Working and Claiming Dole

McCrack

Can anybody tell me the situation if an individual is claiming the dole and gets a job and decides not to tell the nice people down in the social welfare office. Suppose this individual is getting paid minimum wage and is therefore outside the PAYE/PRSI net. Can or do alarm bells ring in the Dept of Social Welfare in these circumstances?

My gut instinct tells me that there has to be some kind of checking system in place between Revenue and Social Welfare even if the person isnt earning enough to pay any tax.

Can anybody clarify from personal experience or otherwise?

(and this isnt a question on the legality/morals of it)

jaffa20

You have to pay PRSI whether earning a minimum wage or not. But, please tell me you are not thinking of doing this:eek: I broke my back for the minimum wage and would never think of claiming the dole while working. I was also just made redundant and sought out work straight away rather than relying on the dole. I found a 3 month contract and start next week. Come january, i will be in the same situation and will not be claiming the dole.

I know plenty of people that do this, and to be honest, unless you're stupid about it, you won't get caught.


If you work part time, you can tell the social welfare of your employment, and they will still pay you Dole for the days that you are not working (dole is approx 30 per day i think?).


If you get a job working on sundays only, then you don't have to tell the Dole people because its none of their business. The dole doesn't cover you on sundays. You can work from 9am til 9pm on sunday and make €500 from doing it, but its not social welfare's concern to the best of my knowledge. I could be wrong on that, but i know a few people that claim dole and work legally on sundays.




To answer your question directly:

The lovely social welfare people will find out how long you've been working, fine you the amount of money you should have paid (and of course you will disagree and argue it, then they will take you to court and the judge will order you to pay it "if you have it" on a per-week basis. You'll pay it once or twice and it will be forgotten about).


I think thats pretty accurate.


I must admit, i'd be doing it too (working and claiming dole) but i cant find a job


Also, the only way it will work is if you are getting paid cash in hand.

uoluol

Revenue let social welfare know if someone is working and signing - even if they have declared it to social welfare. These COE (Commencement of Employment) reports are sent regularly, and in some cases will indicate if someone worked even if they are no longer signing.

When these reports come in, the overpayment is calculated, and depending on the amount due, and length of employment, the individual is liable to be prosecuted.

Must be the downturn in the economy, but I've been told that there has been a large increase in the number of anonymous reports being made of people who are allegedly working and signing. These are always followed up.

In short - don't do it. If you get any sort of temporary work, it's better to inform you local welfare office, and then you can be temporarily knocked off the system. Keeps everything legit, and it's simpler in the long run.

ScouseMouse

I took on a lady who, shall we say, was slow, to notify the welfare she was working. I got three letters from the welfare office asking her start date and the hours worked. I replied to all letters and told the staff member about it.

A few weeks later she was sacked for other reasons and now she has no dole whatsoever....

axer

The dole is means tested thus if it affects your overall income then it could affect your dole. I don't think it is seen as a working day however.

McCrack

Thanks uoluol it's what I thought really. So basically am I right in saying each and every time a person starts a job and their employer submits this to Revenue they will send this over to Welfare and a check will done automatically?

axer

McCrack wrote: »

Thanks uoluol it's what I thought really. So basically am I right in saying each and every time a person starts a job and their employer submits this to Revenue they will send this over to Welfare and a check will done automatically?

I believe that is the case but it can take a while to go through so that is why the social welfare office request that people inform them as soon as they have gained employment - otherwise the extra monies paid would have to be paid back.

SarahMc

Of course the two departments communicate with each other! Whatever about signing on and doing cash in hand nixers (although its likely you will get caught with this too, due to the increasing numbers of people reporting such fraud). Working in a PAYE job and signing is just the height of stupidity.

mattDL

If you get a job working on sundays only, then you don't have to tell the Dole people because its none of their business. The dole doesn't cover you on sundays. You can work from 9am til 9pm on sunday and make €500 from doing it, but its not social welfare's concern to the best of my knowledge. I could be wrong on that, but i know a few people that claim dole and work legally on sundays.




Your weekly earnings are assessed for means purposes (including Sunday earnings). So if your net means as a single person is over 197.80 euros (for a single person) you'll get no payment as your means will exceed the limit. This only applies to Jobseekers Allowance not Jobseekers Benefit.

marxcoo

I am currently getting full Job seekers benefit but I am starting a part-time job next week for approx 20 hours a week, will I be entitled to part dole? I bloody better be.

jimmyw

You might want to have a look at "primetime" on monday night, its all about social welfare fraud:cool:

draward

NO you have to teel them if you dont and get caought you are f__ked.

Builderfromhell

I understand unemployed who start a Fas course can legally work and still get their full entitlements. That sounds like a good situation.

uoluol

Builderfromhell wrote: »

I understand unemployed who start a Fas course can legally work and still get their full entitlements. That sounds like a good situation.

You understand wrong my friend:)

If you are on a fas course well then you are not available for full time work. So you cannot claim JA or JB. So FAS pays you, in fact is a little bit more than an unemployment payment. Even if it is a short course you must sign off.

One of the conditions which you sign when you fill in your UA1 form (application form for unemployment payment) is that you are required to keep social welfare informed of any change in your or your family's situation that may affect you entitlement to payment. So even if you get a place on a week long course, do any evening course, get a weekend job, this must be notified. In many cases it will not affect payment rates, but SW have to have a record of any change of conditions.