OPFP, JSA, research degree, mortgage problem

LegacyUser

Hi. Hopefully someone can help me.
I am a single mum who has recently been taken off OPFP because my DS is over their new age limit, though he is still in full-time education. I have been told to apply for JSA. I am pursuing a research degree myself and am in my last year of it but am available to work and have been looking for jobs but nothing doing. I also own a house which is rented out but the rent doesn't cover the mortgage and there is a small shortfall each month. Me and my kid live in rented accommodation and receive no rent allowance because of the house I own. It isn't possible for us to live in the house because it is over a hundred miles from where we are both studying. My parents have been helping me pay the rent for the past year or so.
Money is really tight right now, and I am very worried that the welfare might say I can't have JSA because of the house or because I'm studying. I'm very angry at being taken off the OPFP because nothing has changed here. I'm still a struggling single parent and my child is still in education and still has a number of health problems I have to deal with.
I have an appointment with the welfare in the next week. What can I expect and what should I be entitled to?

wmpdd3

could your time on opf make you elidgable for btea?

MouseTail

wmpdd3 wrote: »

could your time on opf make you elidgable for btea?

You can't et BTEA for a Phd. OP it's likely you will qualify for JSA if you can prove you are and will continue to seek full time employment whilst studying.

Owning/renting the house shouldn't affect your JSA, just make sure everything is above board, tax, PRTB etc.

You might have a few hoops to jump through, lots of evidence to provide etc, but I can't see you not qualifying in the end.

LegacyUser

Thanks so much for your reply!
No, my course doesn't qualify for BTEA unfortunately, otherwise I'd apply for it. I suppose the only other question I have is what is the means test? Is there a link to how they calculate it anywhere on the web?

mp22

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/means_test_for_jobseekers_allowance.html