Work hours reduced - social welfare available?

ibarelycare

I was just told I will be going down to a 3-day week from next week, until my colleague goes on maternity leave in November.

Am I entitled to some sort of social welfare for the 2 days I'm not working? I've been working full-time in this job for the past 4 & a half years. I'm not finding a clear answer on the welfare.ie website, and I have been trying to contact my local social welfare office (Navan) all day, but no one is picking up :mad::mad:

jockey#1

Sorry to hear about your circumstances.

Provided you have sufficient contributions (which you should have as you are working 4.5 years) then you will be entitled to claim Jobseekers Benefit for the other two days you are not working. If you are do a search in this thread there are loads of similar threads. Go to your social welfare office next week and explain to them about being put on a short week.

Best of luck

Jockey

Mimojo

Sorry to hear about your job. Same thing happened to me in my old job, and yes I was able to sign on for the days I was not working. As you have 4.5 years worked Id image that you will have plenty of contributions built up. You will be applying for Jobseekers Benifit which is where you use your stamps, as opposed to Jobseekers allowance which is means tested. The social welfare system is on a 6 day week, so if you are working for 3 days, you will be able to claim for the remaining 3 days i.e. €196 weekly allowance, so half of this. I am asuming that you are working normal hours and not shift work?

Go to your local social welfare, the waiting list for JS Benifit is not as long as JS Allowance, and hopefully you will not be waiting too long, I guess it depends on your local office. They should be able to tell you pretty quickly if you have the required amount of stamps built up, it will be on your record. They can also tell you how long your stamps will last you.

You will be given slips on a monthly basis, and you have to get your employer to fill them in as to what days you are working, and bring them back to the sw office. For JB Benifit I was paid via a cheque send out each week. I was not required to sign on.

You are not means tested for this payment, if you have enough contributions built up you will be entitled.

From my experience the SW office NEVER picks up the phone, your best bet is to call in!

Hope this helps! Best of luck

ibarelycare

Thanks a million for replies.

Boozelerooze, that information was a great help Relieving to know I more than likely won't be means tested...I was worried about that as I still live with my parents and thought that would go against me.

I ended up ringing Citizens Advice and they advised me to call into my local social welfare office and they told me all the bits I'd need. I think it will take two trips though, as I'll have to pick up a form, get it filled in by my boss, and then bring it back. Pain in the arse! I doubt I'll have to physically sign on either, as the social welfare office is too far away, so that will be handy.

Thanks again to you both!

dlambirl

If you've been working for the last 4 years you would have the contributions built up and should have no problem getting paid for the 3 days your not working (e.g €98.00)

Mimojo

ibarelycare wrote: »

Thanks a million for replies.

Boozelerooze, that information was a great help Relieving to know I more than likely won't be means tested...I was worried about that as I still live with my parents and thought that would go against me.

I ended up ringing Citizens Advice and they advised me to call into my local social welfare office and they told me all the bits I'd need. I think it will take two trips though, as I'll have to pick up a form, get it filled in by my boss, and then bring it back. Pain in the arse! I doubt I'll have to physically sign on either, as the social welfare office is too far away, so that will be handy.

Thanks again to you both!

No bother at all, hope you get it sorted out soon - Im sure you will have no hassle. It a bother having to go in and out to social welfare, and the queues in there sometimes, but stick with it!