JSA and part-time work: Have I been short-changed?

whirlpool

For four weeks, I worked for 2.5 hours every Monday.

I was paid €40 each week for that.

Using the calculations on the JSA and Work page, I calculated the following:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/work_and_jobseekers_allowance.html

Assessable weekly earnings: €40.

Deduct €20 per day for each day you have worked. So, one day per week: €40 - €20 = €20

Get 60% of that balance: €12

My Weekly means from work: €12




My maximum JSA: €188

€12 is less than €188, therefore I am entitled to received JSA.

Daily earnings:

€40 / 1 day = €40

Daily means from work:

€40 - €20

60% of €20 = €12

Daily means = €12

Weekly means:

€12 * 1 = €12

My JSA weekly amount should therefore be:

€188 - €12 = €176




So I should receive €176 for four weeks instead of €188

However, I have been receiving only €156 for the past four weeks.

Can anyone help me figure this out?

Thanks!

cee_jay

€156.67 is the weekly payment for someone on Jobseeker's Benefit for 5 days - are you sure you are in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance?

whirlpool

cee_jay wrote: »

€156.67 is the weekly payment for someone on Jobseeker's Benefit for 5 days - are you sure you are in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance?

Yeah, Job Seekers Allowance most definitely. The payment was roughly €155.75 or something like that.

Atlantis50

If you were paid 156.70, then you didn't get paid for Mondays by welfare because you worked Mondays.

JSA based on 6 day week - 188/6 = 31.30/day

31.30 x 5 days = 156.70.

whirlpool

Atlantis50 wrote: »

If you were paid 156.70, then you didn't get paid for Mondays by welfare because you worked Mondays.

JSA based on 6 day week - 188/6 = 31.30/day

31.30 x 5 days = 156.70.

Yeah it was €156.70.

So they made a mistake? That's not how their website states JSA + part-time work is calculated.

I only worked two/two and a half hours.

Atlantis50

whirlpool wrote: »

Yeah it was €156.70.

So they made a mistake? That's not how their website states JSA + part-time work is calculated.

I only worked two/two and a half hours.

Looks like that. Best go into the office and sort it out.

whirlpool

Atlantis50 wrote: »

Looks like that. Best go into the office and sort it out.

Thank you for your help!

cee_jay

Atlantis50 wrote: »

If you were paid 156.70, then you didn't get paid for Mondays by welfare because you worked Mondays.

JSA based on 6 day week - 188/6 = 31.30/day

31.30 x 5 days = 156.70.

This is how Jobseeker's benefit is calculated. Jobseeker's Allowance is calculated differently, and is based on earnings.
OP, you would have received a means decision when you first started working stating what your means are from work. What does this say?

You really should contact your local office, and bring a payslip, and enquire how your payment was calculated.