Casual work question

Frank Spencer

My friend and I have both been offered some casual work. It would work out at something like a maximum of 20 hours a week over two days. It would also be every two weeks for a duration of two months. We are both on Job Seekers. I am on JSA and he is on JSB.

If we were to accept this work how would this affect our payments?

I have been checking into it and found the following in the SW FAQ:

You may receive a reduced Jobseeker's Allowance payment if you work part-time or casually for up to 3 days a week. A persons weekly means is worked out as follows:

* Gross income less deductions for PRSI, superannuation/AVCs/PRSAs and union dues
* A disregard of €20.00 a day for each day worked up to a maximum of 3 days each week is deducted (max. €60.00 a week)
* The balance is multipled by 60%.

The rate payable is the weekly Jobseeker's Assistance rate less the means. If the person's means are more than the Jobseeker's Allowance weekly rate, there is no entitlement to payment.

Along with this:

There are 3 categories of claimant who may qualify for JB while partially employed:

* Systematic short-time workers
* Casual workers, and
* Part-time workers.

Subsidiary employment: special provision

A day is not normally treated as a day of unemployment if the claimant is engaged in any occupation from which they derive any remuneration or profit. In cases where a claimant loses their full-time job and continues to work in their part-time job, their part-time job may be considered subsidiary if the following conditions are satisfied:

* the occupation could ordinarily have been followed by them in addition to their usual employment, and
* the occupation could ordinarily have been followed by them outside the ordinary working hours of their usual employment

and either

* the remuneration or profit from the occupation does not exceed €12.70 per day, or, where the remuneration or profit is in respect of a longer period, it does not on a daily average exceed €12.70 per day

or

* at least 117 employment contributions have been paid in respect of them in either the last 3 years or the last 3 complete contribution years immediately prior to the date of claim.

In general, it would be deemed appropriate to consider an occupation/employment as subsidiary where the above conditions are satisfied and where both employments were carried out concurrently for a period of 6 months immediately prior to the date of claim. In such circumstances it is possible for a person to be engaged in insurable employment or self-employment and still satisfy the unemployment condition.

So can anyone outline how this may affect us in respect to our payments. If you need any more info please ask.

Frank Spencer

Can anyone help with this?

JaymzN

I literally just got back from the post office after sending in the final forms for my part-time workers allowance. Basically from May 2009 up till last week, I was only able to get part-time work. The reason I haven't been able to claim it until now is because I was out of the country from 2007-2009 and had my application had to go through the "Habitual Residence"* department which took 6 months+ of processing.

I'm not too sure how the actual payment is worked out. That stuff you quoted confuses me too, mate . But when I receive my payment, I'll figure out how much I got for an average 2-3 day week and let you know.





* yes, that's right, if you're out of Ireland for a long period the welfare office will treat you like a refugee! Took them 6 months just to process my habitual residence form and say "well, I guess he is Irish". The form they gave me was the exact same form they give refugees with questions like "why did you immigrate to Ireland"

Frank Spencer

JaymzN wrote: »

I literally just got back from the post office after sending in the final forms for my part-time workers allowance. Basically from May 2009 up till last week, I was only able to get part-time work. The reason I haven't been able to claim it until now is because I was out of the country from 2007-2009 and had my application had to go through the "Habitual Residence"* department which took 6 months+ of processing.

I'm not too sure how the actual payment is worked out. That stuff you quoted confuses me too, mate . But when I receive my payment, I'll figure out how much I got for an average 2-3 day week and let you know.





* yes, that's right, if you're out of Ireland for a long period the welfare office will treat you like a refugee! Took them 6 months just to process my habitual residence form and say "well, I guess he is Irish". The form they gave me was the exact same form they give refugees with questions like "why did you immigrate to Ireland"

Cheers mate. Sorry to hear about the hassle.

JaymzN

Alright, Frank. Everything went through so here's some info to give you an idea on what to expect....

I got paid part time workers allowance for the following period: 26/05/09 -> 26/01/2010. I worked an average of 3 days every week (but bare in mind, I usually work Sundays which don't count).

Looks like my average was about 95 per week. So you'll definitely be earning more for finding yourself part-time work, as you should be!