Social Welfare Problem

DancingDaisy

Wondering if anyone can give me some advice on this.

I made an application for Job seekers allowance back at the start of June after finishing up in college, however, I then got a job at the start of July and finished up at the end of August.

I reapplied for Job Seekers Allowance, and they told me that they would check if I was entitled to Benefit. They said that rather than opening a whole new claim, that they would just reopen the one I had made previously, as they were still processing it for the time that I had not been working.

I have heard nothing since then until I went to the social welfare office on Monday. They informed me that an investigator had been out to my house and they were still processing, however, nobody has been out to my house.

I then went to my local Councilor to ask him to look into it, just to find out where my application was in the process. He got back to me this morning to say that they told him that I'm not entitled to anything. He was told on the phone that my parents means were too much. This is most definitely not the case. My mum is on disability, due to a number of medical conditions, and my step-dad is a hackney driver who brings home barely €300 a week.

I'm not really sure what to do now. I can't really survive on no money, and my parents don't have any money to support me. I have stretched them really thin by them having to feed me etc. While I was in college, I was eligible for a grant and so have been financially independent for about 5 years now. This is the first time they have had to look after me financially since I left school. I'm not really sure what I can do now.

Can anybody tell me what to do next?

mood

There must be an appeals process or something. Call in again and ask to speak to someone more senior this time.

What age are you?

Check out Citizens Information.

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

Xiney

Does the following apply to you?

"If you have lived elsewhere in Ireland (or abroad) independent of your parents for at least 3 years, benefit and privilege is assessed as €7."

DancingDaisy

Sorry for taking so long to get back to this. I had only been living outside of home for a year, so the €7 is not applicable to me. Have been to the Citizens advice center, and they have recommended that I take a trip to see my local CWO, and take it from there.

They said that I cannot put an appeals application into process until I have received official documentation, and so far all I have is the word of my local Councilor.

The lady at the C.I.C went through the means testing process with me, and gave me the details of what I am entitled to. She has advised that if I hear nothing back within the next week, and have no luck with the CWO, then I am to return to the C.I.C and they will see if they can contact somebody further up the chain.

Thanks for the advice.