jobseekers benefit criteria

section4

hi. I was made redundant on 13 march 2009. I had been given 2 weeks notice so i made sure I had all the relevant documents from my employer, p60 p45 letter saying I was being redudndant etc. I had been work there for almost 3 years since july 06. I have worked in ireland and england on and off and paid stamps since 1980 and so presumed I would qualify for jobseekrs benefit.
The person who was dealing with me was not one bit nice and made me feel like I was a beggar basically. I was not 100percent certain of the criteria for jobseekers allowance but felt sure 3 years of unteruprted full time work would cover me for a while. I had been on disablity benefit before this for approx 2 years as a resultof an acident when i was cycling to work and was knocked of my bike by a van.

anyway this rude \person said I did not have enough prsi contributions to get job seekrs benefit and I would have to be means tested as I did njot have enough contributions in 2006 as I had been on disbality till july 31, I said I cant understand that and she said out loudly so almost every one in the office could hear, WEEL YOU MUST HAVE BEEN MEANS TESTED WHEN YOU APPLIED FOR DOLE IN 2003 1997 1994 ANDS 1987. four previos times I had been on dole before in\last twenty years.

anyway I have don e a bit of reserach over weekend and as far as i can see the relevant tax year for claiming Jobseekrs allowance is 2007, a year I was fully emlployed, so this is\ my question I am claiming jobseekrs benefit in mar 2009 and I have worked full time since july 06 am i entieled to jobseekrs benefit as I have worked and paid contributions for \the last three years

could some one please shed some \light on this for mr thanks

Eurox

Hi,
How many contributions have you paid since 2007? one of the requirements is that you have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (2007 for you).

What PRSI class were you paying A or S?

Check out this link it should be of some use to you.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/JobseekerSupports/jobseekersbenefit/Pages/jb.aspx
:rolleyes:

section4

I was employed continually from july 06 till morch 13 09 so I have paid contributions every since since uly 06

according to my p60 they are A1 contributions

Eurox

Well then I would pay my local office a visit and bring in your P60s where it shows your paid cons and ask why you cannot claim Jobseekers benefit?
What reason did they give you?

section4

I took every papaer I received from the company in including P60 and P45.
Ia m looking at the P60 now and I see it is for year ended 2008

I dont know if that has anything to do with it,

But I said to her I cant understand how I have been working for 3 years solid and I dont qualify and that i had also paid many other PRSI contributions over the years, and she said I did not have enough contributions in 2006, she.

unless she is just taking the P60 for 2008 into account, and if that was the case why did she not say to me that I woiuld have to get other P60 for other years. I said to her clearly I cant understand how I have been working ful time for 3 years and cant claim jobseekrs allowance. and she persisted and said you were on disablity beenfit for half of 2006 and then when I said I dont understand she then said out loud I am sure when you claims in 2003 1997 etc so I just left

I am going to citizens advice centre now and then back down to them, will uhpdate later

Eurox

Its the cons you paid for the year 2007 that is important, you must have paid 39 that is the min(do you have that p60?)

You are looking for Jobseekers Benefit not allowance.

Just because you were on disablity benefit in 2006 will make no difference what so ever. Its the cons that you paid in 2007 not 2008 that are important.

Best of luck

IsThatSo?

Your "stamps" are paid when you are on disability, afaik, so that should not be thrown in your face. (They were for me). There might be different types of PRSI stamps for disability, I can't be sure, but they should at least explain that to you.

I would recommend you go to your local citizens advice bureau and get the info from them, they will be far more helpful.

section4

thanks to every one who replied.
update.

I went back down and it seems this rude person who interviewed me and who said this was not only rude but incompetent,
when I went back down and went to the reception and told him this situation he immediatley said it was the stamps that I had paid in 2007 which were relevant and he was sorry but they had made a mistake.

I dont mind a genuiune mistake but to be appalling rude into th e bargain is what annnoys me, and this mistake she made is in my opinion not a mistake a even remotely competent person should make, I mean it should be the first thing that is established, ie: what is the criteria for qualifying and does the applicant satify it.

Anyone got a complaints form which I shall send in, more unhappy about her rudeness than the mistake.

Eurox

Ah wouldnt be bothered unless you have her name. It will probally go no where anyway and its a waste of your time. :cool: