social welfare and part timework

soontobesmokin

Hello all. As I've become a victim of the slowdown over the past 2 months and have had to sign on , I am now thinking long term plans in regards to back to ed schemes ( third level course ) and so on for september 09. As you may be aware I must be 312 days in receipt of my payments before I can qualify for this scheme, my question is can I for example work 1-2 days ( for small money ) per week while receiving some form of assistance while this does not 'break my time' ( 312 days ) needed to qualify for the back to ed scheme?
I have searched on the social welfare site to no joy, also I telephoned the head office and the reply was ' I'm not sure '.
Please don't judge me or think I want to lie back an receive social for the next year or so, I have a wife/kids and as far as I can see, the only thing to do in times of recession is to educate myself further and maybe emerge from these slow times wiser and better equipped to find a better and maybe new career.
Apologies for long thread.

dresden8

When you sign on fully unemployed you "days" go up by 6 each week (you're not paid for Sunday)

If you work one or two days per week your "days" only go up by 4 or 5 as you're not unemployed those days.

Ring the back to education section and get clarification. You may still have your days worked up by then.

tomred1

You have 2 options one is stay fully unemployed and come sep 09 you should have 312 days. If you work 1or 2 days a week come sep 09 you won't have built up 312 days. There are exceptions too:If you have been awarded Statutory Redundancy, you may access the BTEA Scheme, provided you first establish an entitlement to a Social Welfare payment.