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dlambirl · 02-02-2009 3:53pm #1

My cousin lost his job last July and he was on Jobseekers Benefit. That was grand - signed on last week and checked thursday no payment went into the bank. he went in today and they said that his stamps had run out and give him a bunch of forms for Jobseekers Allowence.

He is about to move into his house that he's built. its not quite finished yet (no cooker, fridge, sanitary ware in yet but will be soon) but on the form he said he was living on his own instead of saying that he was living at home with the parents cos it wont be long until he is in the house ( a month or two)

I know Jobseekers Allowence is means tested so when should he expect the social welfare worker wanting to meet him??
Will there be much notice of this??
Will this be in the social welfare office or his house?
What will they want to see in the house?
And finally - What kinda questions will they ask??

My cousin is genuinely looking for work and cant find a job anywhere. Its not even like he's being fussy!!! He has car loans, insurance, mortgage on the new house and a personal loan and the J.B payment he was getting wasnt even covering it. He knows there is a massive wait for claims to be processed but he is gonna literally be missing payments on loans if he doesnt get any payment from the Social Welfare.

Thanks in advance to anyone that replies.

PurpleBerry · 02-02-2009 5:44pm

Hi dlambirl,

I can only comment on my own case, I hope this answers a few of your questions.

dlambirl wrote: »

When should he expect the social welfare worker wanting to meet him?? Will there be much notice of this??

They will send a letter with details of when they will be calling. He can ring them if the appointment isn't suitable and re-arrange. I actually rang to re-schedule my officer as I was out of the country that day. We just re-scheduled for a couple of days later.

dlambirl wrote: »

Will this be in the social welfare office or his house?

Usually they call out to the house. However in my case I was able to meet him in the Social Welfare office. This may have been because of the re-scheduling.

dlambirl wrote: »

What will they want to see in the house?

They will just be checking to make sure you actually live at the address and confirm who else is living there - if anyone.

dlambirl wrote: »

And finally - What kinda questions will they ask??

In my personal experience he didn't ask any grilling questions, just confirmed details and told me of my obligations. Others may have had different experiences.

If his claim is sucessful the Jobseekers Allowance will be backdated so if he is waiting for, for example, 6 weeks he will get the six week's worth of payments. If, like a lot of people, he can't really be without money for that length of time he can go to his Community Welfare Officer who may award him the payment while he's waiting for the Social Welfare to process the claim. Find out who the CWO for the area is from the HSE.

ghostdancer · 02-02-2009 7:24pm

does everyone who applies for JSA have to have a means test?

surely they don't send someone out to every applicant's home just to confirm a few details they already put on their form when applying? the above post reads like there is a means test for people who apply for JSA, other threads seem to say they might call...

i've applied for JSA, wasn't told anything in the S.W. office about anyone coming out to my home. been waiting more than 2 months at this stage to get a letter in the post. is it just going to say "you'll have a meeting on X day", and then have to go back to waiting after saying "yes, that's correct" to each of the questions i already answered on my application form?

e: i'm 24, living in rented accommodation, if it makes any difference...

PurpleBerry · 03-02-2009 2:46am

A means test is compulsory for anyone seeking Job Seekers Allowance. The alternative is Job Seekers Benefit which is not means tested but dependant on your tax contributions 2 years prior to your claim.

The Social Welfare are certainly supposed to send someone out to the residence of every person who claims - this would be one of the reasons for the long wait before your claim is processed. If you're stuck for cash go to your Community Welfare Officer and they should be able to help you out.

So, although there are exceptions where the Social Welfare don't send someone out, in most cases they do.

dlambirl · 03-02-2009 9:46am

Thanks everyone.

Looks like my cousin could be in his house by the time the welfare officer comes out!! or maybe he was better saying he was living at home with the family...

ghostdancer · 03-02-2009 11:47am

Neesa wrote: »

A means test is compulsory for anyone seeking Job Seekers Allowance. The alternative is Job Seekers Benefit which is not means tested but dependant on your tax contributions 2 years prior to your claim.

The Social Welfare are certainly supposed to send someone out to the residence of every person who claims - this would be one of the reasons for the long wait before your claim is processed. If you're stuck for cash go to your Community Welfare Officer and they should be able to help you out.

So, although there are exceptions where the Social Welfare don't send someone out, in most cases they do.

thanks for the info!

is there then usually much of a wait after the visit then?

PurpleBerry · 03-02-2009 12:30pm

You're very welcome

The reason for the wait is that they are still processing the claim. It's beaucracy. These days you have to expect more of a delay because they have so many, many claims from people losing jobs left, right and centre.

Best of luck with your claim.

dlambirl · 03-02-2009 3:35pm

Not my claim thank god - although in this day and age nobody knows.

Hopefully my cousin will get it cos he has no other means

deisemum · 04-02-2009 7:45pm

My husband applied for JSA a few weeks back but the inspector just turned up unannounced this morning. I wasn't long up but my husband wasn't in, he'd dropped our son to school and went off to his parents for a while.

I wasn't sure where he was. He's to go into the SWO tomorrow morning. No doubt she'll think he was working today. Then she sat in her car outside our house for 10 - 15 mins.

Carmeii · 04-02-2009 11:32pm

the inspector is coming to my house tomorrow. im 25, living at home. hope i dont need details of my parents income etc...
how long was any1 waiting for money after the inspector was over?
any help would be appreciated. quite nervous bout the whole thing

ghostdancer · 06-02-2009 11:48am

Carmeii wrote: »

the inspector is coming to my house tomorrow. im 25, living at home. hope i dont need details of my parents income etc...
how long was any1 waiting for money after the inspector was over?
any help would be appreciated. quite nervous bout the whole thing

i think it's only 24 and under that parent's income is taken into account if you're living with them, although i might be wrong.

did the letter not mention any things to bring? although i would have expected it would, it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't as the SW seems like a shambolic department incapable of giving any clear information about the process overall.

dlambirl · 07-02-2009 3:35pm

deisemum wrote: »

My husband applied for JSA a few weeks back but the inspector just turned up unannounced this morning. I wasn't long up but my husband wasn't in, he'd dropped our son to school and went off to his parents for a while.

I wasn't sure where he was. He's to go into the SWO tomorrow morning. No doubt she'll think he was working today. Then she sat in her car outside our house for 10 - 15 mins.

Is it usual that they call out unannounced?

maybe my cus should of just said he was living at home although its only a stone throw away

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