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What's the joint income threshold?

  • 18-07-2013 2:30pm
    #1
    leakyboots
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,072 ✭✭✭


    My girlfriend is just out of the Social Welfare office there, they've cut her allowance based on my earnings.

    She was in receipt of the Back to Education allowance (she's two years through a four year course) and was getting the Jobseeker's for the summer but this changed when they sent her a letter asking for my payslips and told her this morning that based on what I earn she is not entitled to anything more than a 5er a week (down from around 185e)

    I was just wondering does anyone know the exact threshold or figures around the means testing... they said something about my wage divided by four... I really don't think what I earn will be able to put her through college and we're in a bit of a panic.

    Thanks for all the help
    LB


Comments

  • #2
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Back to Education Allowance is not means tested, so that should be ok. But during the summer she is presumably on Jobseekers Allowance - which is. SO I dont think you have to put her through college on your wage, although during the summer you will need to support her.

    Could she get a part time job - as Back to Education Allowance is not means tested it wouldnt be affected if she worked weekends while in college? Then she could save up to cover summers or try to get full time summer work? I realise jobs are hard to come by btw, but just throwing it out there.


  • #3
    leakyboots
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,072 ✭✭✭leakyboots


    Hi username123, thanks for the reply.

    She's waiting on the letter explaining exactly what's what (by the end of the meeting she was bawling so couldn't remember a whole lot after) but she seems to think they did say that her Back to Education Allowance will now be reduced to the 5er too... which seems bonkers. It won't be as bad if that's not true - if she got what she got last year she'll be fine, I'll be able to sustain her through the summer. Fees are another matter entirely though.

    I don't think she'll have any option but to try for part-time work, she actually got a couple of hours in a bar recently but that was a one-off due to the weekend in question (big match on in the town).

    I've looked at the Citizens Info site but it's very confusing about how exactly we calculate where we fit in. And I have this sinking feeling that the 1% increase I got at work back in May has pushed us over the edge


    I just get the feeling that we're slipping through the net here on the back of a couple of euro because I really didn't think what I earn is enough, I spoke with an accountant about this a few months ago and he said as much.


  • #4
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    I agree, any information surrounding state benefits is very confusing. You might be better off physically going into your local Citizens Information and talking to a real person.


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