Mature student applying for jobseekers during summer?

Quibbler

Hi everyone,

I've been looking back through old threads and believe that I am correct in saying that mature students can receive job seekers allowance during the summer (once they satisfy the means test etc) even though they are will be back in college in September.

So firstly I was hoping that someone could clarify that this is still the case and wasn't changed during the budget ?

Secondly, I was wondering if anyone could advise me about my own situation. I was over 23 when my course started, but my course is actually a full time taught postgraduate course. Just wondering if I could still qualify for this as im not entirely sure I count as a mature student since its not an undergraduate?

Any info would be really appreciated!

:-)

Balagan

The legislation also provides that a person shall be disqualified from receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance while attending a course of study (including school/college holiday periods), except in such circumstances as may be prescribed. The exceptions to this disqualifications are :

persons aged 21 years or over who have been in receipt of JA/ JB for at least 6 months and who are participating in approved courses of education, training or development (as per above), and
mature students, i.e. persons over 23 years of age on or before 1st January in the year in which the course of study commences.
Deciding Officers should note that disqualification while attending a course of study is completely separate from the availability condition. As mature students are exempted from this disqualification, they may be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance during the summer holiday periods if they satisfy the availability condition in the normal way.
http://www.welfare.ie/en/operationalguidelines/pages/ja_jobseekall.aspx

As long as you were over 23 on or before the 1 Jan of the year in which you commenced your study, you can apply for JA during the summer whether it is undergraduate or postgraduate study.

Quibbler

Thanks for your reply, that's great news!

So, just wondering can anyone advise me on what I need to bring to my local SW office when I finish for the summer? I'm assuming a letter from my college stating that I'm on holidays with dates?

What else will be required to open my claim? I was claiming jobseekers part time up until September 2011 so will I still need to bring in all the usual documents like bank statements etc. ?

Quibbler

Quibbler wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, that's great news!

So, just wondering can anyone advise me on what I need to bring to my local SW office when I finish for the summer? I'm assuming a letter from my college stating that I'm on holidays with dates?

What else will be required to open my claim? I was claiming jobseekers part time up until September 2011 so will I still need to bring in all the usual documents like bank statements etc. ?

Bump! :-)

eastbono

Quibbler wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, that's great news!

So, just wondering can anyone advise me on what I need to bring to my local SW office when I finish for the summer? I'm assuming a letter from my college stating that I'm on holidays with dates?

What else will be required to open my claim? I was claiming jobseekers part time up until September 2011 so will I still need to bring in all the usual documents like bank statements etc. ?

Will you be claiming at the same office that you claimed at before if yes then you wont need id or proof of address...download UP6 form and have it filled out before you go to office http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/jajbapplications.aspx. Was it benefit or allowance you were claiming in 2011. Depending on your contributions in 2010 which is the qualifying year for claim in 2012 you may be entitled to benefit otherwise if it was benefit in 2011 and you dont have an entitlement to benefit on this repeat claim you will be means tested and if you are <25 years and living at home your parents income will be assessed as means.

Quibbler

Thanks so much for that!

I will be applying to the same office, and it will be allowance not benefit!

I am under 25, however I was claiming jsa up until the start of last September and was getting the full rate since I had been assessed before the reduction had kicked in!

Am I right in thinking I'll go back to the full rate since its less than a year?

eastbono

Quibbler wrote: »

Thanks so much for that!

I will be applying to the same office, and it will be allowance not benefit!

I am under 25, however I was claiming jsa up until the start of last September and was getting the full rate since I had been assessed before the reduction had kicked in!

Am I right in thinking I'll go back to the full rate since its less than a year?

I dont know. I have looked at welfare.ie and have a look yourself from the link below. It appears if you were working and came back into the system withing 12 months you would retain the full payment.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/JobseekerSupports/JobseekersAllowance/Pages/ja.aspx#Rates3

Were you previously assessed on your parents earnings or did you come straight from benefit to allowance.

Quibbler

eastbono wrote: »

Quibbler wrote: »

Thanks so much for that!

I will be applying to the same office, and it will be allowance not benefit!

I am under 25, however I was claiming jsa up until the start of last September and was getting the full rate since I had been assessed before the reduction had kicked in!

Am I right in thinking I'll go back to the full rate since its less than a year?

I dont think so as this will be a new claim. I am presuming originally that you came straight from benefit to allowance and therefore you maintained the full rate. If this is the case afaik you will now be assessed on your parents earnings for this new claim.

Thanks again! No wasn't on benefit before, it was always allowance! I thought that since I was back within a year that it would stay the same, but obviously I could be wrong, thanks.

eastbono

Quibbler wrote: »

Thanks again! No wasn't on benefit before, it was always allowance! I thought that since I was back within a year that it would stay the same, but obviously I could be wrong, thanks.

I have edited my post prior to you replying. See my edited post

smilerxxx

Bump

HI guys hope someone can help, I'm 29 and a mature student who just finished for the summer, I have a part time 10 hr contract and I asked for more hours but can't get them. I've looked everywhere for work, have been looking since march, I've been renting a room since 2010 and my grant pays that but now I'm in trouble I always thought I couldn't apply for any social welfare but now I'm confused, I've never even been in a social welfare office I have no idea how to claim, what to do. Would my 10 hour contract disqualify me? Any advice on how to start?

wmpdd3

Are you claiming btea?

smilerxxx

Hi ya, no I've never had anything I went straight from a full time job back to college, I called into social welfare today and got some info so thanks for replying