Self Employed/Benefit

Awwwwfook

My oh is self employed. Last year he was signing on for credits. He did 3 weeks work in 2011 and informed SW of this when he had to fill out his credit slip in November.

He got a call in late Janurary to say that he couldn't sign on for credits anymore cause he was working last year and that he should apply for JA.

He had a meeting Last week with a SW officer who told him he couldn't get JA as he was self employed but he maybe entitled to a 'income top up' based on my wages/FIS (€491 a week). Has anyone heard of this. She said he will have to sign on still but if a job comes up he can do it and it will be taken into account when he is reassessed.

Also what happens when I go on Mat leave (not topped up) will I just claim for him or will he get more money?

Lugh Ildanach

Doesn't sound right that he couldn't get credits because he should be applying for Jobseekers Allowance. You only get credits if you would otherwise be eligible for a payment, but your income is so high that you don't pass the means test.

If he is self employed and deemed not to be looking for or available for full-time work, then he won't be eligible for a Jobseekers payment OR credits.

If he is only involved in the self employment on a part-time basis, then he may qualify for a Jobseekers payment, but that will be means tested and any income that your husband earns will be deducted from your claim.

If you are working more than 19 hours a week and have at least one child, and if your total family income is only 419 Euro a week, then you should be entitled to a FIS payment. You can claim FIS as well as Maternity Benefit. For the FIS income limits see here - http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

Depending on when you are due to go on Maternity Leave it may be better to wait until you're on it before applying for FIS. (If this is your first child, then you'll have to wait until child is born to apply for FIS anyway). If you apply for FIS now, it will be based on your earnings from employment, and won't be reassessed for another 12 months, even if your income drops when you go on Mat leave.

However, if you go on Mat Leave you can apply for FIS then, it will be paid for the duration of your Mat leave (in reality it is backdated as applications take 6 months to process, so don't be counting on getting the money anytime soon!). Your FIS will finish once your Mat leave is finished, and if you are still below the limits when you go back to work, apply for FIS again for the next 12 months.

For Maternity Benefit, depending on your husband's income, you may be able to claim for him. If he is earning less than 100 Euro a week, you'll get a full increase for him, if its between 100-310 then the increase will be reduced, and if its more than 310 you'll get nothing for him. The amount you get for yourself depends on your wages in 2010, and is a minimum of 217 Euro plus increases that you may get for your partner/children.

Awwwwfook

he went to apply for JA in late 2010 but they told him that he couldn't get it cause my wages were too high but they told him to sign on for credits instead.

The only work he did since then was the 3 weeks last year (jobs for family), in which he earned €1000. He hasn't worked since. I claim for FIS based on my wages and get €38. My net pay is €453. I will inform them of new arrival when she comes.

He still prices jobs(carpenter) and applies for jobs in factories/maintenance so he is actively seeking work, just not getting anything unfortunately. I have down on my Mat leave form that I wish to claim for him. The only issue there is if say I claim for him and in the 26 weeks I get Mat Benefit for do i tell them if he gets work for say 3 weeks out of those 26.

Lugh Ildanach

What's your gross pay? They use gross pay minus PRSI, union dues and pension payments. You'd have to be earning nearly 600 Euro a week before he would lose all entitlement to a Jobseekers payment, and more if you have any other children.

Do you have any children already? If you let us know and also what your gross wage is minus PRSI, union dues and pension payments, someone will be able to let you known what's your best option.

Awwwwfook

€538.46 Gross
€44.23 Tax
€16.46 Prsi
€17.68 USC
€460.09 Take home

We have 1 child and No. 2 due in May. I get FIS of €38 per week and have a Med Card.

Can I just say thank you so much for your replies, you are always so helpful.... you should get paid for your advice

Lugh Ildanach

kuggles wrote: »

The only issue there is if say I claim for him and in the 26 weeks I get Mat Benefit for do i tell them if he gets work for say 3 weeks out of those 26.

They will work out an average over a representative period, usually 12 months, but it can be lower eg. 3/6 months. If he averages less than 100 Euro a week, you'll get a full increase for him on your Maternity Benefit.

Lugh Ildanach

kuggles wrote: »

€538.46 Gross
€44.23 Tax
€16.46 Prsi
€17.68 USC
€460.09 Take home

We have 1 child and No. 2 due in May. I get FIS of €38 per week and have a Med Card.

Can I just say thank you so much for your replies, you are always so helpful.... you should get paid for your advice

On those figures you have a total income of 522 for the purposes of Jobseekers payment (they don't deduct income tax or usc).

They disregard the first 60 Euro, and take 60% of the balance of this as your means. This is then divided in two because you're in receipt of FIS. There would be a deduction from his Jobseekers of 138.60 because of your means.

His max rate of payment is 188 for himself and half rate for child no.1 (he can't claim for you because you're on FIS, and only gets half rate for the child because of this). Therefore he starts at 188+14.90=202.90

Deduct 138.60 from this, and he should be entitled to a Jobseekers payment of 64.30 at the minute, minus anything that they are assessing off him for his own income (although if he isn't earning anything at the minute, he shouldn't have any further deductions).

If/when you renew your FIS, this extra income from a Jobseekers payment will affect that payment, so you may lose all or some of your FIS.

Awwwwfook

Do you know I worked out those figures last year and sent him into the dole office and the girl behind the counter told him, that they were wrong and he wouldn't get anything so not to bother!!

The SW officer told him the other day that looking at my wages & FIS that he should have been entitled to something all along too. Anyways fingers crossed. Thanks again

Lugh Ildanach

Same sums for when you have 2 children (assuming same income)

188+14.90*2=217.80
217.80-138.60=79.82 Jobseekers payment for your husband

FIS payment for 2 child family based on current income (they will use this calcuation until your next review date)
602-460=142 *60% = 85.20 FIS payment for you

FIS payment for 2 child family based on current income plus receipt of Jobseekers (they will use this calculation when you next renew)
602-460-79.82= 62.18 * 60% = 37.30 FIS payment for you

EDIT: Sorry, sums were wrong, i've amended them now!!

Lugh Ildanach

kuggles wrote: »

Do you know I worked out those figures last year and sent him into the dole office and the girl behind the counter told him, that they were wrong and he wouldn't get anything so not to bother!!

The SW officer told him the other day that looking at my wages & FIS that he should have been entitled to something all along too. Anyways fingers crossed. Thanks again

You should ask for written confirmation of how they have calculated the amounts. Once you receive this, and if it appears wrong, submit a request in writing for a review.

Awwwwfook

Lugh Ildanach wrote: »

You should ask for written confirmation of how they have calculated the amounts. Once you receive this, and if it appears wrong, submit a request in writing for a review.

We should have went further about it, she only works behind the counter and helps people fill in claim forms but he just took it for granted that she was right.

I will know in future to get everything in writing.