On the dole and doing cash in hand work

weightlifter

This is my present situation. I am on the dole (204 per week), actively seeking work, and doing some cash in hand work.

In terms of the cash in hand work I can earn anything from 75 euro per week to 300 euro per week (maximum). I have 6-8 week stretches of cash in hand work, and I would say on average I earn 170 euro per week cash in hand (when I am actually doing cash in hand work). But there are stretches of 3-4 weeks where I have no work.

I would LOVE to get off the dole, even if it would mean getting less money per week. If I could be guaranteed 300 euro per week, I would take that. But my current situation is that the cash in hand work is just too unreliable. Some weeks 75 quid, sometimes 300, and sometimes unexpected stretches of no work. If I went off the dole, I would then have to go through the whole application again when out of work, and have the 8 weeks waiting with no income.

Is there any advice you might give me? Anything like a small business allowance I could apply for (if I declare my cash in hand earnings)?

S.I.R

weightlifter wrote: »

This is my present situation. I am on the dole (204 per week), actively seeking work, and doing some cash in hand work.

In terms of the cash in hand work I can earn anything from 75 euro per week to 300 euro per week (maximum). I have 6-8 week stretches of cash in hand work, and I would say on average I earn 170 euro per week cash in hand (when I am actually doing cash in hand work). But there are stretches of 3-4 weeks where I have no work.

I would LOVE to get off the dole, even if it would mean getting less money per week. If I could be guaranteed 300 euro per week, I would take that. But my current situation is that the cash in hand work is just too unreliable. Some weeks 75 quid, sometimes 300, and sometimes unexpected stretches of no work. If I went off the dole, I would then have to go through the whole application again when out of work, and have the 8 weeks waiting with no income.

Is there any advice you might give me? Anything like a small business allowance I could apply for (if I declare my cash in hand earnings)?

can you wear a mini skirt and low cut tops...


merrion square ftw.

Nevyn

You are meant to only claim the dole for days you are not working and declare the days you are.

Kiera

Do you think its fair to take money from the welfare while getting cash in hand when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless? I certainly dont.

speedboatchase

If you'd LOVE to get off the dole you can

marcsignal

ask your welfare officer about support for starting your own business, if you think you have a sound business idea. I wouldn't surrender any unrelated information just yet* and don't sign off unless you have something sound and regular lined up, because it will take aminimum of 6-8 weeks to process your claim again if you do, and you'll be penniless in the meantime.


*don't mention the War, as regards getting a little work on the side

weightlifter

marcsignal wrote: »

ask your welfare officer about support for starting your own business, if you think you have a sound business idea. I wouldn't surrender any unrelated information just yet* and don't sign off unless you have something sound and regular lined up, because it will take aminimum of 6-8 weeks to process your claim again if you do, and you'll be penniless in the meantime.


*don't mention the War, as regards getting a little work on the side

Thanks for the first bit of sound advice. I dont really think I have a sound business idea unfortunately. I cant see what I am doing right now for cash in hand, expand any further.

Do you think its fair to take money from the welfare while getting cash in hand when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless? I certainly dont.

Dot be a holier than thou arsehole. Of course I dont, thats why I am exploring my dilemma here. But did you read my post? There are 4 week stretches when I have 0 euro cash in hand, often only 75 euro cash in hand. Rarely 200-300 euro. I am here looking for advice on declaring this and getting some kind of subsistence help for weeks where i am earning nothing.

weightlifter

speedboatchase wrote: »

If you'd LOVE to get off the dole you can

I'd also LOVE to have enough money to live on. That is the primary concern. Getting off the dole is secondary to that.

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

weightlifter

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

Surely you are being ridiculous.

Lab_Mouse

Kiera wrote: »

when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless?

your either entitled to the dole or your not..theres no problem getting it if yor entitled to it.

as for working into the hand..why work for minimal wage and pay tax on it.You are genuinely better of staying on the dole.Money makes the world go round,i'll take what i what i can when i can.

easy to say no im not gonna get paid into the hand but when the diffence is a 100 euro's.204 euro per week is sh1te,working 40 hours a week and getting 287 is worse.

working into the hand dissappeared with the celtic tiger but with the recession its back with avengence

BTW I get a ton a day into the hand for labouring=700 per week with the scratcher

Singer73

..adopts Dragons Den face "I'd like to invest 5 million in your plan"

K-9

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Mechanics, bar work etc. etc. etc. I t was acceptable then with the huge tax rates.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

ayapatrick

weightlifter wrote: »

Surely you are being ridiculous.

totally ridiculus!( but seeing as this is ah, might be sort of windup)

my advice is keep the mouth shut! and dont be worrying about it.
Arent you entitled to claim the dole, when you have been paying taxes etc?

shur with the country goin down the ****ter - whatever it takes to keep bread on the table!

drunkmonkey

Your breaking the law, you could loose your entitlements...

OP is right about starting your own business or at least trying, if someone one is paying you cash already, you've got a talent that someone thinks it's worth paying for...work at it...

weightlifter

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

your either entitled to the dole or your not..theres no problem getting it if yor entitled to it.

This is the crux of my problem. What am I entitled to? Is there an alternative to the dole that I could apply for. So weeks when I earn some money, I receive less (or no) welfare payment?

galwayrush

From the amazing salaries, golden handshakes and enormous pensions some people, ( a lot of incompetent people) have, i no longer think it's wrong to make what you can on the side ,even if you are on the dole. It's not as if the OP is not looking for work, but to expect someone to survive on 204 euro a week (when you see all the corruption and it's rewards in high places here) is mind boggling.

Tony Broke

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

ayapatrick

K-9 wrote: »

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Mechanics, bar work etc. etc. etc. I t was acceptable then with the huge tax rates.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

but more than likely arent they goin to give that a hike with this new budget or whatever?

weightlifter

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Your breaking the law, you could loose your entitlements...

OP is right about starting your own business or at least trying, if someone one is paying you cash already, you've got a talent that someone thinks it's worth paying for...work at it...

Well, the strange thing is, I am actually quite confident of getting a full time job before too long (Sept I reckon). My area is not too badly hit by the recession (yet). So long term, I wouldnt be looking to make it as a entrepeneur/small business owner.

But I do want to try to do the right thing in the meantime, so who should I speak to about this? I am wary about going straight to social welfare office as I feel they could be looking for any excuse to cut people off at the moment. Would Citizens Info Bureau be a better bet?

marcsignal

weightlifter wrote: »

Thanks for the first bit of sound advice. I dont really think I have a sound business idea unfortunately. I cant see what I am doing right now for cash in hand, expand any further.

you can also declare the hours you work, as somone else pointed out. To do this you must ask your welfare officer to put you on casual dockets. you work the hours you work, and claim for the days you didn't work, by filling out the dated dockets and returning them to the SW office every week. If you don't work on a particular day, leave that docket blank. As far as i know, you cannot work more than 3 days in a row/3 days in a week, or something like that.

Alessandra

Sorry but consider the people who have to live off the 204euro week to week without cushy cash in hand jobs.
I don't feel sorry for you because you have more money than me if you are clearing 2-300 if only some weeks. You obviously get medical card maybe ren allowance and fuel alllowance and then some weeks get 204+++!!!!:eek:
Taxes are there for a reason. You can honestly not come here and expect sympathy.. Do as another previous poster has suggested re small business. I am not going to condone that you earn fraudulently earn more tax free money while our country is going down the tubes.

drunkmonkey

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

easy to say no im not gonna get paid into the hand but when the diffence is a 100 euro's.204 euro per week is sh1te,working 40 hours a week and getting 287 is worse.

that's why the dole should be slashed, if you were getting 100 euro a week, 287 would be an incentive... it's 2 easy on the dole if you can generate cash in hand work, some people make a career out of it...

ayapatrick

ayapatrick wrote: »

totally ridiculus!( but seeing as this is ah, might be sort of windup)

my advice is keep the mouth shut! and dont be worrying about it.
Arent you entitled to claim the dole, when you have been paying taxes etc?

shur with the country goin down the ****ter - whatever it takes to keep bread on the table!

Are you joking? It's gonna go down the shítter a lot faster with everyone seemingly thinking it's alright to rip as much money out of the system.


I'm guessing you all condone the bankers dodgy dealings and people like the Golden Circle screwing the tax payer? Or is it one law for some and one for another?

Get a grip.

weightlifter

marcsignal wrote: »

you can also declare the hours you work, as somone else pointed out. To do this you must ask your welfare officer to put you on casual dockets. you work the hours you work, and claim for the days you didn't work, by filling out the dated dockets and returning them to the SW office every week. If you don't work on a particular day, leave that docket blank. As far as i know, you cannot work more that 3 days in a row/3 days in a week, or something like that.

Ok cool, is that part-timers assistance?

Would i have to then make sure that the casual earnings I was getting were going through the right channels? - ie would I declare the income in a seperate issue to the tax man etc?

Tony Broke

Tony Broke wrote: »

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

Rest my case. God I'd leave tomorrow if I could.

LightningBolt

I can't imagine the welfare getting worked up about someone pulling in an extra €70-€100 a week. They'd be more interested in the likes of people who are claiming, working a ft job week in week out and getting a few extra benefits like rent allowance and such. If you can do the part timer scheme though I'd go for it if you're looking to be honest.

weightlifter

Alessandra wrote: »

You obviously get medical card maybe ren allowance and fuel alllowance and then some weeks get 204+++!!!!:eek:
Taxes are there for a reason. You can honestly not come here and expect sympathy..

Obviously??

I dont claim rent allowance, fuel allowance and I do not have a medical card.

Davei141

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Rest my case. God I'd leave tomorrow if I could.

What a shame.

redarmy

Tony Broke wrote: »

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

spot on;)

K-9

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Considering the tax rates, understandable.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

Alessandra

weightlifter wrote: »

Obviously??

I dont claim rent allowance, fuel allowance and I do not have a medical card.

Welll maybe you don't claim it but you are nonetheless entitled to it if you are in receipt of full social welfare payment(correct me if i am wrong).

marcsignal

weightlifter wrote: »

Ok cool, is that part-timers assistance?

unsure what they call it, other than 'casual dockets' they'll know what you mean anyway.

weightlifter wrote: »

Would i have to then make sure that the casual earnings I was getting were going through the right channels? - ie would I declare the income in a seperate issue to the tax man etc?

unsure about this too, although, 'casual work' could entail 'cutting grass for every old biddy in your neighbourhood', who are unlikely to be tax liable in such a case.

weightlifter

Alessandra wrote: »

Welll maybe you don't claim it but you are nonetheless entitled to it if you are in receipt of full social welfare payment(correct me if i am wrong).

Well yes, but its a conscius decision not to accept it. It would make life easier, but as I have said in the thread numerous times, I only really want to take from the state what I need to just get by. Thats why I have made this thread, to try and get the best info on how I can do this.

the_syco

marcsignal wrote: »

ask your welfare officer about support for starting your own business

Please note: you'll never get dole ever again if you work for yourself.

ayapatrick

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Are you joking? It's gonna go down the shítter a lot faster with everyone seemingly thinking it's alright to rip as much money out of the system.


I'm guessing you all condone the bankers dodgy dealings and people like the Golden Circle screwing the tax payer? Or is it one law for some and one for another?

Get a grip.

the point i was making, if you need the money to survive, take it! as the op was saying, some weeks he has alot of cash in hand along with the dole, others he hasnt!

Who in fek unless the bucks in the "golden circles" will be happy with what they have done with them huge amounts of money!

on what?:p

Kiera

.

Kiera

weightlifter wrote: »

Well yes, but its a conscius decision not to accept it. It would make life easier, but as I have said in the thread numerous times, I only really want to take from the state what I need to just get by. Thats why I have made this thread, to try and get the best info on how I can do this.

Would you not get the best info from the welfare office or are you looking for a way around getting money from both? If you cant afford to "get by" then you should cut down on your out goings!

ayapatrick

ayapatrick wrote: »

the point i was making, if you need the money to survive, take it! as the op was saying, some weeks he has alot of cash in hand along with the dole, others he hasnt!

Who in fek unless the bucks in the "golden circles" will be happy with what they have done with them huge amounts of money!

on what?:p

Doesn't really sound like he needs it to survive though. That's the thing. He just wants more money.

Davei141

Somebody wanting more money? Man this place has gotten so crazy lately...

weightlifter

Kiera wrote: »

Personal abuse? Tut tut tut.

Look no matter what way you dress it up you are breaking the law. You said yourself your "trade" hasnt been hit yet so get you fcking finger out and get a job and stop sponging of the state! How dare you come on here boasting about how you're getting the dole and getting money into the hand. I couldnt give a flying fúck how much it is or how often you are getting it. You are still breaking the law and should be reported! If you were that bothered about it you would have gone to the welfare office yourself instead of asking people on the internet! You're just here in the hope people will pat you on the back and tell you not to report it!

You are being silly. I havent "boasted" about anything. And I have explicitly asked for the best information on declaring this earning... so that flies in the face of your accusation that I am looking for people to pat me on the back and justify what I am doing. I have also said that I am actively looking for work. I applied for a job just today and I have had couple of rejection letters in the last 7 days. I said I expect to get something in Sept. not because I am lazy and that is when I "want" work, but because the nature of my industry is that appointments are most commonly made in Aug or Sept.

If you dont give a flying fcuk then dont post in the thread but please dont twist what I am asking for here. I am not looking for justification, I am looking for very specific advice.

lol I'm just so...I dunno. I'm out of this thread.

I'm obviously a príck for abiding by the law.

Kiera

weightlifter wrote: »

You are being silly. I havent "boasted" about anything. And I have explicitly asked for the best information on declaring this earning... so that flies in the face of your accusation that I am looking for people to pat me on the back and justify what I am doing. I have also said that I am actively looking for work. I applied for a job just today and I have had couple of rejection letters in the last 7 days. I said I expect to get something in Sept. not because I am lazy and that is when I "want" work, but because the nature of my industry is that appointments are most commonly made in Aug or Sept.

If you dont give a flying fcuk then dont post in the thread but please dont twist what I am asking for here. I am not looking for justification, I am looking for very specific advice.

Nope, not buying it.

If this was the case why didnt you go to the welfare office in the first place to get all this info? Answer me that....

weightlifter

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Doesn't really sound like he needs it to survive though. That's the thing. He just wants more money.

But in truth, I do. Look at the figures I have posted. 4 week stretches with 0 income. Many weeks with less than 100 quid. Occassional weeks with over 200 quid.

There are some weeks where i dont need it, yes. And that is why I am asking here... how can I not get it when I dont need it? But still get it when I need it?

I am acknowledging that what I am doing is not 100% correct, and I am looking for advice on how I can make it legit, not how I can get more money.

red_ice

a friend of mine works in the film industry and works at most 35 weeks a year getting about 1.5-2 grand a week. Its hard work, and he works hard at it, fair play... however

The weeks hes not working - hes on the dole. I've started a business lately and obviously things are a little hard to get moving. I feel a bit angry that im handing a chunk of my money to a guy who makes alot more than i do so he can take his gf out for pints while i sit in at weekends working. its not fair.

Another friend of mine is a carpenter by trade, gets a good few jobs (not in the last while) every week he claims aswell.

weightlifter

Kiera wrote: »

Would you not get the best info from the welfare office or are you looking for a way around getting money from both? If you cant afford to "get by" then you should cut down on your out goings!

That is precisely what I am asking here... who will give me the best advice? Welfare office, Citizens Info Bureau, Tax Office etc.

I can currently just about get by, my expenditure is very low, and as I have said already, I am looking for a way to get less money and to do my casual work with a dole supplement in weeks when necessary

Senna

I know you dont want to tell the SW straight out whats happening, but you should approach them and ask them what would happen if you were to earn a small amount over the next few weeks. They will be glad to help out someone who isn't there to milk the system and wants to do things right. It is possible to earn money some weeks/days and still get the dole when not working.

weightlifter

Kiera wrote: »

Nope, not buying it.

If this was the case why didnt you go to the welfare office in the first place to get all this info? Answer me that....

I will. As I have said previously I am partially afraid of losing the social welfare payment. I feel like right now, they would only be looking for an excuse to cut someone off and I cant afford for that to happen. I want to get my house in order and know as much as possible before I discuss it with them.

The casual work situation for me has kind of come from nowhere. At first I was just on the dole. Then you do a couple of jobs, and then via word of mouth some more come along. It is hard to know exactly when you have some decent casual work and when you dont.

Do you think it unreasonable that after i did a first job for 50 quid that I didnt go straight to the social welfare office? Now that I have had about 8 weeks of on and off casual income (and now that I can see that it will probably continue to be like that for another 8-10 weeks) I am making an effort to get info and do the right thing.

Also, the social welfare office isnt open at 11.40pm. Boards is.

red_ice

weightlifter wrote: »

But in truth, I do. Look at the figures I have posted. 4 week stretches with 0 income. Many weeks with less than 100 quid. Occassional weeks with over 200 quid.

try 2 months. then see how i feel. Try putting some money aside and budgeting so that your money lasts.

weightlifter wrote: »

There are some weeks where i dont need it, yes. And that is why I am asking here... how can I not get it when I dont need it? But still get it when I need it?

So, if you dont make over 300 a week the government should just give you the money for your efforts? Thats hilarious. you lower your prices, put more care and time into the job your doing. Then when people see that you've done a good job, the word passes on and you get more work. Thats how i do it. Its called making an honest living. I've gone 3 months with no income at all, most recently i did a 2 month stint. I still felt that i was able to avoid going on the scratcher.

weightlifter wrote: »

I am acknowledging that what I am doing is not 100% correct, and I am looking for advice on how I can make it legit, not how I can get more money.

Its not right at all. Its not slightly wrong. Its the total opposite. That money you get in hand, put that into some book keeping, and start paying taxes like everyone else.

weightlifter

Senna wrote: »

I know you dont want to tell the SW straight out whats happening, but you should approach them and ask them what would happen if you were to earn a small amount over the next few weeks. They will be glad to help out someone who isn't there to milk the system and wants to do things right. It is possible to earn money some weeks/days and still get the dole when not working.

Thanks, I think this is now what I am going to do.

Snowie

I beleave its called casual work, allowence... but not 100% shore my dad class's under that some what.....