Okay- Just How Does The Means Test Work, In Practice??

IT Loser

I share a box room with my employed brother in my parents home.

I am over 25.

Dad earns a nominal wage as a security guard.

I am in debt, and have a 3rd level education. I am actively seeking work in the legal profession with a view to avoiding the vicious circle that casual labour has become.

I have safe-pass card which I paid for myself. I am on the books of Recruitment agencies in the Construction and Legal sectors.

I turned down the opportunity to claim dole via the Unemployment Assistance when my PRSI payments expired. I have relied on my wits, loans, and tax rebates to get by in the mean time.

Why would I fail a means test? Why would my means be assessed in such a way as to deprive me of a significant part, if not all, of the Eur. 204 to which I am nominally entitled.??

Does anyone know how the means test works?? Does anyone know how they assess the worth of a room, a shared room, meals, etc??

How is anyone supposed to travel in and out to town on a few quid a week??

This is not a whine and a moan- its a request for info on how the system works and how I can better present myself when the time comes.

Thanks.

Xiney

They only really care about your incomings and outgoings - and they don't particularly care that you have debt. Since you don't have any incomings, you'll get the full 204 euro (afaik).

If you were under 25 they would care that you're living at home, but since you're not under 25 it doesn't matter.

IT Loser

Xiney wrote: »

They only really care about your incomings and outgoings - and they don't particularly care that you have debt. Since you don't have any incomings, you'll get the full 204 euro (afaik).

If you were under 25 they would care that you're living at home, but since you're not under 25 it doesn't matter.

Jaysus Xiney, you have me up one minute, and down the next!!

I have no income. Nobody on the dole really has any income. If you are working a few days a week, then there should be no fret with the 90 quid, because you still come out at over the 204, or equal to it. Which is just as well, because it costs 4.40 Eur for me to get from my house to the dole office on public transport {return fare}

90 quid, and nothing more, would get you....nowhere. This terrifies me, to be honest.

The reason I mention my debts is not because I think this entitles me to more, per se, but because I feel it may help me convince them of the bona fides of my claim. Here, I posit my argument, is a man who tried to go it alone. For 15 months he asked the State for nothing. He has not succeeded. Throw him a bone, and let him try again.

Could I politely ask why you are afraid that you might only get 90 quid. I became afeared that I too might get this nominal, trifling sum off them.

Apologies again if I am prying. You may PM me. I am not a snoop, just trying to get ahead. Cheers.

Juwwi

Hi Xiney are you 100% sure an unmarried couple living together
are means tested the same as a married couple??

Im strugling to see how they could do that..

Xiney

robbie1977: Absolutely sure - there have been several threads of people complaining about this fact lately.

see: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/irish-social-welfare-system/means-test-for-social-welfare-payments/means-test-for-jobseekers-allowance

If you are married or living with another person as husband and wife, the means of your spouse or partner are also taken into account.

here is the criteria for determining whether you are living as husband and wife: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/cohabit.aspx

IT Loser: I'm not working at all but my husband is, so when my means are tested they will take his income into account and I won't get the full 204 euro. I've gone through the formula myself and I think I'll be getting around 90 euro, possibly a bit more but I'm factoring for the worst case scenario :P

Basically, I'm married and my situation is different from yours.

Juwwi

Thanks Xiney for that link.

Do you know then if a unemployed person in a unmarried couple who are getting means tested together
can give their tax free credits to the other person then like a married couple can ?

patrickc

robbie1977 wrote: »

Thanks Xiney for that link.

Do you know then if a unemployed person in a unmarried couple who are getting means tested together
can give their tax free credits to the other person then like a married couple can ?

common law doesnt work for transferring credits unfortunately

Juwwi

thanks patrick

Jasus this country needs to be sorted out quick tho with its
social welfare system.

a few years ago some1 l know was selling a taxi and a foreign guy bought it.
he had €5000 cash and a cheque for €10,000 from the social welfare.

now my girlfriend is expected to feed clothe me and bays all bills and mortgage just because we bought togeter when we had no choice
because we couldnt afford to buy alone or get a mortgage alone.

its a bloody disgrace.

Mrs OBumble

robbie1977 wrote: »

now my girlfriend is expected to feed clothe me and bays all bills and mortgage just because we bought togeter when we had no choice
because we couldnt afford to buy alone or get a mortgage alone.

Just because you both purchased the property doesn't mean that you both had to live in it. You CHOSE TO live together. The rules have not changed since you made that choice. And you are continuing to CHOOSE to live together.

As I've said in other threads, yes it is unfair that you cannot access tax credit transfers, or various other features that are restricted to married people. The way to make things fair is to give everyone access to these, not to remove the requirement that people who are choosing to behave like a married couple, without getting the piece of paper, should support each other in times of difficulty.

Faith

Can anyone tell me what the limit is for the means test if you're living with a partner? That is, above what threshold do they have to earn in order to be means tested if one partner is unemployed and claiming the dole?

Xiney

Jobseeker's Benefit is not means tested.

Jobseeker's Allowance, on the other hand, is means tested using this assessment.

I made a spreadsheet using that website and while I can't guarantee it's accurate, it is based on the information I have available to me. Black fields are the ones you should change to suit your situation, everything else is calculated for you.

Juwwi

Xiney while I agree with you that its fraud if a couple says they are sleeping in seperate bedrooms if they are not i think its the best option for a couple not married in a situation of means tested.
lt would be highly unlikey that a couple could get caught out.

Dont get me wrong l dont agree with fraud with benefits but the the whole system is wrong the way its set up regarding couples living together.

Xiney

robbie1977 - it's fraud. you saying "it's the best option" is only because fraud pays.

Personally, even if my husband and I weren't officially married and were just living together, I wouldn't defraud the system. I think people on social welfare have enough problems with the general public thinking they're all just wasters and are getting more than they're entitled to - I'd be doing my part in perpetuating that stereotype if I decided that fraud was the best option for me.

Jumpy

robbie1977 wrote: »

a few years ago some1 l know was selling a taxi and a foreign guy bought it.
he had €5000 cash and a cheque for €10,000 from the social welfare.

Why is it always "some I know" or "a friends brother" or "yer wan down de road".

Why do people insist on propogating this retarded urban legend?

IT Loser

I dont know. For the same reason they insist on hijacking the thread.

On a simple matter of fact- can anyone provide me with any information about how the means test is applied for people over the age of 25 living with their parents.

Many thanks.

Tuvok

You're are exempt from this if you're over 25 years old as per attached document:

http://www.inou.ie/download/pdf/wtw_3_guide_to_ua_ub_new.pdf

IT Loser

Tuvok wrote: »

You're are exempt from this if you're over 25 years old as per attached document:

http://www.inou.ie/download/pdf/wtw_3_guide_to_ua_ub_new.pdf

Cheers!

It seems then that because I am over 25, the Social Welfare will not attempt, for the means test, to deduce whether I am or am not getting any privilege or benefit from living at home.

So I just need proof of {a} no income {b} residency {c} that I looking for work.

Is this correct and proper?

Ta