What Are My Chances Of Getting Some Sort Of Social Welfare Benefit??

IT Loser

Hi and thanks for taking the time to consider my situation.:cool:

From November 2006 to February 2007 I was working on a buidling site as a labourer and making PRSI payments, as one does.

I became unemployed in February of 2007 and found myself applying for a social welfare benefit, which I was granted, for a period of 312 days or so, based on PRSI payments made in the above mentioned period.

I was living in rented accommodation for the duration of this claim. That is to say I was paying upwards of €400 for the period in question on accommodation.

Throughout the 312 day period, I genuinely sought employment of a "suitable" nature but secured none, and have the letters of rejection to that effect.

My claim ran its course and I was not paid any monies beyond of March, 2008. I continued on in rented accommodation for 2 months living off a loan.

I left rented accommodation and have lived at home from May 1st of 2008.


With the current "downturn" and with so-called "record numbers" signing on, what are the chances of me receiving any form of benefit or relief from the welfare?

If you need more information, feel free to ask.

Many Thanks.

Ginger83

If you go to speak to your SW Officer bring in some hard evidence that you are genuinely seeking employment! Copies of job applications/ Letters of jobs you were turned down for. And go and register with FAS. This will all help your case. Good luck

mikemac

Yep, you are definitly going to need proof of job applications.

And I agree with Ginger83 again, get onto a FAS course. You can do it yourself or you can wait until a SW officer gets you to do one. Wouldn't it better to do this yourself first

Though you were going from Job seekers benefit to Job seekers allowance but I might have misread your post, a SW officer will explain this

IT Loser

mikemac wrote: »

Yep, you are definitly going to need proof of job applications.

And I agree with Ginger83 again, get onto a FAS course. You can do it yourself or you can wait until a SW officer gets you to do one. Wouldn't it better to do this yourself first

Though you were going from Job seekers benefit to Job seekers allowance but I might have misread your post, a SW officer will explain this

AFAIK I am already registered with FAS, I registered the first time the old biddy behind the counter made me go up and register!!! So I have registered.

I have a few letters of rejection and a few emails too. As you know the Internet is now the premier job search machine, do the FAS people give this due cognizance?

Also, what is the difference between Job Seekers Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance? Why is there a difference, and where does it apply?

Would the fact that I have not attempted to claim money for almost 1 year work for me or against me?

Would the fact that I am living at home and not paying rent work against me?

Will there be a means test? I live with my parents and its a bit awkward...not the nicest place...so to speak.

Cheers and thanks for your time and help.

Nolanger

If you're asking if you technically qualify for Benefit then unfortunately the conditions changed this week:

1. 104 contributions overall
2. 39 cons in 2007 (13 from paid work)
3. 26 cons in 2006

IT Loser

NoLanger: thanks for getting back to me.

How would I determine how many payments I made, of PRSI, during 2006 and 2007, I was employed for all of January 2007 and half of February 2007, and I did do a good bit of work in November and December of 2006.

Would I have made enough payments there, and how would I figure out how many I had made?

I understand BENEFIT is for people who made payments, PRSI payments that is, and have become unemployed, with ALLOWANCE being available for those who have not made payments, and are thus means tested instead.

Considering a claim for ALLOWANCE, how would I go about best-helping any claim I make...I live at home, and do not pay rent as such, though I am expected to make contributions nonetheless to the upkeep etc.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers!

Nolanger

If you qualify for Benefit you should get your money within a few weeks. If you apply for Allowance you will be waiting months with the backlogs.

To determine payments made look at your recent P60s/P45s. Or call into the dole office and they will tell you.

Sounds like you don't have enough cons if you only worked from Nov 06 to Feb 07. But if you were on a recent benefit claim then this might entitle you to claim the same again if you've worked since.

IT Loser

Nolanger wrote: »

If you qualify for Benefit you should get your money within a few weeks. If you apply for Allowance you will be waiting months with the backlogs.

To determine payments made look at your recent P60s/P45s. Or call into the dole office and they will tell you.

Sounds like you don't have enough cons if you only worked from Nov 06 to Feb 07. But if you were on a recent benefit claim then this might entitle you to claim the same again if you've worked since.

Well thats just it, I have not worked since....but I have not claimed since either, if you follow. I have not claimed in some time, despite my unemployment.

Also, I dont mind the waiting and the backlogs....so long as I get something at the end of the day. After all, its backdated to the date of application. However, why would there be a backlog for ALLOWANCE, considering that there the recent "surge" in the unemployed numbers would involve those people applying for BENEFIT {thanks to PRSI payments} as opposed to Allowance?

Thanks again, as ever.

johnmahon010186

IT Loser wrote: »

Well thats just it, I have not worked since....but I have not claimed since either, if you follow. I have not claimed in some time, despite my unemployment.

Also, I dont mind the waiting and the backlogs....so long as I get something at the end of the day. After all, its backdated to the date of application. However, why would there be a backlog for ALLOWANCE, considering that there the recent "surge" in the unemployed numbers would involve those people applying for BENEFIT {thanks to PRSI payments} as opposed to Allowance?

Thanks again, as ever.

Theres more work to go into allowance claims, with there being a means test.

IT Loser

johnmahon010186 wrote: »

Theres more work to go into allowance claims, with there being a means test.

Thats correct, but most of the current "New Unemployed" will surely be going straight into the BENEFIT category, what with having been making PRSI payments all along, no?

Is there anything you know about the means test...is it possible I could fail it...I live at home and do not pay rent...I also have debts which I can illustrate, could these aid me?

If I were to get a loan, could this disqualify me?

Thanks.

foggy_lad

you would probably be applying for jobseekers allowance and you will be asked what you have been doing for the last year as in their eyes you may have been working abroad earning thousands weekly.

you will be means tested and your parents income will be taken into account if you are under 25 i think. any debts will be taken into account for the means test but will not increase your basic payment.

the normal waitint time for allowance claims was/is around 9weeks but may be more now but during this time if you require financial assistance you can get payment of suppelemtary welfare allowance from your local health center's community welfare officer.

IT Loser

foggy_lad wrote: »

you would probably be applying for jobseekers allowance and you will be asked what you have been doing for the last year as in their eyes you may have been working abroad earning thousands weekly.

you will be means tested and your parents income will be taken into account if you are under 25 i think. any debts will be taken into account for the means test but will not increase your basic payment.

the normal waitint time for allowance claims was/is around 9weeks but may be more now but during this time if you require financial assistance you can get payment of suppelemtary welfare allowance from your local health center's community welfare officer.

Thanks ever so much for that Foggy, so you feel that pointing out to them that I am in debt might help rather than hinder? Cheers.

IT Loser

IT Loser wrote: »

Thanks ever so much for that Foggy, so you feel that pointing out to them that I am in debt might help rather than hinder? Cheers.

bump

foggy_lad

with a means test they ask for details of debts as well as savings land property etc so while they cant increase your payments due to any debts it may well help if they were going to reduce your payment as you are living at home?

the best place to ask about the social welfare is their own office and you can also make an appointment and be seen in private if you preferred. and Money Advice and Budgeting Service may be able to help with your debt, they provide a 100% confidential service.

IT Loser

foggy_lad wrote: »

with a means test they ask for details of debts as well as savings land property etc so while they cant increase your payments due to any debts it may well help if they were going to reduce your payment as you are living at home?

the best place to ask about the social welfare is their own office and you can also make an appointment and be seen in private if you preferred. and Money Advice and Budgeting Service may be able to help with your debt, they provide a 100% confidential service.

Cheers mate. I am just not sure of the ropes. I am in debt and basically have nought to live on. Cheers.

Allah Hu Akbar

IT Loser wrote: »

Hi and thanks for taking the time to consider my situation.:cool:

From November 2006 to February 2007 I was working on a buidling site as a labourer and making PRSI payments, as one does.

I became unemployed in February of 2007 and found myself applying for a social welfare benefit, which I was granted, for a period of 312 days or so, based on PRSI payments made in the above mentioned period.

I was living in rented accommodation for the duration of this claim. That is to say I was paying upwards of €400 for the period in question on accommodation.

Throughout the 312 day period, I genuinely sought employment of a "suitable" nature but secured none, and have the letters of rejection to that effect.

My claim ran its course and I was not paid any monies beyond of March, 2008. I continued on in rented accommodation for 2 months living off a loan.

I left rented accommodation and have lived at home from May 1st of 2008.


With the current "downturn" and with so-called "record numbers" signing on, what are the chances of me receiving any form of benefit or relief from the welfare?

If you need more information, feel free to ask.

Many Thanks.

Why have you not money since March? If you don't work you have the rights to social welfare payments period.

foggy_lad

also if you have lived off savings for several months they will want records bank statements etc to back up this and you are fully entitled to jobseekers allowance if you are genuinrly seeking work regardless of what some people might think!

Mrs OBumble

IT Loser wrote: »

If I were to get a loan, could this disqualify me?

And who exactly do you think will give you a loan, given that you appear to have no chance of paying it back? Incurring most costs (interest) is the LAST thing you should be doing!