Habitual residency

Tayla

Hi everyone, looking for some help on behalf of a family member.

She cannot seem to get a straight answer from social welfare in regards to whether she will be eligible or not.

She moved to Spain about 5 years ago to run a bar, it didn't work out so she came back around 2 years ago and went in to social welfare but then she came into a sum of money which she has used since then.

A couple of months ago her money ran out so she went to the social welfare officer to see if she would be entitled to anything and signed on etc. she didn't hear anything after about a couple of weeks so they told her that she would have had to wait a month anyway (sorry I am unsure why this was) and so she should go back after a month, she did this and then they said she would have to wait another month to go in again....however they haven't said whether she will be getting any money or what's happening at all.

She lives down the country so waiting times for the normal dole is very quick but she can't seem to find any info.

Would anyone with any experience in this know what she would expect, I know it is done on a case by case basis.

She wouldn't really have much proof that she lived here for the last couple of years as she was staying with friends and so had no bills in her name but she is Irish and all the family live over here, bank accounts have been closed in Spain for the last couple of years etc (they haven't actually asked for any statements or bills though)

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

sambora

From my experience, she'll nee to keep on their backs about it. Phone calls don't work with them, so she's gonna have to make the effort to go to her local social welfare office. It's the only way they'll respond. Also, at least she'll know she'll be dealt with, rather than sitting on the phone.

Granger13

Tayla wrote: »

Hi everyone, looking for some help on behalf of a family member.

She cannot seem to get a straight answer from social welfare in regards to whether she will be eligible or not.

She moved to Spain about 5 years ago to run a bar, it didn't work out so she came back around 2 years ago and went in to social welfare but then she came into a sum of money which she has used since then.

A couple of months ago her money ran out so she went to the social welfare officer to see if she would be entitled to anything and signed on etc. she didn't hear anything after about a couple of weeks so they told her that she would have had to wait a month anyway (sorry I am unsure why this was) and so she should go back after a month, she did this and then they said she would have to wait another month to go in again....however they haven't said whether she will be getting any money or what's happening at all.

She lives down the country so waiting times for the normal dole is very quick but she can't seem to find any info.

Would anyone with any experience in this know what she would expect, I know it is done on a case by case basis.

She wouldn't really have much proof that she lived here for the last couple of years as she was staying with friends and so had no bills in her name but she is Irish and all the family live over here, bank accounts have been closed in Spain for the last couple of years etc (they haven't actually asked for any statements or bills though)

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

Has she attended the Community Welfare Officer and applied for a Basic Weekly Supplement? She can do this if she has a claim in for a payment and is awaiting an answer. Did they actualy say she must prove Habitual Residence? As for her not been able to prove her address, she can get a letter from who she was living with to say she was there. Also did she have any Irish accounts in her name from the money she was living on before applying for the SW. If so the address she had for that may be evidence to show where she was living.....She may be able to resume her previous habitual residence instead of starting a new one, but this would all depend on what her future intentions may be.

Tayla

Thanks for the replies.

As far as I know she hasn't gone to the community welfare officer yet.
They didn't say she had to prove it, she filled out the normal habitual residency forms and asked for a letter from the people she was living with but didn't ask for bills or bank statements etc.

Unfortunately she hasn't used a bank account since she was back, the money she received was from one of those care home settlements that were dealt with a few years ago and was split between her siblings and her sister had held on to her share and gave it to her as and when she requested it.

As she is living with friends she wouldn't even need the full amount on the dole and she is trying to find a job but as of yet has not found one.

I will tell her to keep calling in and hopefully she'll get something, the couple she's living with are pensioners so she does need some money to pay her own way but as I said she probably wouldn't need the full amount.