Job Seekers Allowance

jmcc99_98

Hi, I hope someone can help as we are getting nowehere with the DSP.

My wife works three days a week, she was previously FT but was told last year that essentially if she didnt go to three days a week she could lose her job altogether. (Her employers are great BTW, and are very supportive etc)

She was able to claim around €70 p/w Allowance from the DSP so this cushioned some of the blow of losing two days work. This was due to her having paid stamps for years and years.

Anyway yesterday she goes into the DSP and they tell her that she is no longer entitled to the allowance. She has to go on jobseekers benefit which is means tested - she wont be eligible as my wage is too high (Not that high and takes me €100 in travel per week to get to work etc etc etc). She was given a few differeing reasons for why it was stopping - one of which was that the employer had no more stamps (Her employer confirmed yesterday to her that they had in fact plenty of stamps paid up and this could not be the reason)

It is all quite upsetting especially for my wife as this money essentially went towards paying the childminder for the three days she was at work - I know it seems small money but without it we will be struggling.

Does anyone know the criteria for the allowance or what DSP are talking about. She has rang numerous times today but is unable to get to speak to anyone.

Any advice would be much appreciated

StillWaters

Your wife was claiming Job Seekers Benefit for the days she was not working. This is not means tested. However it only lasts for 12 months regardless of how many years you have been paying stamps.

She must now be assessed for Job seekers allowance which is means tested.

eastbono

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Hi, I hope someone can help as we are getting nowehere with the DSP.

My wife works three days a week, she was previously FT but was told last year that essentially if she didnt go to three days a week she could lose her job altogether. (Her employers are great BTW, and are very supportive etc)

She was able to claim around €70 p/w Allowance from the DSP so this cushioned some of the blow of losing two days work. This was due to her having paid stamps for years and years.

Anyway yesterday she goes into the DSP and they tell her that she is no longer entitled to the allowance. She has to go on jobseekers benefit which is means tested - she wont be eligible as my wage is too high (Not that high and takes me €100 in travel per week to get to work etc etc etc). She was given a few differeing reasons for why it was stopping - one of which was that the employer had no more stamps (Her employer confirmed yesterday to her that they had in fact plenty of stamps paid up and this could not be the reason)

It is all quite upsetting especially for my wife as this money essentially went towards paying the childminder for the three days she was at work - I know it seems small money but without it we will be struggling.

Does anyone know the criteria for the allowance or what DSP are talking about. She has rang numerous times today but is unable to get to speak to anyone.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Okay the situation is that your wife is on casual jobseekers benefit. If she is working 3 days per week this claim should last 2 years approx so I dont understand why she is no longer entitled to benefit. Assuming that her benefit has exhausted she would certainly re-qualify for benefit but she would not have any sub loss e.g. she has been working the same number of days for the last year...therefore the only option open to her is to now apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment and your earnings, her earnings and any captial you may have will be assessed.
She should really query as to why her benefit is finishing.

jmcc99_98

Thanks @StillWaters and @EastBono

@EastBono What you have said sounds very similar to one of the reasons she was given in DSP i.e. they said she would be better off if she was working one day less than she is at present - The whole system is counter productive in ways. Up untiol my wife had trouble with her current job Neither of us have ever had to seek any benefit in 15 years work thank god, but when things take a turn for the worst with both our jobs/wages it is amazing how quickly you begin to rely on the money.

Its gonna be a quiet Christmas

Thanks for the info guys

eastbono

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Thanks @StillWaters and @EastBono

@EastBono What you have said sounds very similar to one of the reasons she was given in DSP i.e. they said she would be better off if she was working one day less than she is at present - The whole system is counter productive in ways. Up untiol my wife had trouble with her current job Neither of us have ever had to seek any benefit in 15 years work thank god, but when things take a turn for the worst with both our jobs/wages it is amazing how quickly you begin to rely on the money.

Its gonna be a quiet Christmas

Thanks for the info guys

Get her to double check why her benefit is only lasting 1 year because if she has only being working 3 days and claiming for the others she should have 2 years on benefit.

Wils110

That also happened to me the main outcome...to much earnings for three day week could only claim if working two or less days

I was using the yellow dockets X for out of work 0 in work

After a year of claiming everyone is means tested for the welfare

eastbono

Wils110 wrote: »

That also happened to me the main outcome...to much earnings for three day week could only claim if working two or less days

I was using the yellow dockets X for out of work 0 in work

After a year of claiming everyone is means tested for the welfare

Not if you are working casually jsb exhausts after 12 months at the minute if you are fully unemployed but if you are working casually it will last longer.

jmcc99_98

@eastbono you're absolutely right, it was actually 2 years ago since my wife's job changed. So it looks like she is being removed from the scheme correctly. Just a shock when it happens without notice. Thanks again for all your comments, was great to get confirmation. I found the DSP site impossible to navigate

eastbono

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

@eastbono you're absolutely right, it was actually 2 years ago since my wife's job changed. So it looks like she is being removed from the scheme correctly. Just a shock when it happens without notice. Thanks again for all your comments, was great to get confirmation. I found the DSP site impossible to navigate

Welfare site is good but when dealing with casual claims its of no help as the vagaries of casual claims cannot be contained in a one fits all scenario. Normally you would get 3 months notice approx whether on casual or full unemployed when your benefit is exhausting... I suppose it depends on the sw office. If her circumstances change e.g. her days are further reduced or she is made fully unemployed she should sign on again immediately.