2 Months waiting for Jobseekers Allowance

rinnin

I'm living in Clonee, Co. Meath & applied over 2 months ago for Jobseekers Allowance. They made me go all the way out to Maynooth and spent 45 minutes filling out 3 different forms (as I studied & worked in the UK). Had a means test about 4 weeks ago and havent received even a letter from the SW office since. I had to go all the way back out to Maynooth to "sign on" for the first time and yer wan just looks at me and just says "Thanks". Only after asking what the story was I found out that I had to wait a 1-2 weeks for a letter telling me when I can sign on at my local post office.
Rang a SW number on Thurs last trying to find out what the story is. Told would get a call back. Never got one.

Tried ringing them in Maynooth on Tuesday to no avail (rang out) so tried the SW Dept offices in Dublin. They told me there that they've taken the staff off the switchboard in Maynooth to deal with the huge backlog of applications.
Said I'd be better off driving all the way out to Maynooth and asking them myself.
Does anyone know if there's any number I can ring to see if I'm even in "the system"?
Just need to know if I'm gonna get something in case I have to take out a loan, which I probably will.
Its really starting to p**s me off now.
Any advice appreciated.

crazzzzy

u shld go over to d office really coz its impossible to get through on the fone. if u really stuck for money go to ur local healthboard & they might help u out til ur dole gets sorted.

think they making it awkward so people wont think its an easy solution r smething!!! keep ringing though coz if u might get through.

uoluol

I'm afraid it's possibly bad news ,if you say you have applied for the means tested Jobseeker's Assistance payment. As you have not been resident in Ireland, you probably filled out a HRC form - big white form, which will determine if your centre of interest is now in the state. The problem is that this form will be sent to a HRC section in Dublin, and this section is absolutely snowed under, what with the massive increase in the number of non nationals recently applying for Social Welfare schemes. You are realistically looking at up to a 6 month wait - sorry, but I'm just trying to give you a realistic figure.

Your claim is most definitely registered, as you would not have received any correspondence from the local office if this were not the case. If there is no other income coming in to your household, you should be eligible to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance - you apply through your local community welfare office. This payment would remain in payment until your JA is authorised.

Horrible as it is, unfortunately it is just a waiting game now. There has been absolutley horrendous increases in people applying for all types of unemployment payments, and no increases in resources to help deal with these claims.

If you have any further queries on your claim, you really would be best callling into your local welfare office, go early in the morning when it is quiet -most open from 9.30am.

jaxy999

The sw office employee's spent the last decade probably doing very little due to low unemployment rates & now when they have actual work to do they can't cope & are snowed under. Terrible terrible service & situation. it's stressful enough been made redundant, claiments then have further problems getting welfare payments creating all sorts of problems & heartache for families. This gov should hang their heads in shame imo.

uoluol

Jaxy - hate to burst your bubble - but - it is certainly not true that in the past, staff in local offices were sitting at their desks doing nothing. Now really - do you honestly think that?!!

There was always unemployment, not to mention dealing with One parent family claims (which are unbelievably time consuming), sick certs, pensioners, issuing PPS Numbers, general queries etc etc etc. And bear in mind a large proportion of these clients are people who don't have English as a first language - it really slows down everything trying to deal with their needs.

What is disgraceful, is that given the sudden huge increase in customers- one office I know off has had a 55% in numbers in the last year - absolutely no extra resources has been allocated to help deal with claims quickly and efficiently. I'm not talking about staffing alone, practical things like extra filing cabinets, seating for those waiting etc. Any company or business would find it difficult to manage under such conditions.

Yes be angry with the government - but bear in mind the staff really are doing their very best in extremely difficult circumstances. It's not just the public who are p*ssed off with Cowan and his cronies you know

rinnin

Feckin Hell. Thanks for the heads up Uoluol.

uoluol wrote: »

...Your claim is most definitely registered, as you would not have received any correspondence from the local office if this were not the case...

Thing is I have NOT received any correspondence yet. Just the means test guy coming out to the house last month.
Am I totally screwed now?

rinnin

Just wondering....
WHat happens if I take up a ****ty job in the meantime? Will I get any back payments for the past 2 months I've been waiting?
Thanks

uoluol

Rest assured, you most definitely are "in the system", as you would not have been interviewed by the Social Welfare Inspector if this were not the case.

If you get a job, even if its just temporary employment, you will still be paid for all the days of unemployment. Just keep a note of the days - and let the office know. (Difficult to do so by phone - I know!!).

rinnin

Thanks again Uoluol.
Mananaged to get a response yesterday from the SW office by sending them a Fax explaining that I couldnt get through to Maynooth.
Got a phonecall a few hours later. Apperently theres 2 boxes on the floor with about 50 applications in each. I'm somewhere in the 2nd box so it could be a month and a half before I clear that section.
Then it has to go to the decisions section.
Forgot to ask about backpay and whether I'd get anything for the time I waslooking for a job. :rolleyes:
Have an interview on Friday so fingers crossed.

uoluol

Well usually the claim is paid from the day you presented yourself at the social welfare office. However, if didn't apply straight away and were looking for work in that period, well then you should apply in writing to get your claim back dated to the first day of unemployment. If you have any proof, like copies of job advertisements, letters from employers etc, send that along with your letter.

Hope your claim gets authorised soon -I know there is great push on getting customers in to payment as soon as it is possible.

Good luck on Friday....

rinnin

Now abot 4 months waiting for Jobseekers Allowance.
Will be moving to Liverpool to start a 3 month temporary contract in January. I've nothing in writing from my agency employer. Just wondering how I should go about informing the Social Welfare office?

Sephiroth_dude

That ridiculous that your waiting 4 months,phone them up and tell them,dont waste your time going out there.

yabadabado

sorry to hear its taken so long 4 months is a bitch.its because u would have filled out the HRC forms there isnt that long of a wait for the normal claims.if it were me i would call out to your local office its nearly impossible to get thru to local offices on the phone they just dont have the manpower atm.

Highsider

It's unfortunatly a known fact the social welfare offices had little or very little to do in the last 10 odd years and now they simply are not able to cope with the amount of people signing on on a weekly basis. I've heard stories of people waiting in excess of 10 weeks for any type of payment to come through.

tomred1

Highsider wrote: »

It's unfortunatly a known fact the social welfare offices had little or very little to do in the last 10 odd years and now they simply are not able to cope with the amount of people signing on on a weekly basis. I've heard stories of people waiting in excess of 10 weeks for any type of payment to come through.

Highsider you have no clue about working in a local office so keep your lies to yourself. :mad:
The officies have been busy dealing claims of all types over the last few years before this big increase in umemployed. Since the increase in unemployed no extra staff have been brought in yet, altough there are plans to transfer other civil servants to local offices.
The bottom line is this, there is a huge jump in umemployed and the offices have got no extra staff.

Highsider

tomred1 wrote: »

Highsider you have no clue about working in a local office so keep your lies to yourself. :mad:
The officies have been busy dealing claims of all types over the last few years before this big increase in umemployed. Since the increase in unemployed no extra staff have been brought in yet, altough there are plans to transfer other civil servants to local offices.
The bottom line is this, there is a huge jump in umemployed and the offices have got no extra staff.

What you talking about lad. I never said i worked in a social office and what are you talking about lies? Just stating a fact about the amount of time a particular person i know has been waiting on a claim.:rolleyes: Maybe you need to chill a bit there fella.

rinnin

Finally got a call today from a the claims office in Dublin saying my claim has been processed. Will be getting means adjusted back pay for 17 weeks.
I just hope there's not less fortunate than me (e.g. with a family to support) waiting as long as me.

tomred1

Highsider wrote: »

What you talking about lad. I never said i worked in a social office and what are you talking about lies? Just stating a fact about the amount of time a particular person i know has been waiting on a claim.:rolleyes: Maybe you need to chill a bit there fella.

You said if your previous post "It's unfortunatly a known fact the social welfare offices had little or very little to do in the last 10 odd years" if you have not been working in a local office then you have no right saying this as its a pure lie.:mad:

axel rose

uoluol wrote: »

Jaxy - hate to burst your bubble - but - it is certainly not true that in the past, staff in local offices were sitting at their desks doing nothing. Now really - do you honestly think that?!!

There was always unemployment, not to mention dealing with One parent family claims (which are unbelievably time consuming), sick certs, pensioners, issuing PPS Numbers, general queries etc etc etc. And bear in mind a large proportion of these clients are people who don't have English as a first language - it really slows down everything trying to deal with their needs.

What is disgraceful, is that given the sudden huge increase in customers- one office I know off has had a 55% in numbers in the last year - absolutely no extra resources has been allocated to help deal with claims quickly and efficiently. I'm not talking about staffing alone, practical things like extra filing cabinets, seating for those waiting etc. Any company or business would find it difficult to manage under such conditions.

Yes be angry with the government - but bear in mind the staff really are doing their very best in extremely difficult circumstances. It's not just the public who are p*ssed off with Cowan and his cronies you know

Highsider, you obviously didnt take the time read this earlier post. Anyone with a brain in their head can realise that the demands on the SW offices have increased significantly.

You dont need to tell us that you dont work in a social welfare office- its as plain as the nose on your face! :rolleyes:

Highsider

axel rose wrote: »

Highsider, you obviously didnt take the time read this earlier post. Anyone with a brain in their head can realise that the demands on the SW offices have increased significantly.

You dont need to tell us that you dont work in a social welfare office- its as plain as the nose on your face! :rolleyes:

I did actually read that post thanks very much. Where did i say the demands on social welfare offices had'nt increased??? Maybe you should take the time and effort to read my post, but of course anyone "with a brain in their head" would have done this already would'nt they now.:rolleyes:

yabadabado

with the numbers of unemployed soaring in the past few months of course there is going to be a backlog of claims and long waiting times.in any workplace ,if there was a huge increase in workload there wud be delays if no extra staff are added .the staff in the offices still have all the other schemes to work on.i think some people dont realise that social welfare offices deal with more that just the dole.

axel rose

Highsider do you have any idea what you are typing?

Ill spell it out to you *sigh*

ouloul stated that it was always busy in SW, ( read the posts again cos I cant be bothered to do it for you). There are other responsibilities other than UA or UB. Now that unemployment has soared, the adequate staffing levels of the boom times have to cope with at double the UA and UB applicants. This is on top of the usual responsibilities.


Can you back your "known fact" :rolleyes: with an actual fact? Like proof?

discospark

rinnin wrote: »

Finally got a call today from a the claims office in Dublin saying my claim has been processed. Will be getting means adjusted back pay for 17 weeks.
I just hope there's not less fortunate than me (e.g. with a family to support) waiting as long as me.

17 weeks???!!! seriously? Damn I've been waiting ten weeks and I thought I might have heard something by now. I have no idea what a HRC form is but I am being means tested. (just finished college was on 1000 euro a month, so no freaking idea why they think I have hidden assets or something). Also from reading this site just discovered that I'm not even eligible for Christmas double dole. Curses and damn.

If they find that I'm not eligible for the dole, which with my luck with social services is highly probable, will they make me pay back the money I've been getting from the community officer?

Anyone want to buy a 96 micra? or ahm a crappy acer laptop?