What should i do?

ronano

I applied for jobseekers allowance on april 1st and an inspector came out on the 8th. I've heard nothing since no letter no nothing. It's been eight weeks,is this normal period for jobseekers allowance?

I think i'll give them a ring tomorrow see what situation is and then see about contacting my relief officer,is there any negative to it?

Xiney

Definitely contact them, but chances are you'll get nowhere by ringing - none of the offices seem to be answering their phones anymore

You'll probably have to go in to the social welfare and wait to speak with someone.

I haven't had an inspector visit but I've been waiting 8 weeks since I applied so it might be normal these days.


Also, go visit your community welfare officer and apply for supplementary welfare allowance - 8 weeks is an awful long time for anyone to be without an income.

ronano

thanks for the reply

the whole thing about the supplementary welfare allowance is how can i prove/know i am entitled if i've recieved nothing saying approved or denied

Xiney

Well, I'd go into the social welfare office first. If your claim is still pending, ask for a letter that says you have an open claim since April 1. Then take that letter to the community welfare officer for your area (call your local health office to find out when and where the clinic will be held for your address).

Basically, the way I understand that supplementary welfare while a pending claim is processed works is that it is counted as an "advance" on your eventual payment. If you are deemed to not be entitled to anything by the means test, you would have to pay back the supplementary welfare payment. If you are entitled to a payment, you'll get your backpay minus whatever the cwo has given you so far.

I've also heard anecdotally on this forum that getting the supplementary payment can actually HELP your case in getting JA, since the inspectors would be somewhat suspect of people who could continue to survive for months without getting any payments. (Of course I'm sure if you explain that you were scabbing off mates the whole time because you didn't know about the cwo they'd accept that too)

ronano

Great help

I'll get on it in the morning

Xiney

Cool, let us know how you get on

cee_jay

Xiney wrote: »

Well, I'd go into the social welfare office first. If your claim is still pending, ask for a letter that says you have an open claim since April 1. Then take that letter to the community welfare officer for your area (call your local health office to find out when and where the clinic will be held for your address).

Basically, the way I understand that supplementary welfare while a pending claim is processed works is that it is counted as an "advance" on your eventual payment. If you are deemed to not be entitled to anything by the means test, you would have to pay back the supplementary welfare payment. If you are entitled to a payment, you'll get your backpay minus whatever the cwo has given you so far.

I've also heard anecdotally on this forum that getting the supplementary payment can actually HELP your case in getting JA, since the inspectors would be somewhat suspect of people who could continue to survive for months without getting any payments. (Of course I'm sure if you explain that you were scabbing off mates the whole time because you didn't know about the cwo they'd accept that too)

The CWO has read access to the same system social welfare use as far as i know - so they can see if you have a claim pending with social welfare or not. their means test is different to that of social welfare - don't know exactly how they calculate your means though.

If you are not entitled to a payment from Social Welfare, I don't think you have to pay the supplementary welfare allowance back - if you are awarded JA, they do take what you got on SWA and pay that back to the HSE. But don't worry about having to pay it back if not!