Forget emigration, I want to stay put
You don't HAVE to go abroad to survive this recession.
Why stay?
At the moment, lots of your friends and maybe even members of your family are boarding planes to the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You, on the other hand, remain firmly grounded: you have decided to stay in Ireland.
Perhaps you feel optimistic about the future and know that the tide will turn. Perhaps you don’t want to leave your family and friends and want to keep trying for a job here before declaring immigration is the only answer. Maybe you have a secure job. Maybe you feel like you shouldn’t have to leave. Whatever the reason, SpunOut.ie has some top tips and advice for those wanting to stay.
Your entitlements:
Citizens of Ireland who cannot find a job are entitled to support and assistance from the government. This financial support is commonly referred to as the dole. Currently, those aged between 18-21 are entitled to €100 per week, those aged between 22-24 €150 per week and those over the age of 25 €196 a week. You may also be entitled to a medical card, rent supplement, fuel allowance and mortgage interest supplement. These benefits must be applied for separately.
Further education:
A mature student (person over 23 years of age) as well as students under 23 can apply for grants to help with the costs of going to college as well as the university fees. The main grants schemes are: the higher education grant scheme and the vocational education committees’ grant scheme. If you are over 21 years of age and have been on the dole for more than one year, you will also be entitled to apply for the Back to Education allowance. This allowance will pay you €500 annually as well as your weekly social welfare payment; thus allowing you to get an education, which you might not have been able to afford otherwise.
If you are unemployed, perhaps now is an opportunity to use your time wisely and get more education. If you are eligible for a grant or financial assistance of some kind, this recession may offer you an opportunity you may not otherwise have had.
What to do if you are unemployed?
If you are unemployed it is important to do several things:
- Apply for the dole and all other benefits you are entitled to. Yes, it is a lot of form filling, but it is worth it.
- Make sure to get some exercise. You do not have to become an athlete, but movement is important to your mental health. Even getting out for a walk in the fresh air will help. It may be hard to motivate yourself, but just move somehow for a few minutes a day. It really will help.
- Make sure to spend time with friends and get out and do things. If you are stressed and worried about lack of a job, you need to keep in contact with people who will help you forget your worries for a bit.
- Keep trying and don’t give up. Yes, we are in a recession, but that does not mean you will be unemployed forever. The right job is out there for you someday.
What if you have a job?
If you have a job and are happy in it this is great! However, you may feel lonely and miss friends that have emigrated. If this is you, it can be a hard situation to deal with. Everyone expects you to be happy because you have a good job, but a job won’t go to the pub with you!
If it is any consolation, there are probably quite a lot of people in the same situation. Perhaps joining a club of some kind may help with making new friends. And, of course there is always email and cheap phone calls available. Maybe you can even travel abroad and see your friends. It is not the same, but you can keep in touch.
Overall, these times are trying, so reach out for support as much as you need it; whether this support is financial or emotional.
SpunOut is always here, so come chat about it all in the forum.
Can we get through this recession?
Keep in mind that while it all seems doom and gloom now, pretty much every country in the world has faced times like this and got through it. In fact, there is a theory in economics that the world moves in economic cycles; with periods of growth and recession following one another. This recession is worse than most recessions because we had a period of massive growth here in Ireland, and the money we made was not used as wisely as it should have been. However, this does not mean there is no way out. Our parents had hard times in the 80’s and they managed to survive. Yes, they had not bought into a giant housing bubble, but they got through it. We can too.
Keeping a positive attitude:
We may focus on positivity here at SpunOut, but sometimes it is natural to be down in these tough times. You may miss friends that have emigrated or you may feel hopeless and like you’ll never get a job. If you feel depressed it is important to talk to someone about it. See about offloading to a friend or relative or, if you want to keep things confidential, come chat to us here on the forums or contact one of the helplines such as Samaritans or Childline.
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