Using last 4 years PRSI payments for JB

Countryripple

Hi all,

I was recently let go form my full time job which i had been in since Nov 2009. Until June 2009 I had been in college, but from June 07 - August 08 I was in full time employment as i took a year out. The previous year I worked through the summer, and the year before that again I took a year out and worked.

I am co-habiting with my fiance now and he earns minimum wage.I delcared this and gave evidence of his earnings when i met with the person who took my application a few weeks ago.

This morning i got a letter stating that I shall be receiving JA to the amount of E91.80 per week. Which dies not even cover my rent let alone buy a potato.

I am absolutley flabergasted at this. I had even been told by my FAS employment officer last week that the welfare office adds your PRSI payments from the previous four years when takin into account your application.

This they obviously have not done. I am currently trying to contact my office to find out what they have based this award on, but they never seem to answer to phone!!!

But if anyone here could shed some light on it i would be very grateful

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Kind regards
Countryripple

Lugh Ildanach

Countryripple wrote: »

Hi all,

I was recently let go form my full time job which i had been in since Nov 2009. Until June 2009 I had been in college, but from June 07 - August 08 I was in full time employment as i took a year out. The previous year I worked through the summer, and the year before that again I took a year out and worked.

I am co-habiting with my fiance now and he earns minimum wage.I delcared this and gave evidence of his earnings when i met with the person who took my application a few weeks ago.

This morning i got a letter stating that I shall be receiving JA to the amount of E91.80 per week. Which dies not even cover my rent let alone buy a potato.

I am absolutley flabergasted at this. I had even been told by my FAS employment officer last week that the welfare office adds your PRSI payments from the previous four years when takin into account your application.

This they obviously have not done. I am currently trying to contact my office to find out what they have based this award on, but they never seem to answer to phone!!!

But if anyone here could shed some light on it i would be very grateful

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Kind regards
Countryripple

What were you doing between in 2009 prior to November? Were you getting paid or creditted PRSI contributions?

You either need to have 39 total credits (paid or creditted) in 2009 together with 13 paid in one of the past 4 years (you clearly have the 13 paid in at least one of these years) or 26 paid in 2009 and 26 paid in 2010 to get Jobseekers Benefit.

It sounds like your 2009 record is where the problem is.

As for your fiancee? What is his total income after PRSI, superannuation and union dues are deducted? How many hours does he work? Do you have any kids? If you can answer those questions, someone should be able to explain what means assessment should have happened.

Lugh Ildanach

Also, make sure that when you are calculating your average earnings in the relevant year, that you divide the total earnings by the number of insurable weeks, and not the total weeks in the year. If your paid PRSI stamps were from a decent job, and the rest of your 2009 record is credits, your average will be from the decent salary and you'll have nothing to worry about.

Again, if you let us know precisely what you were doing throughout the whole of 2009, someone can give you the information you need.