Refused Jobseekers

gmannix1000

Hi All,

I was refused job seekers recently and I am really confused as I was on it last summer, am doing similar hours at work compared to last year and could really do with the help financially over the summer!

I work part time, maybe 12 - 18 hours per week and have been at college until this year (May). I am also looking for full time work, its just impossible to come by!!

They said in the letter that I earn too much, average €99/week over 13 weeks in which I worked 44 days altogether... which sounds ridiculous as I know people working upto 22 hours and claiming jobseekers on top of that and have no intention of getting a full time job!

Anybody know of anything I could do or any benefit I would be entitled to? Would appreciate any help! So frustrating.

mp22

Appeal the decision http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW56/Pages/WhathappensifIdisagreewithadecisionbytheDecidingOfficerintheDepartment.aspx

gmannix1000

Yeah, I definitely think that will have to be my next move!

sealgaire

I wish I knew that while I was in college I could have been claiming dole on my holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!! FML

gmannix1000

It really annoying because where I work, I see people claiming off the welfare and working cash-in-hand!! and I'm a genuine case and their refusing me!! So unfair.

RedXIV

sealgaire wrote: »

I wish I knew that while I was in college I could have been claiming dole on my holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!! FML

You are not allowed to claim while in full time education. so summers between college years are not times when students can claim the dole. so you didn't lose out at all

sealgaire

ah, must have misread OP in that case .

eastbono

RedXIV wrote: »

You are not allowed to claim while in full time education. so summers between college years are not times when students can claim the dole. so you didn't lose out at all

If you have an entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit you can claim between college years. You cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance between college years unless you were 23 on the 1st of January prior to commencing the course.

Lugh Ildanach

That doesn't make sense, there is no way that earning 99 Euro a week would disqualify you for a Jobseekers Allowance payment, not by itself anyway.

Could it be that you are working too many days? If you work just one hour in a day, then it is not counted as a day of unemployment. If you work more than 3 days out of the 6 (they don't take Sundays into the equation) then you are not eligible for a Jobseekers payment. You can therefore find yourself ineligible for a payment with as little as 4 hours work a week!!!!!

Hurricane-Dean

Do you live at home OP? They means test whoever earns at home and take into account the rent paid etc.

gmannix1000

Hurricane-Dean wrote: »

Do you live at home OP? They means test whoever earns at home and take into account the rent paid etc.

Yeah I live at home... I'm just going to appeal it, I'd say there just tryin to be awkward and slow to hand out money... I'd work 2-3 days per weeks so I'm well within limits to getting it.

Thanks for all yere help.

Hurricane-Dean

gmannix1000 wrote: »

Yeah I live at home... I'm just going to appeal it, I'd say there just tryin to be awkward and slow to hand out money... I'd work 2-3 days per weeks so I'm well within limits to getting it.

Thanks for all yere help.

I mean as in with your parents, if so are they working? Retired but on a pension? All that will be taken into account, if it's just you and you only work 2-3 days a week I don't see a problem in qualifying. Appealing is your best/only option I suppose.

Lugh Ildanach

First step is to ask for a copy of the means assessment calculation in writing, that should shed some light on the matter and should show clearly whether they made mistake or not.

gmannix1000

Lugh Ildanach wrote: »

First step is to ask for a copy of the means assessment calculation in writing, that should shed some light on the matter and should show clearly whether they made mistake or not.

Excellent idea! Thanks lads, ill get cracking on it