24 years old - can i get 188 euro?

rcanpolat

2 questions:

Im 24 years old and i'm not longer living at home. A friend is putting me up for a few weeks until i get sorted.

i don't have a job or any welfare payments as of yet. will the welfare pay me 188 euro or will they give me 144 (because im under 25)? 144 a week is not a lot to live on at my age especially when i'll have rent and food expenses to pay for.

also, will i be means tested? i don't have anything for them to test. my bank account was closed a few weeks ago because it was in over draft of 250 euro and the bank wiped it off as a bad debt. besides that i literally have nothing. i have about 20 euro to my name, my clothes, shoes, bed sheets and my guitar.

nothing more!

buzymummy

you should be elegible for the full amount once you can show you have no other earnings and if they means test you then if thats what they find can't see why not if you are living on your own. i think you may be better to have an empty bank account than a closed one for fear of them thinking you have one that you are hiding? best bet is to go in and talk to them!

eastbono

rcanpolat wrote: »

2 questions:

Im 24 years old and i'm not longer living at home. A friend is putting me up for a few weeks until i get sorted.

i don't have a job or any welfare payments as of yet. will the welfare pay me 188 euro or will they give me 144 (because im under 25)? 144 a week is not a lot to live on at my age especially when i'll have rent and food expenses to pay for.

also, will i be means tested? i don't have anything for them to test. my bank account was closed a few weeks ago because it was in over draft of 250 euro and the bank wiped it off as a bad debt. besides that i literally have nothing. i have about 20 euro to my name, my clothes, shoes, bed sheets and my guitar.

nothing more!

You give very little info of your personal circumstances prior to a friend putting you up until you get sorted. As you are 24 years old the maximum you will receive on jsa is €144 pw and yes you will be means tested.

areyawell

144 euro is all you will get. If you were working in the last year or two you may be able to get jobseekers benefit with stamps and this will bring it up to 188 for a while otherwise its 144. You will get rent allowance after renting a place for six months or if you can prove your parents kicked you out and wont leave you in the house

rcanpolat

Thanks for all the reply's guys and gals

I have a letter from the bank stating that it was closed down due to my overdraft. Thats all i have. By all means they can investigate it and ask the banks do i have an account but they won't find anything there.

Personal circumstances prior to my friend supporting me. I had about 2 months work in a hotel until i was let go due to slow trading, after that a friend and myself tried to open a car wash. he completely funded the business but it failed after a few weeks because of the typical irish weather. Prior to all that i haven't been employed in several years due to personal circumstances being

I was in college until 20

I haven't been able to find a job after college (believe me i've been searching)

I went to the welfare office a few years ago and they paid me based on my old stamps for a few months. Then the stamps ran out and they wanted to means test me. I went to the test but the guy wasn't happy with the paperwork i had. I tried to get more paperwork off my father but he wasn't able to supply it. My mother was the one who sorted out all the book work and paper work for the house and she got ill several years ago. She has been in hospital ever since (around 3-4 years now) and my father hasn't been able to get the right papers i need because he doesn't understand what i need (he's not irish) and he's been getting very frustrated with the situation with my mother being unwell. On top of that he has his own company which has been nuked pretty bad by the recession.

I had an interview recently (more hotel work) however they didn't hire me, i have paperwork to prove the interview happened (headed paper from the hotel saying they weren't interested) and that seems to be how it is for me. A white ago i printed off 300 CV's, walked the streets of dublin for 3 days (100 cv's per day) and i got offered 1 job but i had to turn it down because the hours meant i had no way of getting home after work during the week because my bus stopped at 11.15 and the job finished at 00.30.

Anyway my father wanted me out because i can't find any work. Im too much of a financial burden and to be honest he really cant afford to support me.

And to top it off i need money to get some bloody shoes. Winter is coming and the ones i have are falling off me (the soles are starting to peel off) I don't want to take dole. I'd rather work because i'd get a lot more money and i can do what 24 year olds do! I haven't been to a pub in around 1.5 years because i cant even afford a pint!

Thats how bad off i am and i need money from the welfare and i need 188, not 144 especially considering that i'm not longer being supported from home. If rent is at its cheapest 280 Euro in kildare a month and im only going to get 576 a month thats seriously squeezing me tight. I'll still have food to buy for a month, pay for electricity and gas and internet / tv (i'm hardly going to stare at the walls) which 296 Euro a month is very little. Getting an extra 176 Euro a month would seriously help me. Maybe it would give me some sort of social life which is healthy for people especially someone of my age!

So thats where i stand!

eastbono

Well that was a long post and unfortunately what you need €188 is not what you will get the most you can get is €144.Obviously the reason you have not been in receipt of jsa since you left college is because your father was not willing to provide up to date accounts from his self-employment in order for your means to be assessed. You need to go to your local sw office and apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment. While your claim for jsa is being processed you can apply for supplementary welfare allowance to your community welfare officer.... you can also apply for rent allowance from your cwo.

rcanpolat

eastbono wrote: »

Well that was a long post and unfortunately what you need €188 is not what you will get the most you can get is €144.Obviously the reason you have not been in receipt of jsa since you left college is because your father was not willing to provide up to date accounts from his self-employment in order for your means to be assessed. You need to go to your local sw office and apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment. While your claim for jsa is being processed you can apply for supplementary welfare allowance to your community welfare officer.... you can also apply for rent allowance from your cwo.

so when i go to the welfare office tomorrow i should ask them for jsa and for supplementary welfare allowance?

or do i just ask for jsa and when they call me for a means test ask the means tester in the room for supplementary welfare allowance?

Rodin

IF you can't find a job in four years i suggest emigration

rcanpolat

Rodin wrote: »

IF you can't find a job in four years i suggest emigration

yup, i'd gladly leave this country however to go to australia for example (my sister went and got a 1 year working visa) she had to have 5k sitting in her bank account. on top of that you need to book flights (which are expensive) and you will require at least 2 - 3 weeks settling in time which costs money. A few of my friends have gone and come back after only a month because they couldn't find work

apache

How much does the internet cost you?

The outlaw

I was on the dole when I was 24 going on 25. I was living at home and was means tested so only got €17 per week! I think I would have got the 188 if I moved out. I got the full 188 when I turned 25 and they told me I should have been on €40 a week when 24 so got over €500.

sh1tstirrer

Rodin wrote: »

IF you can't find a job in four years i suggest emigration

That's true it's on the news today that they are recruiting Irish people for construction work in western Canada. How would he/she get the airfare though?

areyawell

The outlaw wrote: »

I was on the dole when I was 24 going on 25. I was living at home and was means tested so only got €17 per week! I think I would have got the 188 if I moved out. I got the full 188 when I turned 25 and they told me I should have been on €40 a week when 24 so got over €500.

What? everyone is entitled to the 144 no matter where you live if your an Irish citizen at your age unless you tried to scam the social welfare?

Rodin

rcanpolat wrote: »

yup, i'd gladly leave this country however to go to australia for example (my sister went and got a 1 year working visa) she had to have 5k sitting in her bank account. on top of that you need to book flights (which are expensive) and you will require at least 2 - 3 weeks settling in time which costs money. A few of my friends have gone and come back after only a month because they couldn't find work

Doesn't sound like they tried very hard. Gave up after a month?
2-3 weeks settling in time? For what?

Rodin

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

That's true it's on the news today that they are recruiting Irish people for construction work in western Canada. How would he/she get the airfare though?

A bit of initiative.

Just got 3k myself for a masters. took one phone call

rcanpolat

apache wrote: »

How much does the internet cost you?

if you were to hit up UPC (lets say tv and internet in a house with 4 people sharing) your looking at around 20 euro a month

576 is the welfare payment
296 is left after rent (if rent is 280.. which is hard to find that cheap)
276 is left after tv/internet
256 is left after phone allowance (i need a phone if im to get calls for jobs)

lets say 50 quid a week for food and bog roll (and thats a seriously tiny budget) brings it down to 56 euro a month

56 divided by 4 (4 weeks) leaves me 14 euro for a social life per week.

And all of the above is in a good situation. Finding rent at 280 is very hard, living on 50 quid a week for food, bog roll, shower gel and what ever else you need is very difficult.

Rodin

rcanpolat wrote: »

if you were to hit up UPC (lets say tv and internet in a house with 4 people sharing) your looking at around 20 euro a month

576 is the welfare payment
296 is left after rent (if rent is 280.. which is hard to find that cheap)
276 is left after tv/internet
256 is left after phone allowance (i need a phone if im to get calls for jobs)

lets say 50 quid a week for food and bog roll (and thats a seriously tiny budget) brings it down to 56 euro a month

56 divided by 4 (4 weeks) leaves me 14 euro for a social life per week.

And all of the above is in a good situation. Finding rent at 280 is very hard, living on 50 quid a week for food, bog roll, shower gel and what ever else you need is very difficult.

What post in a hotel always finishes at 0.30 am?

areyawell

Also if you do not have a bank account Im pretty sure you cant get the dole as you have to be actively seeking work and how are places going to pay you? You will struggle opening up a bank account now in any bank in Ireland as you now have a bad credit rating and any sign of one banks are reluctant to give you an account. Also why dont you stay living with father and pitch in at home?

sh1tstirrer

areyawell wrote: »

What? everyone is entitled to the 144 no matter where you live if your an Irish citizen at your age unless you tried to scam the social welfare?

If you are living at home your parents income is means tested and you are paid accordingly.

rcanpolat

Rodin wrote: »

Doesn't sound like they tried very hard. Gave up after a month?
2-3 weeks settling in time? For what?

2-3 weeks to find somewhere to live, learn the local land, get settled in and start the job hunt. lets not forget that australia / canada etc are not having a celtic tiger like ireland had. they certainly have jobs but nothing like what we had so your still going to have a semi difficult time looking for work

Youssef Chippo

Rodin wrote: »

IF you can't find a job in four years i suggest emigration

Rodin wrote: »

Doesn't sound like they tried very hard. Gave up after a month?
2-3 weeks settling in time? For what?

Rodin wrote: »

A bit of initiative.

Just got 3k myself for a masters. took one phone call

WOW, that's quite the high horse your on there.

Rodin

rcanpolat wrote: »

2-3 weeks to find somewhere to live, learn the local land, get settled in and start the job hunt. lets not forget that australia / canada etc are not having a celtic tiger like ireland had. they certainly have jobs but nothing like what we had so your still going to have a semi difficult time looking for work

Do prep work before going. I went to miami for a summer and knew every hotel up and down ocean drive and collins avenue BEFORE i left.
1st day - stay in hostel.
2nd day - go job hunting

Rodin

Youssef Chippo wrote: »

WOW, that's quite the high horse your on there.

I simply fail to understand why someone can't find a job in four years, and what exactly they've been doing in that time to improve their chances puzzles me.

rcanpolat

areyawell wrote: »

Also if you do not have a bank account Im pretty sure you cant get the dole as you have to be actively seeking work and how are places going to pay you? You will struggle opening up a bank account now in any bank in Ireland as you now have a bad credit rating and any sign of one banks are reluctant to give you an account. Also why dont you stay living with father and pitch in at home?

IMHO F**K my credit rating. The whole country's credit rating is in a heap!

I informed Bank of Ireland in the first place that i did not want an OD on my account. I called them and they said ok.. i noticed it was still there and i managed to top it up. Then i wrote them a letter asking them to remove it, they didn't and wham, i ended up OD'ing it by 250. As for opening an account again i will simply walk into the bank, hand them 250 (what i owe them) and tell them open the account which they will do.

Its not like i owe them thousands!

And i do pitch in at home. I've been pitching in my entire life. Im cooking the dinner every night while my dad and sister are out working. I've been cleaning, doing the washing, dishes, hovering, maintenance, garden work, painting and cleaning the cat's poop tray!

areyawell

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

If you are living at home your parents income is means tested and you are paid accordingly.

Oh really? I know people that have wealthy parents(both parents in good jobs) and are living at home and still collect the full dole.

rcanpolat

Rodin wrote: »

Do prep work before going. I went to miami for a summer and knew every hotel up and down ocean drive and collins avenue BEFORE i left.
1st day - stay in hostel.
2nd day - go job hunting

Ah man will you snap out of it, im hardly going to study google street view to learn my way around somewhere... ESPECIALLY in an entirely different country i've never stepped into before ESPECIALLY by myself and ESPECIALLY hunt down a job on day 2! Your living in lala land!

areyawell

rcanpolat wrote: »

And i do pitch in at home. I've been pitching in my entire life. Im cooking the dinner every night while my dad and sister are out working. I've been cleaning, doing the washing, dishes, hovering, maintenance, garden work, painting and cleaning the cat's poop tray!

I mean with money when you get the dole. Surely you could stay on then. 144 a week is no-where near enough to live on your own

Rodin

rcanpolat wrote: »

Ah man will you snap out of it, im hardly going to study google street view to learn my way around somewhere... ESPECIALLY in an entirely different country i've never stepped into before ESPECIALLY by myself and ESPECIALLY hunt down a job on day 2! Your living in lala land!

Why wouldn't you do that?
I did it over 10 years ago before street view even existed. Got a job first day.

To be honest, it genuinely seems you couldn't be bothered working.
What post was in the hotel that you turned down?

Kurz

Wouldn't bother answering all these questions from this crowd about your lifestyle if I were you. It's none of their business and your question is perfectly legitimate. You came to the state benefit forum to ask about your entitlements.

It's a cold hard rule that you get the lower rate if you're under 25 unfortunately. and no, they won't kick you out of the office for not having a bank account. It's up to them to prove you have money in order to refuse you your money, not the other way around.

rcanpolat

Rodin wrote: »

Why wouldn't you do that?
I did it over 10 years ago before street view even existed. Got a job first day.

To be honest, it genuinely seems you couldn't be bothered working.
What post was in the hotel that you turned down?

mate, 2 days to settle in and find a job is a miracle. and to add to that i have no money for a flight so i cant get there in the first place!

no no, i didn't turn down a post. i just didn't get the job. there was 29 applications for the job. it was for a night porter post (11pm until 7.30am) and it paid 380 after tax.

i turned down a job a few months ago in dublin city because the job finished at 00.30 and there was no way i could get home at that hour because my last bus was at 11.15 (night link bus wasn't active all the days). If i was to get a taxi 5 days a week back to my town it would have cost me around 200 a week. with the job on minimum wage it wasn't worth it, even the lady who offered me the job agreed with me.

sh1tstirrer

areyawell wrote: »

Oh really? I know people that have wealthy parents(both parents in good jobs) and are living at home and still collect the full dole.

Really, did they tell you this or do you just assume their parents are wealthy?