When I go back on the JSA, will I be down to 100 euro a week?

Kitty-kitty

I'm 21, and I signed off the dole for 2 months to do a fás course in November. In the meantime, the budget happened, but no-one seems to know (including my local social welfare office) when I go back on Jobseeker's Allowance, if I will now be on 100 euro per week.

Some people are saying this is only for people my age who are signing on for the first time, other people are saying anyone my age who signs on after January 1st (i.e. people who are currently on the JSA will be unaffected except for the cut everyone's getting, people who sign on or re-sign on now will be put onto 100 euro.)

Which is it? With three weeks left on this fás course and neither fás nor the social welfare unable to give me a straight answer, I'm beginning to worry.

moretothegirl

Kitty-kitty wrote: »

I'm 21, and I signed off the dole for 2 months to do a fás course in November. In the meantime, the budget happened, but no-one seems to know (including my local social welfare office) when I go back on Jobseeker's Allowance, if I will now be on 100 euro per week.

Some people are saying this is only for people my age who are signing on for the first time, other people are saying anyone my age who signs on after January 1st (i.e. people who are currently on the JSA will be unaffected except for the cut everyone's getting, people who sign on or re-sign on now will be put onto 100 euro.)

Which is it? With three weeks left on this fás course and neither fás nor the social welfare unable to give me a straight answer, I'm beginning to worry.

ok i could be wrong as i really am not in any position of wisdom or authority but from what i understand you should go back to what you originally got because as far as i am aware if you sign off you have a year in which you can sign back on to your original amount.... otherwise people would be too scared to get jobs in case it didnt work out or was only temporary and in the long term loose money....

cee_jay

From www.welfare.ie

Exceptions to age related Jobseeker's Allowance payments for people under 25

The reduced age related personal and qualified adult rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance for claimants under 25 years of age do not apply in the following cases:

* Claimants with dependent children
* People transferring to Jobseeker’s Allowance immediately after finishing their entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit
* People transferring from Disability Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance
* Where an existing Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant is assessed at the higher rate of allowance gets work but loses that job and is back on Jobseeker’s Allowance within 12 months
* People under 25 participating in a course of education, training or Community Employment. However, when the course ends you will return to an age related JA payment, if you were getting one before you started the course.
* You were at least 20 years of age on 30 December 2009 and became unemployed on or before 30 December 2009
* You were 18 or 19 on 30 December 2009 and you became unemployed on or before 29 April 2009
* You are 22 to 24 and taking part in the Work Placement Programme run by FÁS.

Certain children in the care of the HSE during the 12 months before reaching 18 years of age will also be assessed using the JA rate for people aged 25 or over.

Kitty-kitty

Kitty-kitty wrote: »

I'm 21, and I signed off the dole for 2 months to do a fás course in November. In the meantime, the budget happened, but no-one seems to know (including my local social welfare office) when I go back on Jobseeker's Allowance, if I will now be on 100 euro per week.

I'm in an identical situation, so please, can you update me when you sign back on? (My course doesn't end til mid-march, it's 13 weeks).


As far as Im aware though, when you go back to welfare, you're signing on as a "new claimant". However, you're actually being looked at as a "repeat claim", therefore, not unique, and you should be left alone.

When your course ends you'll get papers from FAS (assuming that's who your course is with) that you have to give to Welfare for when you sign back on.


You should be OK, but I'm not 100% sure. As I say, same position myself.

Kitty-kitty

That blurb from welfare.ie didn't exactly look promising. Thanks for your feedback, I'll be sure to post up when I get assessed what the story is.

Noo

cee_jay wrote: »

From www.welfare.ie

Exceptions to age related Jobseeker's Allowance payments for people under 25

The reduced age related personal and qualified adult rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance for claimants under 25 years of age do not apply in the following cases:

* Claimants with dependent children
* People transferring to Jobseeker’s Allowance immediately after finishing their entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit
* People transferring from Disability Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance
* Where an existing Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant is assessed at the higher rate of allowance gets work but loses that job and is back on Jobseeker’s Allowance within 12 months
* People under 25 participating in a course of education, training or Community Employment. However, when the course ends you will return to an age related JA payment, if you were getting one before you started the course.
* You were at least 20 years of age on 30 December 2009 and became unemployed on or before 30 December 2009
* You were 18 or 19 on 30 December 2009 and you became unemployed on or before 29 April 2009
* You are 22 to 24 and taking part in the Work Placement Programme run by FÁS.

Certain children in the care of the HSE during the 12 months before reaching 18 years of age will also be assessed using the JA rate for people aged 25 or over.

Cee_jay does this mean that those 22-24 on a fas work placement are not limited to €144 they may get more?

Pearson

could someone please explain the means assements in relation to having savings that are taken into account for means test for job seekers allowance. I have a mortgage of (600Euro per month) - would i be better to pay money off my mortgage than to have savings with a finiancial institution? both my partner and I have worked and saved hard since we have been in the workforce.