Broke, and don't know what to do.

LegacyUser

Hi all,
I live out in the sticks, with no access to public transportation. I have been unemployed for nearly four years. I have done a Fas course, as well as an additional self funded course in that time. My Jobseekers Benefit finished at the end of 2009, and because I was living with someone who was then a boyfriend, I was denied Jobseekers Assistance. I didn't bother still signing for credits, as the local Welfare office was in quite a far distance from here, and inaccessible more or less, unless you have a car. Which I don't.
Later, my boyfriend and I got married, and he has been financially supporting me. He only earned just over what the threshold was back then. He earns less now, and we are struggling. I am sick quite often, and don't have health insurance or money to get the help I need. I keep applying for jobs, but hear nothing back. Volunteering isn't really something I can do, being stranded out here. Husband works locally, which is good for him.
I am losing my mind these days. We have no children, and I don't have any local family. Could I apply for JA again? Or would they flat out refuse, due to me not signing for stamps since my JB ran out?
Any other suggestions welcomed. I'm so down and hard on myself, I'm not nice to be around. Feels like myself and my husband are on our last legs relationship wise. Doesn't help that Christmas is around the corner either.

Neyite

OP, I've approved your post, but there is another forum State Benefits that may be better suited to your query. Let me know if you want it moved.

Sleepy

Nothing to do with not signing on for stamps: as you're married, you're not entitled to JSA. You're a dependent of your husband. Is he claiming your tax credits (called joint assessment)? That can be worth up to roughly 3,500 a year and can be back-dated to the day ye got hitched which if ye haven't been claiming it since then, could mean a nice refund cheque for Christmas...

Have you got out into the local town/village with CV's or have you just been firing off on-line applications? What did you do before you got made redundant? Have you any hobbies you could turn into a money generator (e.g. making jam / baking / crafts to sell at a farmers market). Could you register as a child-minder and offer child-minding services for other women in the area?

Roisy7

Shoot me if I'm stating the obvious here but...

Why don't you learn to drive? I know it's expensive but if your husband has a car he could surely teach you the basics before you get lessons. It would double your employablility. Is there anyone, any friend, relative etc who would be able to help out on that front.

Personally I couldn't live where you are without at least knowing how to drive. It seems to contribute massively to a sense of independence. And it would lesson your sense of being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

If you are sick often is there a disability payment you could get?

Keep the lines of communication open with the hubby. It sounds that your having too much time on your hands isn't helping.

Perhaps a hobby or correspondence course which you can do from home will help you to keep busy too.

You need to go to your social welfare office. They're not monsters and you will get all the info you need. Good luck OP, sounds like things are very tough for you. I hope they improve.

neemish

Why not have a look at the Citizens Information website and see what extra benefits you might be entitled to.
For example, are you renting or have a mortgage? There's rent allowance or mortgage interest relief.
If you are often sick, apply for a medical card. It isn't only based on income, but also on medical need. There's also illness allowance.

These aren't the solutions to your problems, but could be used as a starting block to get yourself going.

I'd definitely second the learning to drive suggestion. I learned to drive in my late 20's. I was unwell at the time but my dad pushed me into it. and I can honestly say that it was the best gift he ever gave me! The sense of independance is quite incredible and it was a life changing skill.

In the meantime, go easy on yourself! You've had it rough but you can sort things out. Make sure to have some structure in your day, like a time to get up, maybe a walk, it doesn't matter what - just try to create a sense of purpose. Then hopefully it will spill over into other things. Start small and build from there. I've done it - gone from lying in bed most of the day to full time employment. Took a few years and a lot of effort but its is possible.

Best of luck

movingsucks

Is moving into a nearby town an option?
Or is there anywhere you could cycle to?

username123

Sleepy wrote: »

Nothing to do with not signing on for stamps: as you're married, you're not entitled to JSA. You're a dependent of your husband.

Sorry Sleepy, but Im not sure this is correct. The OP is as entitled as anyone to make a claim for means tested JSA. Its nothing to do with being married - although she will be assessed on her husbands means. Both myself and my husband have, at different times over the past 3 years, applied for JSA, seperately.

StillWaters

Make sure your husband has your tax credits, apply for JSA. In all probability you will only be awarded a very small amount, but it means you are eligible for any schemes or courses that are available.
The main problem I see is your isolation. You really need to get that sorted. You need to get some form of transport and get out there interacting with people, through volunteering, a course, an internship.

If you are renting, move to an urban area.

Sleepy

username123 wrote: »

Sorry Sleepy, but Im not sure this is correct. The OP is as entitled as anyone to make a claim for means tested JSA. Its nothing to do with being married - although she will be assessed on her husbands means. Both myself and my husband have, at different times over the past 3 years, applied for JSA, seperately.

Really?

My other half was told she wouldn't be entitled to it based on the fact we were co-habiting... I'd know plenty of people claiming to live at home with their parents rather than with their boyfriends in order to claim too...

I knew you'd be entitled to Job Seekers Benefit until your stamps ran out but thought JSA was a different story.

woodchuck

Sleepy wrote: »

Really?

My other half was told she wouldn't be entitled to it based on the fact we were co-habiting... I'd know plenty of people claiming to live at home with their parents rather than with their boyfriends in order to claim too...

I knew you'd be entitled to Job Seekers Benefit until your stamps ran out but thought JSA was a different story.

JSB isn't means tested; you get it for a year if you've paid enough PRSI regardless of your living situation or marital status. Once JSB runs out, then you apply for JSA. This is when they look at whether you're married or cohabitating and means test you against your partner. But very often people end up with sweet F-all because their partner earns 'too much'. So it's not that you're not entitled to it, but a lot of time the amount you're entitled to is little or nothing.

OP I'd suggest you go to your welfare office and find out from the horses mouth what your options are. As far as I know there is nothing to stop you from applying for JSA again (or maybe it would be an appeal to your previous application?). It definitely can't hurt to find out.

LegacyUser

Hi,

Thank you for the responses. The internet "died", that's why I couldn't come back to this until now.

I can drive. I just can't afford to run a car. My husband says we cannot afford to move anywhere until I get a job. It's disheartening. If only I could get onto a Welfare payment, I would then be entitled to an Internship scheme. I went to Citizens Advice before, and Fas, and they both said that there was nothing they could do for me! I went home and cried after that. I feel dropped out of society. I don't want money handouts. I want to work for money!
I am probably a lost cause. The longer I am out of work, the harder it will be for me to get back in. I am in my 30s.

username123

@Sleepy, what I meant was that anyone is entitled to put in a claim - of course they may get little or nothing based on the means test but the OP said that her hubby used to earn just over the threshold and now earns less - so its worth re-opening a claim.

@OP, you should still open a claim to sign on for credits even if you are not entitled to any money - that way you can still go for internships etc. See here for info. You only sign on for credits once a year so you dont have to worry about getting there all the time. Plus, it counts towards your pension contributions so you should do it. Unfortunately because you havent been doing it you will need to build up some time before you qualify for anything.

Its very very important to bother doing the things that welfare offer you - like signing on for credits. I meet so many people who say 'Oh I just didnt bother signing on for credits' and who dont realise that just because it doesnt give them cash each week, it still gives them entitlements. Otherwise you just drop off the radar.