"Extra Benefits" on JSA

CamillaRhodes

Hello. I'm on Jobseekers Allowance and living at home with my parents. However, I now have to move out (for a number of reasons). I don't think I will qualify for Rent Supplement since I haven't been renting for 6 of the last 12 months (Well, in fact I was - only came home in September - but it was overseas so I don't think this counts?)

I'm wondering, once I move into my new rented accommodation, can I qualify for 'Extra Benefits', i.e. Fuel, Electricity, Gas, Telephone, TV licence allowances? If so, how do I go about applying for these - should I go to the social welfare office, or the community welfare officer, or...?

Thanks for any guidance, I've been reading on welfare.ie but can't figure out the above.

mp22

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/extra-social-welfare-benefits/household_benefits_package
try this I dont think you will qualify for it

cee_jay

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

Hello. I'm on Jobseekers Allowance and living at home with my parents. However, I now have to move out (for a number of reasons). I don't think I will qualify for Rent Supplement since I haven't been renting for 6 of the last 12 months (Well, in fact I was - only came home in September - but it was overseas so I don't think this counts?)

I'm wondering, once I move into my new rented accommodation, can I qualify for 'Extra Benefits', i.e. Fuel, Electricity, Gas, Telephone, TV licence allowances? If so, how do I go about applying for these - should I go to the social welfare office, or the community welfare officer, or...?

Thanks for any guidance, I've been reading on welfare.ie but can't figure out the above.

From [url]www.welfare.ie:[/url]

If you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance, you may be entitled to:

Rent Supplement - a payment from the Community Welfare Officer at your local health centre that helps with the cost of your rent.

Mortgage Interest Supplement - a payment from the Community Welfare Officer at your local health centre that helps with the cost of your mortgage interest.

Fuel Allowance - a weekly payment between October and April to help with fuel costs (payable with Jobseeker's Allowance after 15 months)

Smokeless Fuel Allowance - to help low-income households meet the extra cost of using smokeless or low smoke fuels in designated urban areas (payable with Jobseeker's Allowance after 3 months)

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance - a payment designed to help towards the cost of uniforms and footwear for children who are attending school. The scheme is payable between June and September each year - contact your local health centre.

Medical card - if your income is below certain level, you may get a medical card. It covers you for free doctor's care, prescriptions, etc. - contact your local health office.

School Books Grant Scheme - each year, the Department of Education and Science provides grants to primary, secondary and comprehensive schools towards the cost of schoolbooks for students in financial need. You should contact the school principal for more information. The school principal will also advise you whether the school runs a book loan scheme, whereby your children's books are provided for a nominal rental charge each year.

I took that from the welfare site.

Electricity, Gas, Telephone, TV licence allowances are called the household benefits package, The package is available to people aged over 70 who are resident in the State and to people under age 70 who are also resident in the State in certain circumstances - more info here

CamillaRhodes

So it's only for older people and/or widows etc... ? (Seems that way) Fair enough.

Thanks for pointing that out, the page I was reading didn't specify that (or I was suffering information overload!)

Cheers for the quick responses.