Redundant while pregnant

3DataModem

A pal of mine's wife has been made redundant a couple of days after finding out she's pregnant (I'm posting as she doesn't have internet access anymore!)

She's 100% certain that the redundancy is unrelated to the pregnancy. They are paying her statutory minimum.

Questions;

(1) Am I right in saying that an employer can make a job redundant irrespective of their maternity status (but can't do it if the employee is actually ON maternity leave)?

(2) Will she be entitled to claim the dole, even though she is highly unlikely to be offered a job? How long will she get it for? (Her husband lives with her and earns fairly good money.

(3) What happens to the dole during what would have been maternity leave?

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers,

3DM

Xiney

Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are for people who are genuinely seeking and available for work. If your friend doesn't fit either or both of these conditions, she is not eligible for them.

She should call into her local citizens' information bureau and ask the questions you've posted here.

3DataModem

Xiney wrote: »

Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are for people who are genuinely seeking and available for work. If your friend doesn't fit either or both of these conditions, she is not eligible for them.

She is looking for work - she's applied to a few places already. However, in a few weeks she will be visibly pregnant and will find it pretty difficult to get a job! Capable; yes. Available; yes.

Xiney wrote: »

She should call into her local citizens' information bureau and ask the questions you've posted here.

That's the plan.

Xiney

sorry - you had said "she won't be able to accept a job"

that's different from "she won't be able to get a job"

3DataModem

Xiney wrote: »

sorry - you had said "she won't be able to accept a job"

that's different from "she won't be able to get a job"

OP edited.

3DataModem

OK an update and follow up question.

This gal is claiming the dole and looking for work. She has been offered a few hours "here and there" working as a receptionist locally at minimum wage (€8.65). There probably will be about 5 to 10 hours a week at most, possibly less so she could earn €45 to €80ish per week.

How will this impact her jobseekers allowance / benefit?

Xiney

It all has to do with the days. If she works less than three days a week between Monday and Saturday (If she works Sunday it doesn't count) she can claim part time Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance.

She just needs to go into the social welfare office and get her claim switched over, and they'll give her the forms she'll need her employer to complete every week (they're little, and they don't take long)

happy09

Just have a look at this info. If she was made redundant and pregnant but still will be trying to find job - read this:

This part of rules I posted on my blog.

"Pregnancy is not an illness and in the absence of any complications of pregnancy or other illness, a pregnant woman (who may not be entitled to Maternity Benefit) satisfies the condition of being capable of work for the purpose of Jobseeker's Benefit throughout her pregnancy and in the period following the birth. She will also satisfy the availability condition unless there are other factors which could call her general availability for work into question. She must, however, continue to look for work throughout her pregnancy and in the period after the birth of her child in order to satisfy the condition of genuinely seeking work. On an administrative basis a woman will not normally be requested to prove that she is genuinely seeking work in the 4 weeks immediately before the expected date of birth of her child or in the 8 week period following the birth. She will not be required to attend at the Local Office for signing purpose during this period provided she tells the Local Office of her pregnancy."

I believe in better economic times it would not be a big problem to find a job for pregnant but not it this recession times. People/Employers would not say straight into your eyes that they don't want to hire you but will find another reason....:(

fifibibi

This happened to me last year, i tried to find work but got all sorts of reasons why the job did not suit me, when really i did not suit them because why hire someone who will be off on maternity leave in a few months.

But i did sign on, i was entitled to, i had been let go and i had paid my stamps, and i was looking for work.

I registered with a temp work agency, they dont mind so much if women are pregnant because some of their contract jobs only last 3 or 4 months anyway and its still work.

but i didnt get a job, what the social welfare do when a woman is near her due date is , that you go in tell them when you are due, bring hospital or doctors letter with you, and 2 weeks before you are due they do not require you to sign anymore, when the baby is born they change your payment once you have a birth certificate and that. But thats only if you are still looking to be employed.

If your friend was working in her last job more than 6 months and was let go then she is more than likely entitled to the maternity payment instead of jobseekers. But all this depends on her husbands income.

If he earns too much then she may have to depend on him for support.

I think its very good advice to go into the citizens advice centre, they are very good and have all the forms to hand.