Temporary work, SWO closed my claim

LegacyUser

I had been claiming a JBA payment for a few weeks when I got an offer of temporary work. I made it known to an officer in my local office and was told to come back with a P45 or note from my employer stating end of work, as well as my payslips, when I finished work. Last Monday I did this, having finished work the previous Friday. I worked a total of 24 days over a period of 4 weeks and 4 days. The officer I spoke to when I wanted to sign back on told me that he was going to close my claim because the cut off point for temporary work is 4 weeks. She told me I needed to fill out a new claim. I did this but my interview is not for weeks and I am now stuck without any payment for a while. For the record, the amount I earned in my temporary job was only slightly more than my JBA, I did it for the experience, and for the hope of getting called back in the future permanently.

Tonight I have read on the Citizen's Information website that the cut off point for temporary work is 8 weeks. I feel very hard done by. I did what I thought was the right thing, went to work 5 days a week, and feel like I got punished.

I know there is an appeals office in Dublin. Is this the correct avenue to go down if I think I have been treated harshly? Does anybody have any advice?

Balagan

Yours should not be a new claim at any rate but a repeat claim https://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr120209.aspx which is processed far more quickly. It would be worth immediately asking to see supervisor/manager at the Dept of Social Protection Office and putting your case. Take a print out of the document you found that mentions the 8 week cut off point with you

Short-term employment or training
The Department of Social Protection also operates a fast-tracking system for customers who sign off for a short period of up to 8 weeks to take up work or to go on a training course. This ensures that payment is re-instated without delay. It is important that you inform your local office in advance that you are taking up work or training. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_and_work/jobseekers_benefit_and_work.html

You are also entitled to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance to tide you over until your Jobseekers claim is processed. Details here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/supplementary_welfare_allow.html