eligible to join the programme. For further information on this, please refer to letter issued to all VECs on 27 th September 2001 headed Access to PLC, VTOS, and Youthreach programmes for non- EU nationals.

6 Q. I have finished a Back to Work Allowance Scheme (BTWA). Am I eligible for VTOS? A. Not generally. Time spent on BWTA does not count towards VTOS. However, if a person has completed a BTWA scheme and is currently in receipt of an eligible unemployment payment, they may wish to check with the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs to see whether they have the required 156 days, with permitted links. Note: This will depend on a few factors such as how long the person was on the BTWA, length of time they were in receipt of an eligible social welfare payment prior to BTWA and whether they are presently in receipt of a social welfare payment. Q. Does a widow/widower qualify? A. A person in receipt of the Widow/Widower s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension for at least six months and who is 21 years of age and unemployed is eligible for VTOS. Q. I am on a Carer s Allowance. Am I eligible for VTOS? A. No. The Carer s Allowance is a payment for carers on low incomes who live with and look after, a person in need of full-time care and attention. VTOS is a full-time programme and, therefore, a person in receipt of a Carer s Allowance could not join VTOS. Note: A person in receipt of a Carer s Allowance may attend an educational or training course for up to 10 hours per week, e.g. under BTEI. Carers allowance may count as qualified period if place available on course and they are in receipt of social welfare payment prior to starting course. Q. I am receiving Unemployment Benefit from D/SCFA and I can only receive this for 15 months. The 15 months will be up before the end of the VTOS course what happens then? A. A person in receipt of Unemployment Benefit (UB) prior to joining VTOS ceases to receive UB on commencement of the programme and instead, receives a training allowance. This allowance is equivalent to the maximum rate of Unemployment Benefit, with increases for a qualified partner and dependent children, if appropriate. This allowance is paid for the duration of the course, so, if circumstances change, such as those mentioned above, there will be no adjustment until the student has completed the programme. After the VTOS course is finished, it will be a matter for the D/SCFA to decide on the person s entitlements.

7 The following two questions are related: Q. I was in receipt of Unemployment Benefit before joining VTOS are my stamps/contributions frozen - i.e. what is the position after completion of VTOS? Q.. What will a UB participant be paid after 2 years on VTOS? A. Periods on a VTOS course not exceeding 1 year in duration can be disregarded for the purpose of linking two Unemployment Benefit claims the repeat claim for UB must be made within 13 weeks or less from the date of the last VTOS payment. In these cases, the person may link back to his/her previous UB claim. S/he will then be entitled to receive the balance of his/her 390 days UB less any days exhausted before s/he went onto VTOS. Note: where there is a break of more than 13 weeks between the last payment on VTOS and a repeat claim to UB, the person will have to re-apply for UB and meet the requisite contribution conditions. VTOS students on the programme for more than a year cannot link back to their UB claim. However, such students may wish to apply for means-tested Unemployment Assistance after completing the VTOS programme. VECs are advised to inform VTOS applicants who are in receipt of Unemployment Benefit of the above, prior to commencement of the course. The following two questions are related: Q. What happens if my Disability Benefit is cut while I am on VTOS? Q. What are the conditions relating to Disability Benefit eligibility? A. A person in receipt of Disability Benefit must get permission from the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs before joining VTOS. The applicant is advised by the D/SCFA that they may be sent for a medical examination at any time. There is always the possibility that their payment may cease. The VEC does not pay an allowance to this student. It is a matter for the applicant to decide whether they can support themselves until completion of programme, should their payment cease. The VEC might wish to advise the applicant of this before s/he commences the programme and make it clear that they have no responsibility if payments should cease.

8 Q. If I have been in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in another EU country, am I eligible for VTOS? A. Applicants who have been in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment in another EU country generally cannot count this time towards the six-month eligibility for VTOS. However, if a VEC has a spare place available after all recruitment is complete, they may then allow such an applicant onto a course. The VEC must receive confirmation from the D/SCFA that the social welfare payment received in another EU country equates to a qualifying payment for the purpose of joining VTOS. Additionally, the applicant must be getting a relevant payment from D/SCFA (in Ireland) immediately before starting the course. They would not be entitled to the training bonus unless they have 12 months on the social welfare payment in Ireland. Q. Can a person who has worked and at the same time received a One-Parent Family payment join VTOS? A. Yes. Once a person has been in receipt of a One-Parent Family payment for at least six months at the time the programme commences and they have finished full-time work. Q. Are ex-prisoners eligible to join VTOS? A. Yes. Time spent in prison may count towards the six-month eligibility requirement for VTOS.

9 2. Payments

10 Q. Will I get extra money when I join VTOS and can I keep all my benefits? A. Students who had a prior entitlement to a UA/UB payment receive a training allowance instead of their social welfare payment at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of unemployment benefit, including any appropriate increases due for a qualified adult and dependent children. A person who does not have a prior entitlement to a social welfare payment will not qualify for this allowance (i.e. those signing for credits/dependent spouse). A travel allowance is payable to those who have to travel more than 3 miles to their VTOS centre. A person will qualify for the bonus if they have been in receipt of an unemployment payment for 312 days directly before the course commencement date. Those in receipt of a One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Disability Benefit, or Invalidity for 312 days directly before course commencement date will also qualify for this bonus payment. Those signing for credits, and dependent spouses are not eligible for this payment. The following categories will also qualify for the EUR training bonus provided they can satisfy the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs that they have not been engaged in paid work for at least 312 days directly prior to the course commencement date: Blind Person s Pension Deserted Wife's Allowance Deserted Wife's Benefit Widow/Widower's Contributory Pension Widow/Widower's Non-Contributory Pension Prisoner's Wife's Allowance Q. If a VEC enrols a participant who has a half- rate UB entitlement, does it continue to pay him/her half rate or is the full rate paid? A. A student with a prior entitlement to a reduced rate of UB will get a training allowance from the VEC in lieu of this payment, at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of UB, provided this is his/her principal social welfare payment. Sometimes a person in receipt of a One-Parent Family payment will also have an entitlement to half-rate UB. In these instances the One-Parent Family payment is considered the principal payment, so the student continues to receive this payment from the D/SCFA. The D/SCFA also pays the half rate UB for the remaining balance of the 390 days. This student does not receive any allowance from the VEC.

11 Q. What happens if a VTOS student is in receipt of an allowance in lieu of UA/UB with an increase for a dependent child(ren) and the child reaches 18 years of age during the course? A. The VTOS allowance is based on a participant s social welfare entitlement (including any increases for dependent children) directly before commencing a course. A student continues to get this full allowance for the duration of the VTOS course. This in effect means that a student will retain the dependent rate for the duration of his/her course, even if the child reaches 18 during the course. Note: If a student returns to D/SCFA on completion of the programme, the relevant changes/adjustments will be made to any UA/UB entitlement by the D/SCFA at that time. Q. What happens if I change my social welfare status during the course, e.g I start on UA/UB and then become a lone parent or disabled? A. A student who has a UA/UB entitlement receives a training allowance from the VEC in lieu of his/her UA/UB payment. In these instances, a student s social welfare status can only be revisited/changed when s/he completes the programme, or should s/he decide to leave the course. Social welfare entitlements or changes thereto are a matter for the student and the D/SCFA. Q. What is the position regarding students in receipt of a One-Parent Family payment and half-rate unemployment payment. A. If a student is in receipt of a One-Parent Family payment directly before joining VTOS, and additionally has an entitlement to UB (half rate), the One-Parent Family payment is considered the principal payment, so the student continues to receive this payment from the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs. The D/SCFA also pays the half rate UB for the remaining balance of 390 days. This student does not receive any allowance from the VEC. Q. How much is the Christmas Bonus? A. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs advise regarding the actual amount of the Christmas Bonus around November each year. In 2001, the bonus was 100% of the person s unemployment payment, or, in the case of VTOS students, 100% of their weekly training allowance entitlement. The training bonus, and meals/travel payments are not to be taken into account when calculating the Christmas Bonus.

12 The following two questions are related: Q. I got Christmas Bonus when I was on a FÁS course. Will I continue to get it on VTOS? Q. How come s/he is getting the Christmas Bonus and I am not? A. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs provide details in relation to the Christmas Bonus around November each year. This bonus is paid to people who are on long-term social welfare payments. Time spent on VTOS could be added to time on UA/UB to make up the 391 days. Time spent on FÁS/CE programmes also count towards the 391 days required. Q. I didn t qualify for the E training bonus this year, but I am doing a twoyear course under VTOS, will I qualify for the bonus next year? A. No. A person will qualify for the bonus if they have been in receipt of an unemployment payment for 312 days directly before the course commencement date. Those in receipt of a One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Disability Benefit, or Invalidity Pension for 312 days directly before course commencement date will also qualify for this bonus payment. Those signing for credits, and dependent spouses are not eligible for this payment. The following categories will also qualify for the EUR training bonus provided they can satisfy the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs that they have not been engaged in paid work for at least 312 days directly prior to the course commencement date: Blind Person s Pension Deserted Wife's Allowance Deserted Wife's Benefit Widow/Widower's Contributory Pension Widow/Widower's Non-Contributory Pension Prisoner's Wife's Allowance Q. Can time on Youthreach count towards the 12-month eligibility criterion for the training bonus? A. No. Time spent on a Youthreach programme cannot count towards the 12-month eligibility criteria for the training bonus. However, if a student is progressing directly to VTOS from Youthreach and has been in receipt of a qualifying payment 12 months directly prior to joining Youthreach, s/he has an entitlement to this bonus while on VTOS.

13 Q. Are all participants with more then 312 days unemployed entitled to the training bonus? A. A person will qualify for the bonus if s/he has been in receipt of an unemployment payment for 312 days directly before the course commencement date. Those in receipt of a One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Disability Benefit, or Invalidity Pension for 312 days directly before course commencement date will also qualify for this bonus payment. People signing for credits, and dependent spouses are not eligible for this payment. The following categories will also qualify for the EUR training bonus provided they can satisfy the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs that they have not been engaged in paid work for at least 312 days directly prior to the course commencement date: Blind Person s Pension Deserted Wife's Allowance Deserted Wife's Benefit Widow/Widower's Contributory Pension Widow/Widower's Non-Contributory Pension Prisoner's Wife's Allowance Q. How are the 312 days calculated for the training bonus? A. A person must have been in receipt of an eligible payment for 12 months (312 days) directly before VTOS course commencement date. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will have to confirm this. Note: Time spent on a CE programme/job Initiative can count towards this 12-month requirement (i.e. total 312 days, counting time in receipt of an unemployment payment and including any time spent on a CE programme/job Initiative) Q. Are VTOS Training Allowances paid during Summer holidays? A. Yes, if the student is progressing to Year 2 of VTOS (or Year 3 in exceptional circumstances). However, before entering into such an arrangement, the VEC should first obtain a written undertaking from the individual concerned that s/he intends to resume for the second (or third) year of the course, and will notify it of any change in that position.

14 Q. Can I combine UA/UB/Disability Allowance or Benefit etc. to qualify for training bonus? A. Yes. A person can combine eligible social welfare payments for the purpose of calculating the required number of days, but the total must be 312 consecutive days directly before the course commencement date. Q. Are there any circumstances in which the VEC may cease to pay the training bonus, such as a person on sick leave or maternity leave. A. Once a participant is deemed entitled to this bonus, s/he will continue to be paid this weekly amount as long as s/he is on the programme. Note: In the case of maternity leave decisions should be made on a case-by case basis as to what arrangements are most suitable for the student in question. In the case of illness and sick leave VECs should put in place regulations and procedures which are communicated to students at the beginning of a VTOS course. However, it is not envisaged that payment will be continued for students who are absent from the programme on a prolonged basis. Q. If I am a dependent spouse/partner of a person eligible for VTOS who has in excess of 1 year on UA/UB, can I claim training bonus? A. No. Dependent spouses/partners are not eligible to receive the bonus payment. A student must have been in receipt of an eligible social welfare payment in his/her own right for twelve months directly prior to joining VTOS. Q. Why am I not entitled to the training allowance? I am only 3 days short of the qualifying period? A. A person must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for twelve months (312 days), prior to joining VTOS i.e. directly prior to the course commencement date.. Q. A VTOS applicant had been in receipt of a One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) for a number of years. They then changed to Carer s Allowance for a period, and then went back onto the OPFP. Can time on Carer s Allowance count towards the 12- month requirement for the training bonus, or can they link back to the previous period on the OPFP? A. No. Time on a Carer s Allowance cannot count towards the training bonus, which was introduced for the long-term unemployed. Neither can links be made in respect of the 12-month requirement for this bonus payment i.e. a person must have

15 been in receipt of specified social welfare payments for 312 days directly before joining VTOS (including any time spent on a CE programme /Job Initiative/FÁS training courses.) Q. I previously received the equivalent to the Lone Parent Allowance (or Disability Allowance) in Northern Ireland but have been receiving this payment in the Republic for the last 6 months, do I receive the Bonus? A. No. A person must have been in receipt a relevant social welfare payment in the Republic for 12 months (312 days) directly prior to the commencement date of the course. Q. Do I receive the bonus over Easter/Christmas/ Summer holidays? A. All eligible students are paid the training bonus over Easter/Christmas holidays. Additionally, the bonus payment should be paid to eligible VTOS students over the Summer months. In effect, this concerns participants who are in receipt of the training bonus in Year 1 and resuming the second year of their two-year course in the Autumn (or resuming a third year in very exceptional circumstances). Q. In calculating the travel allowance why is the mileage only paid one way? A. One way indicates the distance a student must live from the VTOS centre/college i.e. over 3 miles - to be entitled to any travel costs. Account is taken of the round trip in the calculation of the overall rate. Q. If a VTOS student gets a payment from a company while on work experience does it affect their VTOS training allowance? A. No. Note: It is understood that work experience would involve the equivalent of a few weeks placement only, during the VTOS programme.

16 4. General

17 Q. Can students do the course part-time? A. No. VTOS is a full-time programme. However, there may be a part-time version of a particular course taking place under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) scheduled to commence in September, Q. Can I work part-time while on a VTOS course? A. VTOS is a full-time programme. However, a students may work part-time, provided work does not affect class attendance in any way. The VTOS allowance is not meanstested, so s/he may work part-time or during the Summer without affecting his/her payment. Q. Do VTOS centres provide courses for people with disabilities? A. Yes. An unemployed person over 21 years of age who is in receipt of Disability Allowance/Benefit, Invalidity Pension, or Blind Person s Pension for at least six months may apply for a VTOS course. Q. Can a student take two courses under the VTOS umbrella? A. Yes, provided the maximum time spent on VTOS amounts to two years. In cases such as these, and where a student is progressing to a PLC programme, the VEC is asked to advise the student to progress to PLC under the BTEA of D/SCFA if they have a high demand for VTOS places. The following two questions are related: Q. How many years can you remain on VTOS? Q. Am I entitled to a third year on VTOS? A. A person can remain on a VTOS programme for a maximum of two years. VECs are authorised to grant a third year in very exceptional circumstances such as extremely low levels of education on entry to VTOS or many classes missed due to illness. Note: In recent years demand for VTOS places has exceeded supply. Some VECs have operated waiting lists, with a third year only granted to students under exceptional circumstance and where there is a spare place available.

18 Q. Is there guidance in VTOS? A. Yes, in most cases. The VTOS student may be able to avail of guidance from the Guidance Counsellor in the school/centre or from the local Adult Guidance Service under the Adult Education Guidance Initiative (AEGI). In all cases, the VTOS Coordinator and tutors provide frontline guidance for students. Q. Are there many students over the age of 50? A. Statistics show that in the academic year there was a total of 711 students aged 40 or over in VTOS throughout the country. However, the VTOS age profile will vary from centre to centre. Q. I want to do an evening class in the school/centre where I am attending VTOS. Is it free because I am a VTOS student? A. No. Q. May VTOS fund extra-curricular trips that would be off benefit to the student? A. It is a matter for the VEC to decide whether they can cover such costs from their normal non-pay budget. There is no additional funding available to cover such costs. If monies are taken from the non-pay budget it would be expected that these group trips would take place only once a year, and that costs would be kept to a minimum.