Hours being cut or else redundancy. Help!!

Suziebear

I work in a non profit making childcare facility. Unfortunately, due to that horrific Prime Time show the other night, funding from Pobal has been suspended for all childcare facilities, until further notice. This mean we are all in serious trouble, money wise, for the coming school year. Management informed us of this today and have asked for cuts to be made. I have no clue about entitlements etc so I hope someone can help me. I'll lay out the options we have and questions I have related to them.

1. Cut down from a 5 day week to either a 3 or 4 day week. They say I can claim some sort of Job Seekers benefit for the other 1 or 2 days. Is this right? Any idea how much that would be? ( I get €430 take home pay now)
2. Stay working 5 days a week but we would close for all the usual school holidays ( Xmas, midterms, easter and all of the summer hols) We would be off without pay but again they say we can claim benefits for this???

I also asked about voluntary redundancy but they said there will be none available. If we run out of money the place will close anyway though! I was told that we would get no redundancy if they choose to close or if they go into liquidation? Is this right? Please, please, please tell me they are wrong:(:(:(

Any info ye can give me would be seriously appreciated. My brain is fried at the mo!!

Thanks.

The_Conductor

Sorry to hear of your situation Suziebear.

First off- in the case that you're made redundant- you are entitled to statutory redundancy. From the 1st of Jan this year- this was supposed to have been paid by the employer, however in cases where the employer is insolvent you can apply directly to the Social Insurance Fund for payment.

This link on Citizen's Advice Bureau explains it in detail

If your trying to claim Jobseekers Allowance- you must be down at least 1 day of insurable employment in any period of 7 consecutive days (instead of 6- aka the Sundays are counted too). You must also be fully unemployed for at least 4 days in any period of 7 consecutive days.

You also have to meet a means test details here

If you are entitled to Jobseekers allowance- this link here details step by step how to calculate your allowance

Hope this helps,

Shane

SK76

Pobal have not suspended payments

Suziebear

Thanks a mill for both responses. The info's been very helpful. We were told that our local County Childcare Committee representative told our Co-ordinator and administrator last week not to send in our application for this Sept as they don't know what's happening with Pobal due to the programme. I assume you work in the childcare sector. Do ye get Pobal funding? If ye do, have ye applied for this Sept?
Thanks