About to lose my job

Makkapakka01

Hi - I am hoping someone can help me as I am clueless in these matters... I am fairly sure I'll be losing my job in the next couple of months and want to find out what I will be entitled to in that case.
I worked 5 days a week up to 5 yrs ago & when I had my son I voluntarily went to 3 days a week - I didn't claim for the other 2 days as it was my choice obviously. I am in the private sector and I've been working for 15 yrs. My husband works full time (private sector). He has my tax allowances on his salary.
Bear with me, I have a few questions:
- would I be entitled to job seekers benefit or job seekers allowance and what would that amount to?
- are there awful waiting times to be get it processed? (I am in Dublin) and would it be backdated?
- We do have some savings. Not much but a small rainy day fund. Would I be expected to use up my savings before I receive any money?
- Is there anything I else I might be entitled to? I am thinking along the lines of a GP visit card...
Thanks so much to anyone who might help. Am slowly trying to get my head around the whole thing.

Ronan H

Makkapakka01 wrote: »

Bear with me, I have a few questions:
1 would I be entitled to job seekers benefit or job seekers allowance and what would that amount to?
2 are there awful waiting times to be get it processed? (I am in Dublin) and would it be backdated?
3 We do have some savings. Not much but a small rainy day fund. Would I be expected to use up my savings before I receive any money?
4 Is there anything I else I might be entitled to? I am thinking along the lines of a GP visit card...
Thanks so much to anyone who might help. Am slowly trying to get my head around the whole thing.

*** numbers added above by me ***

From my experience recently:

1. You should be entitled to JS Benefit (as opposed to JS Allowance). As to the amount, it's hard to say, you'll just have to go in, give them your information, and they will work it out. It's a very individual thing.

2. My waiting time was very short. I applied on a Monday in my local SW office (Navan, Co. Meath) and I had my payment (backdated three months) in my post office four days later on the Friday.

They will backdate payments for up to six months, according to the Citizen's Information website.

3. No you will not be expected to use savings prior to receiving money. If it is JSB that you get, then that is not heavily means tested, so it doesn't really matter what you have in savings etc. In my case I had a five figure redundancy payment in my account and it made no difference (on a side note, if you receive a redundancy payment, there are certain thresholds that apply. I can't remember the exact figures but I think if you get over fifty something thousand then you cant claim JSB for nine weeks, something like that). But no you won't have to use your savings. As I said, JSB is not heavily means tested. Once you are on that for a year, then you can / may go onto JS allowance, and that is means tested more rigorously, so bear that in mind although its a long way away.

4. You can try and apply for rent relief, mortgage supplement, medical card, and if you get redundancy payment you can apply for top slicing tax relief.

Best thing is to apply for everything you might be entitled to and see what happens. No harm in applying etc.

Ronan

Makkapakka01

Thanks very much for that reply Ronan, very much appreciate it

upinthesky

you will get job seekers benefit but you will be waiting a while, and if your husband earns more then the limit for your family's size they wont pay you, but they will back date your claim.


A gp visit card has an income limit and if yourself and your husbands combined income are over that you will not get one, but they do take into account your out goings such as mortgage http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/gp_visit_cards.html


here is a link for income limit ect

Sue Ellen

You mentioned that you reduced your days to 3 days a week based on having your son. In order to qualify for JSB or JSA you must be available for full time work. Even though you will have lost your 3 day week job you will have to be available for full time work.

Play Bunny

you should get your jsb, as you would have had enough stamps to qualify for the 188euro,
you will get your redundancy as well
apply for the medical card get the forms off your gp, depending on your hubby's income you may get a gp/medical card as well...

i was made redundant in 09, after my maternity benefit ran on out june 10 i applied for jsb and got it, i also applied for the medical card and also got that as well even tho my hubby was in full time employment

Makkapakka01

Great - thanks for those replies.
lisar816 - is there any where online I can find out what the limit is? My DH earns 42K and we are a family of 4. With both of us working (albeit me on a 3-day wk) we are barely scraping by. With what I would save on creche fees and if I got 188 per wk, plus medical card etc, I wouldn't be much worse off. Having said that, I much prefer working :-)
Thanks again.

theg81der

Heres the medical card limits based on this you would not be eligable :

Weekly income limit (gross, less tax, Universal Social Charge and PRSI)
Category Aged under 66 Aged 66-69 Married or cohabiting couple (or lone parent with dependent children) €266.50 €298 Allowance for each of first 2 children aged under 16 €38 €38 Allowance for 3rd and each subsequent child under 16 €41 €41 Allowance for each of first 2 children aged aged over 16 (with no income)
€39 €39 Allowance for 3rd and each subsequent child over 16 (no income) €42.50 €42.50 Each dependant over 16 years in full-time third-level education,who is not grant aided €78 €78
Heres the Jobseekers Benefit rules :
To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you must:

• Be unemployed (you must be fully unemployed or unemployed for at least 3 days out of 6)
• Be under 66 years of age
• Have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions
• Be capable of work
• Be available for and genuinely seeking work
• Have had a substantial loss of employment and as a result be unemployed for at least 3 days out of 6.

So looks like you would qualify as it is not means tested but fyi it is taxable with your husband earnings. My friend just got a tax bill for a couple of grand and they have 2 kids and he earns about 12 grand less than your hubby.

upinthesky

Makkapakka01 wrote: »

Great - thanks for those replies.
lisar816 - is there any where online I can find out what the limit is? My DH earns 42K and we are a family of 4. With both of us working (albeit me on a 3-day wk) we are barely scraping by. With what I would save on creche fees and if I got 188 per wk, plus medical card etc, I wouldn't be much worse off. Having said that, I much prefer working :-)
Thanks again.

the link on my post has the in come limits just go to rates or after you become unemployed fill out a medical card form and that will tell you if your entitled to one
here is a link to apply

https://www.sspcrs.ie/portal/medapponline/