JSB running out and continuing payments

Dempo1

Hi, I've been searching for an answer to a dilemma many people are facing, including myself. My JSB is about to run out in about a Month. I was wondering can anyone advise on the following questions.

A. I believe claimants are notified in advance of JSB running out? True or False!

B. Next stage is applying for JSA which is means tested. Given the delays in processing what happens to payments, do they continue or does the claimant have to request payment through the CWO?

C. Can someone on JSB, Knowing its running out begin to apply for JSA knowing there could be delays in processing?

Mine and it would seem many others concerns are being found in a position whereby JSB runs out and ending up with no payments until JSA application is processed, from what i hear this could take up to eight weeks or More.

Any advice or experiences, sincerely appreciated!:)

eyesofvenus

Tell me about it...
I got a letter about 5 weeks ago stating that my JSB was due to stop soon and a form for JSA was included. I filled in form about a week later and sent it back.
Went up to post office last friday and guess what? no payment.
I have a few issues with this. First they never actually tell you when your payment is going to stop.
Second, I thought that having been on JSB and transferring to JSA it would be treated as existing claim? i.e. don't have to be put in the pile of waiting with fresh claims.

It's ridiculous, they send form out a mere month in advance knowing that even if you send it straight back in you'll still have another 4 week wait or so. The people who were on JSB had a payment every week that they came to depend on, and now nothing, I havent even heard back yet about my claim for JSA. it's nothing short of a joke.

I feel sorry most for the families that are currently relying on JSB and its due to stop soon, they'll have a period of no money at all, i can get by hopefully if my bank dont start...

And before anyone mentions it, no I won't go to social welfare local officer, im not a beggar :P

Dempo1

eyesofvenus wrote: »

Tell me about it...
I got a letter about 5 weeks ago stating that my JSB was due to stop soon and a form for JSA was included. I filled in form about a week later and sent it back.
Went up to post office last friday and guess what? no payment.
I have a few issues with this. First they never actually tell you when your payment is going to stop.
Second, I thought that having been on JSB and transferring to JSA it would be treated as existing claim? i.e. don't have to be put in the pile of waiting with fresh claims.

It's ridiculous, they send form out a mere month in advance knowing that even if you send it straight back in you'll still have another 4 week wait or so. The people who were on JSB had a payment every week that they came to depend on, and now nothing, I havent even heard back yet about my claim for JSA. it's nothing short of a joke.

I feel sorry most for the families that are currently relying on JSB and its due to stop soon, they'll have a period of no money at all, i can get by hopefully if my bank dont start...

And before anyone mentions it, no I won't go to social welfare local officer, im not a beggar :P

Thanks for that and this was exactly my concern, its outrageous this is happening particularly as JSB is basically what you paid through working. I know its not what you want to hear but the CWO seems to be the only option open to people in the outgrageous situation. I got onto the the www.inou.ie and they are saying there is an emourmous amount of people coming into this situation re JSB running out, there is an interesting article on their homepage!

eyesofvenus

Thanks for link was an interesting read.

I just cant fathom why there is no system in place to ensure people aren't out of pocket for weeks considering they were already on dole.

Maybe I expect too much? Not really, its almost like a punishment for not being able to find work in the time you were on JSB.

I've no gripe with the people who work in SWO's, my main problem is how everything is done. On JSB im a claiment. When i applied for JSB i had to fill out loads of forms and wait 6 weeks for payment. My sistuation hasn't changed since and yet im subject to more forms(i know JSA is means tested but im still broke!) and more wait times.

The way I see it though is I may as well be a fresh claiment for first time, cause that's what people transferring from JSB to JSA are being treated like

Dempo1

I could not agree more with you and it is unbelievable people are left with nothing, especially those with children to worry about. I am fortunate as i have got to know my local CWO over the past few months so hopefully i can approach her in advance of my JSB running out. As for Jobs, its a nightmare and not much sign of any improvements.

You will no doubt be means tested shortly?

martingore

As far as Im aware, you only have to go the cwo once , they just send the payment to your post office instead of the old days when you had to go every week, they cant cope with the demand anymore.

eyesofvenus

To be honest id rather go without than rely on CWO(just something i feel strongly about).

Well considering im 24 and living with parents i was already subject to a plethora of questions concerning them(lol they must think i get pocket money at 24...).

The form for JSA they sent out is about 3 pages long, wants to know everything about spouses, mortgages, who living in house, how much they earn, how much rent you pay etc etc

Laughable thing is if I don't get JSA i'll have €400 a month worth of Direct Debits that I wont be able to pay, regardless of the fact im living at home, thats by necessity not means. My parents arent in situation to help pay my finances, so what then?

Move out so my parents arent assesed? Two problems there. If i get flat that will cost me money i dont have and will have esb/other bills to pay. And as far as im aware SW are encouraging people to move back home to curb rent allowance, fair enough i can see point there but not when you lose welfare payment because of it

eyesofvenus

martingore wrote: »

As far as Im aware, you only have to go the cwo once , they just send the payment to your post office instead of the old days when you had to go every week, they cant cope with the demand anymore.

CWO = Community Welfare Officer

We both(id imagine OP has as well) have been receiving payment through post offices every week up to now, so thats not issue

Dempo1

martingore wrote: »

As far as Im aware, you only have to go the cwo once , they just send the payment to your post office instead of the old days when you had to go every week, they cant cope with the demand anymore.

Yes that is correct and it is all about timing, there are a large number of cases where people have been caught out with their JSB running out and being caught in Limbo, There is the added problem whereby your claim for JSA has to have commenced to get payment from the CWO. Some people receive no notice of JSB running out and find themselves with no payment, its a serious problem and leading to real hardship, say for example you discover on a Friday there is no payment? what are you supposed to do? CWO move around and its not always possible to see one!

martingore

I agree with your point , it s all about timing .

Elessar

My JSB is going to run out next month too and I was told by the local SW office that I'd get a letter in the post with a form to fill out and send back - is that the regular form?

I was told that since you're already on the system it should take no more than 7-10 days to start getting your JSA money, and not 2-3 months. I still have not received any form!

I wonder can I just get the form myself and re-apply, or would that be treated as a fresh claim?

eyesofvenus

Elessar wrote: »

My JSB is going to run out next month too and I was told by the local SW office that I'd get a letter in the post with a form to fill out and send back - is that the regular form?

I was told that since you're already on the system it should take no more than 7-10 days to start getting your JSA money, and not 2-3 months. I still have not received any form!

I wonder can I just get the form myself and re-apply, or would that be treated as a fresh claim?

No they send you out a different form to the one for fresh claims, its shorter and more to the point. You can however still apply before hand with regular form.

I put my form in nearly 3 weeks ago now and my JSB stopped 1 1/2 weeks ago so, so much for 7-10 days...meh they're on a go slow in there at the moment

Elessar

eyesofvenus wrote: »

No they send you out a different form to the one for fresh claims, its shorter and more to the point. You can however still apply before hand with regular form.

I put my form in nearly 3 weeks ago now and my JSB stopped 1 1/2 weeks ago so, so much for 7-10 days...meh they're on a go slow in there at the moment

Is it this one?

eyesofvenus

Elessar wrote: »

Is it this one?

Yes that's the one if i recall

Woodgate

eyesofvenus wrote: »

No they send you out a different form to the one for fresh claims, its shorter and more to the point. You can however still apply before hand with regular form.

I put my form in nearly 3 weeks ago now and my JSB stopped 1 1/2 weeks ago so, so much for 7-10 days...meh they're on a go slow in there at the moment

I put my form in the first week in January and have'nt got a penny yet, I was told there is a backlog and they are working on the November claims at the moment. (I'm in Waterford by the way).

Blinking_Badger

Hi all,

I'm in a similar situation to you here, my JSB ran out last week and when I asked at the SW office how long I could be expected to wait for my JSA claim to processed they told me that there was such a backlog that they couldn't put a figure on how many weeks it would take.

So, I went to see my CWO as obviously its impossibe to live on no income or at the least very difficult. My CWO told me that I could collect emergency payments from my post office as normal next week. I know its not easy to approach a CWO basically with a begging bowl in hand but isn't it better to swallow your pride than be unable to pay your bills??

BB

Dragon_fly

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm in a similar situation to you here, my JSB ran out last week and when I asked at the SW office how long I could be expected to wait for my JSA claim to processed they told me that there was such a backlog that they couldn't put a figure on how many weeks it would take.

So, I went to see my CWO as obviously its impossibe to live on no income or at the least very difficult. My CWO told me that I could collect emergency payments from my post office as normal next week. I know its not easy to approach a CWO basically with a begging bowl in hand but isn't it better to swallow your pride than be unable to pay your bills??

BB

Absolutely right. IMO, we can't afford to be too proud to look for help these days. Besides, I'm sure supplmentary payments come from the same 'pot' of DSFA money in any case?? In my case, these payments continue automatically until JSA kicks in. Not sure if this is the same in other areas?

Dempo1

Its amazing all this excitement over the Passport closing, sit ins etc and not a mention anywhere in the press about the dreadful impact the go slow is having on thousands of people got in this trap of JSB running out. What is startling is the fact thousands of hard working people who earned JSB after years of work and who can not find new opportunities are left to the mercy of the welfare department with absolutely no guidelines, support or advice on what claimants are supposed to do, its also telling how few people have obtained employment for over a year. If the current crisis in JSB claims running out is anything to go by, it proves there is little or any movement in the labor market!