Max Pay

HigsBoson

I was wondering if someone could please advise me. I am a casual worker on JA. My daily means were assessed and for every day I worked I was deducted this amount. A few weeks ago I started getting docked 2 days a week regardless of whether I had worked or not. The local office said the family rate max pay for my partner, child, and I was 367.90EUR but that they had to deduct 2 days means from this automatically. The current situation, averaged over a year, leaves me 30EUR per week better off than if I only claimed jobseekers and did not work. When I take into account my rent increase from the Local Authority and the expense associated with working I am at best break even. My local office said I must of made a mistake in my calculation and that if I stopped working casually I would be disqualified. Could anyone with a bit of knowledge on the subject confirm that this situation can occur? Where would the incentive to work come from if someone in my situation were offered this job?

mp22

Are you sending in X and O's dockets every week?

HigsBoson

mp22 wrote: »

Are you sending in X and O's dockets every week?

Yeah every week. My work is very sporadic so I can go 6-7 weeks without work, being docked 2 days means for these weeks, then do a few weeks of 3 days, being docked 3 days means. If I manage to get 4 days work in a week I get no payment. If I worked the same days in a more structured format, say 2 days every week, I would be much better off.

mp22

You need to call into the office because if you do not work any days in a week you will not have any means for that week.

HigsBoson

mp22 wrote: »

You need to call into the office because if you do not work any days in a week you will not have any means for that week.

Thanks for the reply. I've been in a few times and on the phone a lot, they say it's right because the max pay rules say means have to be deducted. It would be grand if I was taken off the Xs & 0s then the overlap in deductions would not occur but they said I cant do this. It probably is correct and is just an anomaly in the system, it seems complicated. Catch 22 I suppose.

eastbono

HigsBoson wrote: »

I was wondering if someone could please advise me. I am a casual worker on JA. My daily means were assessed and for every day I worked I was deducted this amount. A few weeks ago I started getting docked 2 days a week regardless of whether I had worked or not. The local office said the family rate max pay for my partner, child, and I was 367.90EUR but that they had to deduct 2 days means from this automatically. The current situation, averaged over a year, leaves me 30EUR per week better off than if I only claimed jobseekers and did not work. When I take into account my rent increase from the Local Authority and the expense associated with working I am at best break even. My local office said I must of made a mistake in my calculation and that if I stopped working casually I would be disqualified. Could anyone with a bit of knowledge on the subject confirm that this situation can occur? Where would the incentive to work come from if someone in my situation were offered this job?

The maximum amount you can receive on jsa for you, your partner and 1 child is €342.60 so I dont know where you are getting the figure of €367.90. You need to call in sw office and get this situation sorted as you should not be deducted days on weeks you do not work.

Is your partner on a sw payment also.

HigsBoson

eastbono wrote: »

The maximum amount you can receive on jsa for you, your partner and 1 child is €342.60 so I dont know where you are getting the figure of €367.90. You need to call in sw office and get this situation sorted as you should not be deducted days on weeks you do not work.

You are correct, sorry. The 367.90 is my yearly income from work + benefit divided by 52 weeks. Was looking at the wrong figure. My partner receives disability benefit, our combined payment is 304.60EUR.

edellc

sorry to highjack the thread

but kinda in the same situation myself, if the income of the household is 342.60 or more, are you cut off for that particular week and how does it effect the rent supplement

sorry for high jacking

eastbono

HigsBoson wrote: »

You are correct, sorry. The 367.90 is my yearly income from work + benefit divided by 52 weeks. Was looking at the wrong figure. My partner receives disability benefit, our combined payment is 304.60EUR.

The weeks you dont work your combined payment from sw should be €342.60. It should not be anything less than that. Obviously the weeks where you work some days you will get less.

HigsBoson

Having no luck with the local office, this week I worked 1 day and had 4 days means deducted. It seems I am now having 3 days deducted a week as a starting point. Gonna send all the info to the minister and hope something can be done.

wmpdd3

HAve you tried the citizens information office? they can be hit and miss, but some are brilliant and much better than a template reply from the minister's office.