Dole

Gal2011

Hi there people. I have been speaking to a friend and I have never really took any notice of how the dole works to be honest as I have been lucky enough to not need it thus far in my life but this individual has got a part time 20 hour job and although they want it to be over 3 days, their employer needs them to work for maybe 5 days a week of maybe 4 hours per day. If they worked 3 days and worked 12 hours each day, they would be entitled to payment because they work just 3 days but this person can't get any dole because technically they work up to 5 days but in essence they are worse off financially by taking a job than they would be if they stayed on the dole. The system is actually astounding. Surely it should be means tested on hours worked and not days as I cannot fathom how this could be a good system. They are earning less working the 20 hour contract so why should they work?? Another individual could work 3 full days of work and then get paid a nice lumpsome weekly for the other days not working so they come out with a fantastic wage. Ridiculous!! Now this individual is stuck in a place where they are getting very little money and less than the dole would pay but having to be available to work most of the week (5 days). Is the dole ever considered on hours rather than days? Would this be correct?

phoenix999

Someone working 3x12hour days would be considered a shift worker (and full-time) and would not be entitled to any Jobseeker's payment.

phormium

Someone working just three days would not necessarily get dole for the other days either, it is a means tested payment so if what they earned for the 3 days brought them over the limit then there would be no entitlement to dole for the other days.

The 3 day/5 day rule matters more if someone is getting jobseekers benefit as opposed to jobseekers allowance (dole). Jobseekers benefit is paid for example if your job reduces from 5 to 3 days or less, you get benefit for the other days, however if the hours each day reduce but you still have to work 5 days then there is no payment for the other days. Jobseekers benefit however only lasts 9 months full time or pro rata on part time, after that you are on the means tested jobseekers allowance so unlikely to get any payment if working 3 full days each week anyway.

Mrs OBumble

Gal2011 wrote: »

The system is actually astounding. Surely it should be means tested on hours worked and not days as I cannot fathom how this could be a good system. They are earning less working the 20 hour contract so why should they work??....Is the dole ever considered on hours rather than days? Would this be correct?

Yes, it's astounding.

No, it's not quite like you suggested for shift-workers, because you need to have lost employment in order to claim the dole.

And no, they don't consider hours, only day. So it really sucks if you work a shift that spans midnight, 'cos that counts as two days.

If you think this law is mad, contact your TD to discuss their partiy's proposals to reform the system.