Am I entitled to any welfare support?

Aseth

It is a bit complicated, I tried to find the answer on citizen information website but can't find my case.

I used to work in Ireland for 5 years. The last 3-4 months of which I spent on the dole because that's when the recession started and I lost my job as an IT contractor. We left Ireland with my OH and moved to another EU country. Now we are back.
Only my OH works. I work as well but it's internship where I am gaining experience, not part of jobbridge so I am not getting paid.
We are struggling on one salary so we keep wondering if I could be entitled to any support from the state having paid here taxes for 5 years and not earning anything currently. I checked jobseekers benefit/allowance but while I am actively looking for a job, I am gaining more experience in my current internship than I got in the last 3 years as a Sys Admin in a large multi-national. Not sure about rent supplement. I am from another EU country which might or might not help.
Or maybe OH is entitled since he is supporting me and we are together for several years now.

I'm not fussy, any bit of help would do. Honestly, i would settle for 50 euro a week. That would make a huge difference and make us comfortable. 186 a week almost seems too much.

mp22

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

Aseth

It would but we don't have children.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I checked the webstie and I just don't seem to find anything relevant.

eastbono

You are in an unpaid internship you will not meet the criteria for jobseekers benefit/allowance as you are not available for full time work.
Once your OH is working full time then he will not qualify for rent allowance.

Frank Lee Midere

You are probably entitled to job seekers benefits once you quit the internship.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/jobseekers_benefit.html

That's not means tested. Another option is to get the internship registered for jobs bridge

eastbono

There is no point in getting the internship registered with jobbridge now as you have to be in payment for 78 days prior to starting an internship. Op maybe entitled to jsb but they do not say when they last worked in Ireland. It would depend if they had the correct number of contributions in 2011 as to whether or not they could claim jsb.

Frank Lee Midere

eastbono wrote: »

There is no point in getting the internship registered with jobbridge now as you have to to in payment for 78 days prior to starting an internship. Op maybe entitled to jsb but they do not say when they last worked in Ireland. It would depend if they had the correct number of contributions in 2011 as to whether or not they could claim jsb.

Can't they add EU contributions? I'm sure I did that once. Came back from the UK after 2 years.

Also in terms of the internship since she is not getting paid its not necessarily true that she is not available for work. She just had to be applying for work. This would be true of unpaid volunteering for sure.

eastbono

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

Can't they add EU contributions? I'm sure I did that once. Came back from the UK after 2 years.

Also in terms of the internship since she is not getting paid its not necessarily true that she is not available for work. She just had to be applying for work. This would be true of unpaid volunteering for sure.

EU contributions can be added but you have to pay one "a" con in Ireland after returning.
She would be deemed not available for work a she is undertaking an internship.
You cannot undertake voluntary work and be in receipt of jobseekers unless you get prior approval.

Frank Lee Midere

eastbono wrote: »

EU contributions can be added but you have to pay one "a" con in Ireland after returning.
She would be deemed not available for work a she is undertaking an internship.
You cannot undertake voluntary work and be in receipt of jobseekers unless you get prior approval.

Ok. Sounds like she needs a temporary job and/or to get paid for a month or two at this one. When the internship ends she can get full benefits.

Aseth

Thanks for all the replies guys!