Local Information Services Medical Card Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme Child & Family Care Looking for Work

Social Welfare System Options For Unemployed People: In general, if you become unemployed and are looking for work, you should call to the Fresh Claims area of your Social Welfare Local Office on the first day of unemployment. Your insurance record will be checked to see if you qualify for Unemployment Benefit or Assistance. When you call in to make a claim, you will need to bring some form of identity. Some of the Employment Supports include: Locally based JOB FACILITATORS who were appointed to advise and assist unemployed people to avail of the full range of options now open to them Back to Work Allowance. Employment Grants for self-employed enterprises. A Training Fund available to assist clients with the costs of  special training courses which will improve their prospects. Back To Work Allowance (Employees): This allowance encourages unemployed people, lone parents and people getting Disability Allowance or Blind Person's Pension to take up employment. Participants retain a percentage of their social welfare payments along with any 'secondary benefits' they have for a period of up to 3 years. Back To Work Allowance (Enterprise): This allowance encourages unemployed people, lone parents and people getting Disability Allowance or Blind Person's Pension to become self-employed. Participants receive support for four years along with any 'secondary benefits' they have, subject to certain conditions. Full details of these allowances are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in leaflet SW93. Part-Time Work Many job opportunities today are for part-time work, and if you are getting an unemployment payment you could work up to 3 days per week and receive social welfare payment for the days that you are unemployed. Details of this are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services Back To Education Programme: The Department administers a range of second chance education programmes to help people and improve their skills and qualifications. Details of these programmes are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in booklet SW 70 Community Employment: Community Employment (CE) is run by FAS and operates throughout the country providing part-time work together with personal and skills development opportunities. Students Summer Jobs Scheme: This is an optional scheme designed to help third-level students and students of Post Leaving Certificate courses of more than 1 years duration find work with sponsors during their summer holidays while also benefiting the local community. Details of this scheme are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in leaflet SW 50 Further information from: Mayo MABS I.R.D. Centre Cathedral Road Ballina Co. Mayo Tel: (096) 72902 Money Adviser - Ms. Dolores O’Boyle Administration - Ms. Lorraine Sheeran Castlebar MABS Humbert Mall Castlebar Tel: 28888 Galway MABS - North Social Services Centre Dublin Road Tuam Co. Galway Tel: (093) 24421 Fax (093) 26050 Money Adviser - Ms. Helen McKenna Administration - Ms. Nellie Sweeney Further Information From: Social Welfare Regional Office, Augustine House, Merchants Road, Galway. Tel: 091-5661191 Mayo Jobs Faciliator, Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096-70449 Local Social Welfare Information Centres: Social Welfare Office, Bohernasup, Ballina Tel: 096-21377 Social Welfare Office 16 New Antrim Street, Castlebar Tel: 094-23285 Social Welfare Office, America Street, Belmullet Tel: 097-81029 Social Welfare Office, Achill Sound, Achill Tel: 098-45101 Social Welfare Office, Prospect Avenue, Westport Tel: (098) 25333 Other Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Office, Cornmarket, Ballinrobe Tel: (092) 41289 Social Welfare Office, Ballyhaunis Road Claremorris Tel: 094-711745 Social Welfare Office, Dublin Road, Swinford Tel: (094) 51208 Social Welfare Office, Upper Main Street, Ballyhaunis Tel: 0907-30181 Detailed information about all of the Social Welfare Services available can be found in the Guide to Social Welfare Services. There is also a comprehensive list of the information leaflets, which are available, free from the Department.