Short on money! €196 per week for two people!

kimmybobkim

Hi There,

I am Irish and 25 and my girlfriend is English and 21.
We both were working before the recession.
My girlfriend in the UK and me over here.

We are both now living in Ireland and seeking work.

We both applied for the dole separately, my application was accepted and i have been getting €196 per week, Her application was pending and we went to the community welfare officer who has been giving her €100 per week.

Due to the habitual residency condition my girlfriend is no longer entitled to the money and since i pay the rent and bills and she does the shopping we no longer can afford to do the food shopping.

We went and spoke to citizens information and the dole office and seems like there's nothing we can do, has anyone any advice? We are both now looking for work twice as hard as we were but im ****ting it incase neither of us can find work before our savings are gone.

Balagan

Explore possibility of putting your girlfriend as an adult dependant on your own
claim.

padr81

What your getting was the equivalent of 2 doles. Shes only 21 so only going to get €100 per week on the dole. You have to be over 25 i think to get full dole. But if you guys are living together this is against the law and thats why her money was stopped. You should really be claiming for her which will probably mean another cut on the €296. Around €240 I'd imagine but I'm not sure.

You should look into rent allowance if your not already recieving it. If you are, your not better or worse off than any other couple in the country in the same position I'm afraid. Your gonna have to learn to manage on it.

padr81

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Actually anyone receiving JA over 20 is qualified tor eceive the full rate, so long as they qualify all of the other conditions.

No. If you are 24 or under and living at home, your parents' income is taken into account. You can still receive the full rate.

Not necessarily, they may be better off if she qualifies as a qualifying dependent.

thx for that. I thought jsa was cut dependant on age into 2 or 3 groups. Im not sure as I'm 29 and only recently on the dole myself.

Red_Marauder

padr81 wrote: »

thx for that. I thought jsa was cut dependant on age into 2 or 3 groups. Im not sure as I'm 29 and only recently on the dole myself.

actually i think im wrong, didnt realise the rules had changed...

vanla sighs

kimmybobkim wrote: »

Hi There,

I am Irish and 25 and my girlfriend is English and 21.
We both were working before the recession.
My girlfriend in the UK and me over here.

We are both now living in Ireland and seeking work.

We both applied for the dole separately, my application was accepted and i have been getting €196 per week, Her application was pending and we went to the community welfare officer who has been giving her €100 per week.

Due to the habitual residency condition my girlfriend is no longer entitled to the money and since i pay the rent and bills and she does the shopping we no longer can afford to do the food shopping.

We went and spoke to citizens information and the dole office and seems like there's nothing we can do, has anyone any advice? We are both now looking for work twice as hard as we were but im ****ting it incase neither of us can find work before our savings are gone.

From what I understand the Habitual Residency condition doesn't apply if you've been within the CTA (Common Travel Area = Ireland and the UK) So, your gf is entitled to social welfare http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW108/Pages/2Whatdoeshabitualresidencemean.aspx She'll only get €100 pw though - as she's getting now. But as someone else said put your gf on your social wlefare claim as a qualified adult dependant.

cee_jay

vanla sighs wrote: »

From what I understand the Habitual Residency condition doesn't apply if you've been within the CTA (Common Travel Area = Ireland and the UK) So, your gf is entitled to social welfare http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW108/Pages/2Whatdoeshabitualresidencemean.aspx She'll only get €100 pw though - as she's getting now. But as someone else said put your gf on your social wlefare claim as a qualified adult dependant.

You understand wrong. Habitual Residency condition does apply to people that have been in CTA. You have to show length of residency in Ireland, employment history in Ireland, ties to Ireland, centre of interest and all that.
If a British person who had never been in Ireland before, and moved to Ireland in the morning and tried claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, they would not get it because they couldn't be deemed Habitually resident in Ireland.

OP go to your local office and ask to add your girlfriend as a qualified adult on your claim.

kimmybobkim

Just to clarify for above poster and others confused.

We are two people.
My income: €196. Her income €100 (soon to be 0)

My rent per week for us both is: €112.50
ESB per week is about: €30
Coal/Sticks and firelighters €20
Im paying €30 of my credit union untill i have to stop
and our shopping comes to about €80 a week.
Our total expense each week is €272.50

When the €100 stops we are going to be short €76.50 every week. We are despretely seeking work and hopefully i get a job that will pay minimum €280 plus any expenses or she can get a job paying minimum €80 per week. We have been waiting 8 weeks now to be called for rent allowance interview with the housing authority.

We went to the dole office and the woman said we werent going to be given the dole for my girlfriend even as an adult dependant on my claim but she said we can fill in the form anyway. I explained our situation and said can she put that the €100 my girlfriend recieves down as our food shopping money and she said no.

My big worry is neither of us will find work by the time our savings run out.

Who do we turn to then??? Whats the next step. I mean i dont like being a burden on the state and neither does my girlfriend but theres no work and we are trying to find some.

I heard st vincent d paul do shopping vouchers of €40, if its €40 each then it would be okay but €40 between us isnt going to get much though il eat beans on toast as long as i need to.

havana

Hi OP. Your Esb bill seems quite high at 30pw. That is double what I pay each month. €50pw for light/heat etc seems a lot. Is there any way to reduce this?

There are definitly ways to reduce your shopping bills too - do a search, Ive seen a few threads recently.

Best if luck!!

analbeads

your girlfriend simply isnt entilted to claim in ireland.....we need to have strict guidelines ortherwise all of europe would arrive on our shores and get handed money that they have never contributed to and the state simply cannot afford to support someone that just decided to move here
to be with her boyfriend.

have you tried ringing your local authority? if not just ring and say that you need to be accesed straight away as you want to claim rent allowance. you should be called within a few days.

are you entilted to fuel allowance? you should enquire about it and see what happens. its €25 (i think) a week

maybe your girlfriend would try and get work doing childminding in childs own home or her home? looking thru situation vacant sections it seems to always be childminding jobs.

kimmybobkim

good idea on calling the housing authority, i might even try taking a trip there in person sometime over the next few days.

with the esb im trying to cover a small amount of arrears too but my bills work out at about €200 a month now that we have stopped using heating and i intend to use the fire all day from now on and no other heating.

Iv started foraging for waste wood for the fire instead of buying wood too.

I could also sell my car for 8 weeks worth of shopping but then shooting myself in the foot for finding a job.

I mean its a good idea to try cut corners but i think its going to be impossible to survive off 196euros.

Housing authority is my only look.

Have you looked into changing over to airtricity? They're much cheaper. If you're in debt you should go and have a chat with the guys in MABS too.

Best of luck OP, it certainly aint easy.

ntlbell

are you entitled to rent allowance?

Have you spoken to the CU about freezing payments? or vastly reducing them?

you shouldn't be financing loan repayments with your dole.

look to switch to airtricity

If you buy smart you could probably reduce the shopping too.

that should cover the gap

caseyann

As far as i know you can claim for her as an dependent.
That is awful situation to be in.
I hope things get better for yous

Surely if both of you move to the Uk there would be better employment prospects?
Its got to be better than the 2 of you living on 196pw...and that before its cut in the budget.

You should be entitled to fuel allowance which is 23.90ish in total for the winter months if there is nobody in your house earning.

kimmybobkim

Im only on the dole about 6 months so aparently not entitled to fuel allowance. Which is a bit of a piss take to be honest.

Moving to england aint a bad idea but on same token its a recession there to and might end up in a worse situation. I mean over here im garunteed the €196.

Iv reduced my CU payments from €70 to €30, i can reduce it to €18 which is just the interest when i need to and i will just tell them i cant afford it once push comes to shove.

Can i switch to airtricity while behind on payments?

Caseyann are you sure i can claim her as a dependant when she didnt meet the habitual residency condition on her own claim?

Balagan

According to these guidelines, http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/depsqa.aspxif you partner is entitled to reside in this country, she has a right to be added to your claim as an adult dependant. Read through them and see if there are any grounds for her being refused. You shouldn't delay in making the application anyway.

Here are the guidelines re Habitual Residence http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/habres.aspx
If the two of you genuinely want to make a go of it here, she should immediately supply more information about her habitual residence and request a review of the decision. If the review comes out with a refusal, you can appeal. See here http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW108/Pages/7WhatifIamnothappywithadecision.aspx As she is just 21, it may be more difficult but she needs to get all her ducks in a row and produce as much paperwork in support of her application as possible. Habitual residence has to be proven. She might be able to produce evidence that she has severed ties in the UK., she will of course have her P45 and info about her job ending there and she should also seek to produce paper to back up the closing of any bank account, club membership, leaving voluntary work etc., and leaving list of dentist, doctor etc. And she should produce back up for her establishing herself here e.g., bills in both your names, evidence of any/all jobs she has applied for, night classes she is is taking, evidence of any clubs she has joined- even the library would do, also any organizations, even voluntary ones. Also, records of what medical practice/dental practice has her on their lists or any bank/credit union account she has opened. I know that with you both being skint, the latter is difficult but worth it to stick a few bob in just to establish herself here and have necessary documentation. This would also be the time to get letters from any of the usual suspects, a priest, TD, teacher etc., who could vouch for knowing her and that she has moved here.

caseyann

kimmybobkim wrote: »

Im only on the dole about 6 months so aparently not entitled to fuel allowance. Which is a bit of a piss take to be honest.

Moving to england aint a bad idea but on same token its a recession there to and might end up in a worse situation. I mean over here im garunteed the €196.

Iv reduced my CU payments from €70 to €30, i can reduce it to €18 which is just the interest when i need to and i will just tell them i cant afford it once push comes to shove.

Can i switch to airtricity while behind on payments?

Caseyann are you sure i can claim her as a dependant when she didnt meet the habitual residency condition on her own claim?

How long are yous living in Ireland as a couple in your own place and both registered at that address?
Also if things get to much you can go to SVP they apparently will help with food(i.e vouchers) Which might help take pressure off you food worry wise.
I would also find out whats with your ESB 30 euro a week??? :eek: Thats way to much.
Unless you are in arrears and made a deal with them?(Dont mean to pry) If it isnt the case pay less off ESB also.
There is another option but i will pm you that.

kimmybobkim

My ESB Bill is 200 - 220 a month.
Though im trying to get this down by not using any heating at all and using the washing machine and shower during the night rate which is half price.
Iv also filled up on some wood from a near by forest for the fire instead of coal.

Im going to look at changing to airtricity

caseyann

kimmybobkim wrote: »

My ESB Bill is 200 - 220 a month.
Though im trying to get this down by not using any heating at all and using the washing machine and shower during the night rate which is half price.
Iv also filled up on some wood from a near by forest for the fire instead of coal.

Im going to look at changing to airtricity

Oh my god :eek: Thats way to much.Where are you living op if thats a flat its is ludicrous money,even if a house still crazy.
It should be at the most 180 euro every two months.And that is pushing it a bit much.
Yeah i would cut back on the payments in ESB and stick on heating only two hours night time and morning.
Let the clothes pile up aswell for couple of days and hand wash stuff thats light.
SVP i am sure will help out with the heating,i recall someone saying before if you need fuel for fire they help.
keep an eyes on boards jobs they usually have a host of them showing up here.

Auvers

kimmybobkim wrote: »

using the washing machine and shower during the night rate which is half price.

dod you have an off peak meter?

if you only have one meter means your ESB bill will remain the same as you need a seperate off peak meter to avail of the off peak units

kimmybobkim

sorry its 200 - 220 every 2 months. lol.

kimmybobkim

I have a night/day meter, im in an apartment with storage heaters, but i dont use the storage heaters at all ( i did before the summer and just about cuaght up on the arrears now)

nojunkmaill

Are you claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Job Seekers Benefit? If it's the latter you could be entitled to transfer your claim for up to 13 weeks to find work.

Your partner should be entitled to be put on your claim - go in to the office again in the morning and ask to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about.

While not entitled to fuel allowance you might be entitled to Smog (Smokeless Fuel) which is €3.90 pw payable after 13 weeks.

Your ESB bills are crazy! Have you been to see someone about rent allowance?

Cut out anything you don't need. Heavy phone usage etc etc

kimmybobkim

nojunkmaill wrote: »

Are you claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Job Seekers Benefit? If it's the latter you could be entitled to transfer your claim for up to 13 weeks to find work.

Your partner should be entitled to be put on your claim - go in to the office again in the morning and ask to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about.

While not entitled to fuel allowance you might be entitled to Smog (Smokeless Fuel) which is €3.90 pw payable after 13 weeks.

Your ESB bills are crazy! Have you been to see someone about rent allowance?

Cut out anything you don't need. Heavy phone usage etc etc

Im on Jobseekers allowance.
Im not in a smokeless fuel area.
I went about rent allowance, was told to get assessed by the housing authority first and then go back to cwo. Still waiting to be seen.

albacete

kimmybobkim wrote: »

I have a night/day meter, im in an apartment with storage heaters, but i dont use the storage heaters at all ( i did before the summer and just about cuaght up on the arrears now)

eh? what type of appartment is it that has a fireplace to burn wood?
sorry to go off the point but Im intrigued.

kimmybobkim

Yeah tis an apartment building with fireplaces, there only 3 story high and the chimney brest has 3 seperate chimneys running up to the roof. Very unusual alright but we arent in a city.

albacete

kimmybobkim wrote: »

Yeah tis an apartment building with fireplaces, there only 3 story high and the chimney brest has 3 seperate chimneys running up to the roof. Very unusual alright but we arent in a city.

By the way one thing that hasnt been mentioned and I have been recommending it to a few people is to renegociate their rent, ie share the pain. I know the landlord might be up to his oxters with mortgage debt, but from the sounds of things its not a bed of roses for you either...

kimmybobkim

albacete wrote: »

By the way one thing that hasnt been mentioned and I have been recommending it to a few people is to renegociate their rent, ie share the pain. I know the landlord might be up to his oxters with mortgage debt, but from the sounds of things its not a bed of roses for you either...

The landlord is quiet good, fixes most problems quickly but asked him twice now about the rent and he said either pay full amount or move out, he was willing to accept rent allowance though which is handy. Still waiting for a call for this. Takes forever.

analbeads

kimmybobkim wrote: »

The landlord is quiet good, fixes most problems quickly but asked him twice now about the rent and he said either pay full amount or move out, he was willing to accept rent allowance though which is handy. Still waiting for a call for this. Takes forever.

have you gone back to or phoned your local authority about having your assesment yet?

vdriver

Try to cancel you credit union loan if your saved amount before taking the loan is equal with the loan that you have left. If you had saved 1500 and you took a 2000 euro loan but in the mean time you already paid 500 that means that what you saved previously will cover the loan. But this mean closing your account with the credit union..... Maybe you paid more and can get some money back..:)

kimmybobkim

I wish this was the case vdriver. My savings are frozen to cover my loan!