Am I right or stupid?

surly joe

I took redundancy recently and plan on taking a long time off before looking for something new.I know I'm very lucky to have that option.
Everyone is telling me to sign on immediately but I'm not actively looking for work at the moment.Am I right to leave it,and will there be any hassle later on for not going in straight away?
I should add the reason I'm avoiding it is mainly because I hate the thought of dealing with it.It's 22 years since I was in the dole office and I'm still raw after a recent bereavement.
Thanks

Ken.

If your not working you should be signing on. If a year down the line you decide to sign on the dole will assume you've been working cash in hand and create hassle you don't need.

jimboblep

surly joe wrote: »

I took redundancy recently and plan on taking a long time off before looking for something new.I know I'm very lucky to have that option.
Everyone is telling me to sign on immediately but I'm not actively looking for work at the moment.Am I right to leave it,and will there be any hassle later on for not going in straight away?

If you can afford not to why not
If you do sign on you may have to show what you lived on and that you no longer have those resources
By the way fair play for not signing on when you dont have to

womandriver

ken wrote: »

If your not working you should be signing on. If a year down the line you decide to sign on the dole will assume you've been working cash in hand and create hassle you don't need.

If you're not actively seeking employment you should not be signing on.

jamesbondings

ken wrote: »

If your not working you should be signing on. If a year down the line you decide to sign on the dole will assume you've been working cash in hand and create hassle you don't need.

Not true, when i was let go (years ago mind maybe 4 years ago) i thought i would get a job instantly so i didnt bother signing on. After my savings ran out 3 months later i signed on......at that time a friend had signed on a week previous and was told there would be an 8 week waiting period (or something akin to it) i explained to them i had supported myself on my savings and was told i could collect the following wednesday (no waiting period).

It might just help you out!!

Ken.

I worded it wrong. There is a system where you can sign on every month but not be claiming. Basically your living off savings or redundancy. It's a proof that your not working but you don't claim money of the dole.

mrsbyrne

You should sign for credits just to keep all your stamps in a row. Could be important later on.

dan1

The reason for singing on is that you are available and looking for work but as you are not as yet ready to do this I see no reason to sign on. Call in to your local citz advice office and they will be able to advise you on this

Ken.

I think this is what myself and mrsbyrne are talking about.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_insurance_prsi/credited_social_insurance_contributions.html

womandriver

ken wrote: »

I think this is what myself and mrsbyrne are talking about.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_insurance_prsi/credited_social_insurance_contributions.html

I'm open to correction but just from my reading of it, you still need to be looking for work to be eligible to keep signing on for credits.

eastbono

womandriver wrote: »

I'm open to correction but just from my reading of it, you still need to be looking for work to be eligible to keep signing on for credits.

Correct even for a credits claim you have to be available and looking for full time work.

surly joe

Thanks for the replies.I'll talk to them this week and see what the options are.Better to find out sooner rather than later I suppose.

jimb43

Document everything you have to do with them , take the name of every person you speak to , make a note of what they say, you would not believe it how they twist things around., i am talking from experience, not conjecture and not opinion. FACT, they tell lies, as and when it suits them. i have been waiting since june 23 2013 for a claim to be sorted , and I'm only just going for appeal now, God know how long that will take ???

jimb43

good luck joe,

LegacyUser

I know that you don't need to look for work for a while but I would still sign on even if it is only for credits.

When it comes to getting a pension you have to have x number of stamps over y period of time so you can get a pension. One pension is not means tested and the other pension is means tested.
The one that is not means tested is based on the number of stamps you pay.

eastbono

lady lady wrote: »

I know that you don't need to look for work for a while but I would still sign on even if it is only for credits.

When it comes to getting a pension you have to have x number of stamps over y period of time so you can get a pension. One pension is not means tested and the other pension is means tested.
The one that is not means tested is based on the number of stamps you pay.

You cannot sign for credits unless you are available and looking for full time work.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

jimb43 wrote: »

Document everything you have to do with them , take the name of every person you speak to , make a note of what they say, you would not believe it how they twist things around., i am talking from experience, not conjecture and not opinion. FACT, they tell lies, as and when it suits them. i have been waiting since june 23 2013 for a claim to be sorted , and I'm only just going for appeal now, God know how long that will take ???

Do you really think they purposely tell lies?? In fairness now, you might be given the wrong info on occasion, but thats a different thing altogether.

jimb43

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

Do you really think they purposely tell lies?? In fairness now, you might be given the wrong info on occasion, but thats a different thing altogether.

i think you should read what i wrote. quote ". fact" i am talking from experience not conjecture

mp22

Well in my experience its time to close this thread.