Should I claim?

redout

My situation:

Currently in full-time 3rd level - Mature student.

Been unemployed since end of 2009.

Have never claimed a state benefit.

Basically been living off my savings which have now all but vanished.

Went into Citizens information office but was told I cannot qualify for Back to education because I did not claim social welfare "for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*) immediately before you start the course."!

Basically I look at this as being penalised by the state for NOT claiming off the state for the 9 months prior to starting 3rd level in Sept 10.

The woman in citizens advice said I should have signed on when I stopped working but sorry, call it being to proud, stupidity or whatever you like but I did not sign-on because I genuinely didnt feel like I needed to.

I had my savings which have kept me going for the past 16 months.

Yes, I could have claimed but I chose not to as I wasnt in a position were I could not support myself.

Basically what I want to know is should I just go the local dole office and make a claim while ommiting the fact I am in third level as that will obviously disqualify me from claiming the dole.

I dont believe that they can actually tell whether I am in third level or not and they obviously have no reason to suspect that I am.

Basically I think that it is somewhat unreasonable that the state refuse to provide back to education because I did not claim social welfare for the 9 months before I started in 3rd level.

What do people think ?

Mongarra

I sympathise with you - now that's a fat lot of good! - and it makes one wonder about the logic (or lack thereof) behind these regulations. You should be rewarded for not claiming rather than be encouraged to claim and penalised when you don't.

However, that still does not justify telling a lie if you do decide to sign on. In any event you would not know how and if they could find out if you are at third-level so, regardless of the morality of it, it would be best not to lie.

dudara

Lying to them would be committing fraud.

You really should have signed on Day 1. It's not a handout from the state, it's the payout from all the PRSI and tax you paid over the years. It would also have meant that you'd still have some savings now.

mp22

We are not here to discuss fraud,attempting fraud ect.

Thread closed