social welfare question

tribesman44

sorry, i know this is the wrong area to post this. so feel free to re-direct. anyways, was wondering if someone can help me out. i applied for social welfare for the first time in my life last week. i got a notice saying to report to my local office to "sign on for payment." went today, signed a paper and dated it but nobody told me what to do/expect next. it was very busy and i didn't want to hold the line up with questions. so can anyone tell me what this means? does it mean i am going to definitely receive a payment? totally lost here. thanks

Mars Bar

I signed on last week too. Got my SW card today.

I was given a date to come back and sign on and the woman said, even if I wasn't getting paid yet, I should show up and sign on anyway.

When you start getting paid, you pick it up in the PO.

Im not sure how you know when you can start collecting the money tbh. Your post is raising more questions for me than I can give you answers! :P

tribesman44

mars bar wrote: »

I signed on last week too. Got my SW card today.

I was given a date to come back and sign on and the woman said, even if I wasn't getting paid yet, I should show up and sign on anyway.

When you start getting paid, you pick it up in the PO.

Im not sure how you know when you can start collecting the money tbh. Your post is raising more questions for me than I can give you answers! :P

thanks for the info man. i appreciate it. so mad at myself for not asking what the deal was. it was like a cattle market in there. i got an attitude because i didn't know what to do when they threw the paper at me to sign and date, lol. im sure its a high stress job and all, but ****s sake. i never collected before!

punk77

As far as I know you have to await a visit from a welfare officer and your means will be assessed.If your claim is approved you will receive notice of this in the post.It can take a few weeks.Check it out online as I'm sure there must be more info there.

Mars Bar

punk77 wrote: »

As far as I know you have to await a visit from a welfare officer and your means will be assessed.If your claim is approved you will receive notice of this in the post.It can take a few weeks.Check it out online as I'm sure there must be more info there.

You've jogged my memory now. I remember the lady saying something about being means tested and that craic.

Sorry to hear your experience wasn't very nice tribesman.
I was lucky enough that when I went in first, I knew the guy at the counter as he used to train me in football when I was a wee girl. I told him I haven't a clue what I'm doing so he explained it all to me. It's a daunting experience when it's your first time in there isn't it?

tribesman44

mars bar wrote: »

You've jogged my memory now. I remember the lady saying something about being means tested and that craic.

Sorry to hear your experience wasn't very nice tribesman.
I was lucky enough that when I went in first, I knew the guy at the counter as he used to train me in football when I was a wee girl. I told him I haven't a clue what I'm doing so he explained it all to me. It's a daunting experience when it's your first time in there isn't it?

i do remember something about being means tested, but i filled out another document stating where my wife worked, her wages, etc... so no clue about that. i just figured im getting something since my notice said "report to sign on for payment." you never know though.

haha, thanks. its just confusing when its your first time and people look to be annoyed that your even there. hopefully it all works out though.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

You'll know when you're getting payment for the first time because a letter will issue to you at your given address telling you what day to pick it up, then just head down to the PO with your social services card and some photo ID and you can lift your money.:D

tribesman44

deccurley wrote: »

You'll know when you're getting payment for the first time because a letter will issue to you at your given address telling you what day to pick it up, then just head down to the PO with your social services card and some photo ID and you can lift your money.:D

werd

eastbono

It depends on the SW office. Some will get you to sign while your claim is pending i.e that is before it is awarded. You will get a letter in the post either to visit an Inspector or if there is no need for this when your money will be in the post office if you qualify. In the meantime you can go to your Community Welfare Officer and apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

biko

Galway -> Benefits

tribesman44

thanks for the info. still nothing in the post. possibly due to bank holiday. should be getting something this week though (hopefully tomorrow). in bad shape. both our cars are broke. 1 is shot completely and other is in need of a gearbox. when it rains, it pours!

BarryM

Have you looked here - http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/

tribesman44

BarryM wrote: »

Have you looked here - http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/

i have tried a lot of places and talked to a lot of people. seem to get a different story each time. the info is out there, but getting it is hard. they really make you work for this, i guess in the hopes that most people just give up, lol

Balagan

tribesman44 wrote: »

i have tried a lot of places and talked to a lot of people. seem to get a different story each time. the info is out there, but getting it is hard. they really make you work for this, i guess in the hopes that most people just give up, lol

Having started the process with the SW office and set the ball rolling there you now need, as eastbono mentioned a few posts ago, to go to the Community Welfare Officer at your local HSE Health Office http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/LHO/ and apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/supplementary_welfare_allow.html to tide you over till your SW claim is processed. Any payment you get will be deducted from your backdated SW payments. This is normal procedure for those waiting for SW payments.

tribesman44

thanks for that. again, cracks me up i was never told about any of this. its like every man for himself with this stuff