Dad being let go..........mam doenst work. What can they claim?

Countryripple

Hi all,

I just have a question about making a social welfare claim.

My dad is loosing his job in a week or so. He is not being made redundant. My mother is a housewife who does not claim anything from social welfare, though my dad earns very little, they manage to get by.

What I am wondering is, when my dad becomes unemployed and has to sign on, can my mother sign on also?


I would be their main source of infor on things like this, so I just want to find out as much as I can for them, the prospects of them having to live off a total of E204 a week between the two of them for the forseeable future is really scary.



Thanks

Max Power1

If that is their only income, his wife should also get a "qualified adult" allowance, I think its €130 pw atm.


http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/irish-social-welfare-system/claiming-a-social-welfare-payment/claiming-an-increase-in-your-social-welfare-payment-for-an-adult-dependant

Trish2007

Your dad should make the claim and also claim for your mother as a qualified adult. I dont think they would both be able to get the 204 euro each.

GER12

Providing your father has the required insurance contributions he will be able to claim Jobseekers Benefit... and receive the qualified adult rate for your mum. Unfortunately, if your mum has not been available for or genuinely seeking work she will not qualify for Jobseekers in her own right. Your mum and dad should also look into applying for the medical card from the HSE, rent allowance etc, and the free schemes from the DSFA like fuel, telephone, tv license. These are means tested schemes based on household income. Also, there is the free bin/refuse charges from the LA or county council... which is also a means tested scheme based on household income. Your father will need to register with FAS in order to obtain jobseekers. Also check into the documents that your father will need when going to sign on for the first time. As most claims are taking considerably longer - your father can claim supplementary welfare allowance pending the processing of his jobseekers claim. This is a means tested scheme and is obtained by visiting the community welfare officer in your local health centre.

Mrs OBumble

You say your mother doesn't have paid work currently.

Does she want to? Is she available to take it up? Even if she's not eligible for a full payment, I can't help but wonder whether she shouldn't be registering in her own right, at least so she can access FAS courses and the like.

Countryripple

My mother spends 7 days looking after the household of her parent and disabled younger sibling. So to be honest, that pretty much makes her unavailable for work. So she has never claimed for anything.

Thanks so much of all of your advice, it will help a lot.

taram

Countryripple wrote: »

My mother spends 7 days looking after the household of her parent and disabled younger sibling. So to be honest, that pretty much makes her unavailable for work. So she has never claimed for anything.

Thanks so much of all of your advice, it will help a lot.

In that case she should be claiming for carer's allowance. There are a lot of carer's associations around who can help her sort out things for herself and those she cares for, even if it's only to sort tax credits for medical expenses etc.

Countryripple

Its more complicated than that. She is from a large family. One or two of the others may pop in once a week or so but she is there everyday.