Budget 2012

Plazaman

I see the new factsheet is up on the Welfare Website with all Dept changes.

Some deep cuts but some are understandable, some are less palayable

* No more 1/2 rate Benefits with Pensions (Mainly Widows & Carers affected)

* Fuel Allowance reduced by 6 weeks

* Backdating allowed to 6 months only (was 12 months and proportional up to 5 years)

* JSA/JSB based on a 5 day week not 6 so that will affect Casual Workers

* No Social Welfare Payment if on a CE Scheme

* New rates bands for Pensions

* No grant payments for twins, triples etc

Howlin still got a big laugh when he said the reduced the payments to special advisers. They could do more,

tatabubbly

There's no point even working part time.

It seems your always punished for working.

danois

* Backdating allowed to 6 months only (was 12 months and proportional up to 5 years)

were did you see this?

MidnightQueen

No change in Motor tax rates?

donalg1

KittyKat wrote: »

No change in Motor tax rates?

That's in tomorrow's budget with the rest of the increases in vat etc

mp22

KittyKat wrote: »

No change in Motor tax rates?

Thats tomorrow and really not a state benefits topic.

Balagan

danois wrote: »

* Backdating allowed to 6 months only (was 12 months and proportional up to 5 years)
were did you see this?

From the link the OP gave http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Topics/Budget/Bud12/Documents/budfact12.pdf

Currently, late claims for certain
contributory pensions can be
backdated on a reducing scale
for up to 5 years. This
backdating period will be
reduced to a maximum of 6
months. This applies to State
Pension (Contributory &
Transition), Surviving Civil
Partner’s Contributory Pension
and Widow(er)’s Contributory
Pension. (April 2012)

donalg1

There is also the part about the increased contribution to be made towards rent and the review of rent supplement.

Lugh Ildanach

Lone parents really hit hard.

- Cut in the disregard from 146.50 to 130
- For those also on CE payment, will lose 29.80 per child (will be marginally offset by their OPFP, although still down more than 20 Euro per child
- Can no longer avail of CE and retain their lone parent book
- Can no longer qualify for half rate Jobseekers Benefit
- Phased reduction in payment so can only qualify until youngest child turns 7 (down from what was 18 only last year)
- If have more than 2 children, also hit by child benefit cuts

Lugh Ildanach

tatabubbly wrote: »

There's no point even working part time.

It seems your always punished for working.

That's not exactly true, it will still pay to work in the VAST majority of cases, but they have removed some of the supports which make it easier/more attractive to take up part-time employment.

craftypaddy

just read the fact sheet, it says the jobseekers benefit will be based on a five day week from july, but does that cover jobseekers allowance also, it does not seem clear.
i saw the part about the alowance now including sundays in 2013, which is a pain as i work only on a sunday ?
if someone could clear up the first part i would appreciate it

Lugh Ildanach

craftypaddy wrote: »

just read the fact sheet, it says the jobseekers benefit will be based on a five day week from july, but does that cover jobseekers allowance also, it does not seem clear.
i saw the part about the alowance now including sundays in 2013, which is a pain as i work only on a sunday ?
if someone could clear up the first part i would appreciate it

Its not relevant to Jobseekers Allowance. The Allowance is means tested so you get reduced according to how much you earn, not how many days you work.

craftypaddy

but i hand in yellow dockets each week stating what day i work each week, even though its the same day, they said its in case i do extra days, it was the same when i was on the benefit and then they moved me to the allowance, i lose twenty something per day i work ?
even more confused now

snubbleste

Tenants now must contribute minimum of €30 (couples €35) towards rent supplement. This is up from the current €24.

aindriu80

can someone help me out ? they said that are no cuts in the basic social welfare rates but job seekers allowance is being cut from 6 to 5 days. Its €188 at the moment, would this now go to €156 ? Thats pretty harsh without anyone outlining it.

craftypaddy

its jobseekers benefit only dropping from six to five
allowance stays the same, i already asked this question
and Lugh Ildanach kindly cleared it up for me

jennairl

So basically Ive been put on 3 days a week since last month so now I can only claim 2 days :-( ill be down about 30 a week!! Hardly seems fair punishing the part time workers!! I may aswell be unemployed after i pay petrol and lunch!!

karlcurran

in the same boat hand in the yellow slips every week workin three days barely scraping by now were fooked....

aindriu80

I'm not working at all.. will i receive the same amount per week in the new year as I am now ? its a bit confusing

Balagan

aindriu80 wrote: »

I'm not working at all.. will i receive the same amount per week in the new year as I am now ? its a bit confusing

If you are on Jobseekers Allowance, your rate will be unchanged. If you are on Jobseekers Benefit it will also be unchanged - but you know that when it ends and you apply for Jobseekers Allowance you will then be means tested.

horse7

re;household tax 100euro, says
The following households will have the charge waived :
1. Those in receipt of mortgage interest supplement (i.e on very low incomes). what about someone on a very low income who doesnt have a morgage. it doesnt specify above/below such an income.

Balagan

horse7 wrote: »

re;household tax 100euro, says
The following households will have the charge waived :
1. Those in receipt of mortgage interest supplement (i.e on very low incomes). what about someone on a very low income who doesnt have a morgage. it doesnt specify above/below such an income.

It seems that there will not be an exemption based on income but those living in social housing and those living in unfinished 'ghost' estates will also be exempt. The charge can be paid in installments.

danois

One Parent Family Payment
􀂃 Entitlement will be restricted to cases where the youngest child is
7 years of age over the period to 2014


Does anyone know if that is only for new applicants? or is it for everyone??

CarMe

Can anyone tell me how I'll be affected, I'm a full time worker with a 6 month old baby. I don't receive any benefits but my partner is on jobseekers allowance. Will I personally (not my partner) be affected does anyone know? Thanks

cee_jay

The change to Jobseeker's Benefit payment entitlement being based on a 5 day week rather than a 6 day week is not coming into effect immediately - from the Budget factsheet it will be July 2012.

aindriu80

Balagan wrote: »

If you are on Jobseekers Allowance, your rate will be unchanged. If you are on Jobseekers Benefit it will also be unchanged - but you know that when it ends and you apply for Jobseekers Allowance you will then be means tested.

That clears things up a bit. I'm on jobseekers allowance now for a few years, I'm 31 web developer but haven't worked since the downturn. Hopefully I will still receive €188/week.

madser

The changes to Disability Allowance are a disgrace, someone who is curently receiving 188 euro is being cut to 100 euro nearly halved, why is there no discussion about this

Demonique

madser wrote: »

The changes to Disability Allowance are a disgrace, someone who is curently receiving 188 euro is being cut to 100 euro nearly halved, why is there no discussion about this

Pretty sure it's being cute for new applicants only

madser

Demonique wrote: »

Pretty sure it's being cute for new applicants only

I don't know about that, its still really bad

flower tattoo

danois wrote: »

One Parent Family Payment
ô€‚႒ [SIZE="4"][SIZE="2"]Entitlement will be restricted to cases where the youngest child is
7 years of age over the period to 2014[/SIZE][/SIZE]


Does anyone know if that is only for new applicants? or is it for everyone??

 The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012.

YumDeiseMum

So basically they havent cut the rates, but they've moved the goalposts to make sure no-one will be entitled :mad:

cee_jay

madser wrote: »

I don't know about that, its still really bad

It is for new applicants only, in line with the Jobseeker's Allowance rates.
From the factsheet quoted above:
For new claimants aged 18 to 24, the rates of payment for Disability Allowance will be aligned with Jobseeker's Allowance rates for that age group i.e. €100 per week for people aged 18 to21 and €144 per week for people aged 22 to 24. (April 2012)

champie

I really don't get this budget I have a 12 yr child and I'm on a CE scheme and receiving reduced lone parents how is this going to affect me Sorry to sound selfish but I just don't get it

cee_jay

champie wrote: »

I really don't get this budget I have a 12 yr child and I'm on a CE scheme and receiving reduced lone parents how is this going to affect me Sorry to sound selfish but I just don't get it

Payment of two qualified child increases where the person is on a Community Employment Scheme and One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife's Allowance/Benefit or Widow(er)'s Pension will be discontinued for new and existing recipients. (January 2012)
So sounds like you will lose your child increase on one of those payments - it doesn't specify which.

The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012. This is for new claimants however, they did not announce what will happen (if anything) to existing OPF claimants. The current phasing in of the age limit is as follows:

2011 and 2012 The age limit will remain 18
2013 The age limit will be 17
2014 The age limit will be 16
2015 The age limit will be 15
2016 The age limit will be 14

YumDeiseMum

cee_jay wrote: »

The current phasing in of the age limit is as follows:

2011 and 2012 The age limit will remain 18
2013 The age limit will be 17
2014 The age limit will be 16
2015 The age limit will be 15
2016 The age limit will be 14

It will be interesting how they are going to work this one for existing claims seeing as it now looks like this for new claims
2012 The age limit will be 12
2013 The age limit will be ??
2014 The age limit will be 7

fflynn12

Hi,sorry if this is a silly question but here goes im on a CE scheme since september this year and i also get a disability allowance so will there be any change for in january?(no children btw). Thanks for the help

paddydu

if you are on a disability allowance and you start a ce scheme do you lose your disabiliyu allowance

cee_jay

paddydu wrote: »

if you are on a disability allowance and you start a ce scheme do you lose your disabiliyu allowance

New participants on Community Employment schemes will not be able to claim another social welfare payment at the same time but they will receive the standard additional €20 per week paid to all other participants. (January 2012)

paddydu

thankyou for your reply. I have been offered a ce scheme as a cleaner and i am on DA, so it wouldn't be worth me doing it then would it? oh what if i started the scheme before 1st of Jan would i possibly still be able to keep the DA at a reduced rate as it used to be before this budget

paddydu

you see cee jay last year i did a ce scheme for 12 months up till feb this year and i got the 208e and my disability allowance was cut to 151e p/w and it was a good scheme doing art, acting,writing and courses. the one i have now been offered is cleaning so there is no learni ng and no job at the end of it. I only wanted it for the extra money to help me with my 2 kids maintenance and night school in feb 2012 (pre nursing studies). If I was only to get an extra 20e p/w for cleaning toilets I will have to say no

culsoh

Can anyone help me figure this out?

Earlier this year I was put on a 3 day week (wed - Fri) and I am claiming JSB for the other two days as the social welfare classed me as a systamatic casual worker (working 5 days instead of 6) as I always worked Monday - Friday. I get a cheque from the S.W every week for 75euro and 210 from my employers. How will I work out with the new changes to part time work? Will I lose the 75 euro as I am working 3 days out of 5 instead of 2?

paddydu

Hello all, does anybody know what happens now if i were to start a CE scheme and how it would affect my disability payment. when i was on a scheme earlier this year i got paid the 208euros and i also got my disability allowance but it was reduced to 144euros, so all in all i came out with 352euros. I am asking because i phoned social welfare and they could not give me an answer as they said they haven't been briefed yet. you see i have been offered a place as a cleaner and i thought great it would help me support my kids and help me pay for a night course i want to do but if this is not the case with payments after the budget then it would not be worth me doing the scheme,especially as a cleaner.So could some one help clear this up for me before i make a mistake. Thanks Paddy

paddydu

if you are already doing a ce scheme then there will be no changes to the amount of money you receive until your 12 month contract is up

Atlantis50

cee_jay wrote: »

Payment of two qualified child increases where the person is on a Community Employment Scheme and One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife's Allowance/Benefit or Widow(er)'s Pension will be discontinued for new and existing recipients. (January 2012)
So sounds like you will lose your child increase on one of those payments - it doesn't specify which.

The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012. This is for new claimants however, they did not announce what will happen (if anything) to existing OPF claimants. The current phasing in of the age limit is as follows:

2011 and 2012 The age limit will remain 18
2013 The age limit will be 17
2014 The age limit will be 16
2015 The age limit will be 15
2016 The age limit will be 14

From the Irish Examiner: http://budget.irishexaminer.com/analysis/one-parent-and-large-families-the-biggest-losers-176237.html

Major changes to the one-parent family payment are being introduced so that, in 2012, a new claimant’s youngest child must not be older than 12 years old. That limit is to be further reduced to 10 years old in 2013 and just 7 years old in 2014.

The age limit was already reduced from 18 to 14 for new claimants earlier this year. Existing claimants are subject to the 14-years-old age limit only on a phased basis between 2012 and 2016.

This indicates that the current phasing in (that you have shown above) remains in place for existing customers.

paddydu

no what i want to know is will i still get my disability allowance payment although at a reduced rate (144euros) if i were to start a CE scheme now. because normally when u r on disability allowance u can do a ce scheme and get the 208 ce scheme payment and keep your disability allowance at a reduced rate. i need to know if this still applies after the budget or do you lose out and only get the ce scheme payment of 208euros. I have been offered a place and need to know b4 i take it. please help im stuck!!!??

Atlantis50

paddydu wrote: »

no what i want to know is will i still get my disability allowance payment although at a reduced rate (144euros) if i were to start a CE scheme now. because normally when u r on disability allowance u can do a ce scheme and get the 208 ce scheme payment and keep your disability allowance at a reduced rate. i need to know if this still applies after the budget or do you lose out and only get the ce scheme payment of 208euros. I have been offered a place and need to know b4 i take it. please help im stuck!!!??

New participants on Community Employment schemes will not be able to claim another social welfare payment at the same time but they will receive the standard additional €20 per week paid to all other participants. (January 2012) http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Topics/Budget/Bud12/Documents/budfact12.pdf
On page 2.

My interpretation is that if you accept and are approved for the CE scheme before January 1st 2012, the old system applies ("New Participants" refer to those apply for/accept CE schemes after 1st January 2012). You would be better off double-checking that with welfare or citizens information though.

paddydu

thanks Atlantis50. I have phoned social welfare disability section and they dont seem to know anything yet

Kerryspirit

Hi thats all confusing ;-)
I am on a ce scheme another year and have still the "double payment".
CE wage plus reduced Lone parent - is that scrapped now or is that still applying till my contract is finished as I am on it for 2 yrs already?
And my child is 6...
thanks guys

Atlantis50

Kerryspirit wrote: »

Hi thats all confusing ;-)
I am on a ce scheme another year and have still the "double payment".
CE wage plus reduced Lone parent - is that scrapped now or is that still applying till my contract is finished as I am on it for 2 yrs already?
And my child is 6...
thanks guys

The new rules only apply to "New Participants" - see the post at the top. You should continue to get what you are currently getting until your contract finishes.

Lugh Ildanach

champie wrote: »

I really don't get this budget I have a 12 yr child and I'm on a CE scheme and receiving reduced lone parents how is this going to affect me Sorry to sound selfish but I just don't get it

You'll lose 29.80 off CE payment, you'll get about 7 euro added on to your lone parent book (because you're now earning less from your CE). You'll be 22.30 a week worse off from January.

You'll likely keep your entitlement to OPFP, as the reduced age will be phased in, although the details of that have not yet been confirmed. I doubt you will lose your OPFP entitlement until at the earliest 2013 although this has not been confirmed, so you will have to wait and see.

In the meantime you'll keep your double payment (CE and OPFP) in your current position. CE positions are reviewed each year when it is decided whether you can have another year. The indication from the Department is that if you get an extension in 2012, then you can continue to get a double payment for the period of that further year, but after that, you will have to chose between staying on OPFP or CE.

LegacyUser

will lone parents still receive the double payment for doing fas courses or is it going to stop like the CE schemes??