Social Welfare after working abroad

aunt aggie

Last summer, I came home after working in England for two years. I took the first job going to get me on my feet and it is only a maternity leave cover so it will be coming to an end soon.

My question is about new requirement for any social welfare to be based on contributions made 2 years ago. Does this mean that I'm entitled to no benefits in 2015 because I was working in England in 2013? Is there anyway around this and should I still sign on?

jaymcg91

I don't know in this specific case but my brother was turned down because he'd been studying in England, he was basically told bad luck. I mean I get it, if you haven't paid in why should you get something out of it . Sucks I know.

aunt aggie

I understand that completely but I have paid in, before I moved and since I came home. That's why its just really frustrating.

As a teacher I know I'm already looking at 3 months without possibility of work this summer. I wont be in a position to support myself if I cant find work and end up unemployed for at most (I hope) 6 months. And there is no one I can ask to help me out.

Miike

Have a look at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/jajbfaq.aspx#q4 quite specifically

6. I have been working abroad for the last couple of years. I have now returned to Ireland and I am looking for a job. Can I apply for a jobseekers payment?

If you have been working in another EU member State, your social insurance record in that Member State may be credited to your record in Ireland to help you qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. If you need to combine your contributions from another EU country to claim Jobseeker's Benefit, you must have paid at least 1 reckonable contribution since the date of your return to Ireland.

The reality is you're entitled to be paid. Either Jobseeker's Allowance or Benefit. If you're refused I'd appeal and get onto a community welfare officer to sort out an interim payment.

My question is about new requirement for any social welfare to be based on contributions made 2 years ago.

I can't seem to find information or the conditions of this online anywhere. Do you have a link or anything I could look at?

aunt aggie

Miike wrote: »

I can't seem to find information or the conditions of this online anywhere. Do you have a link or anything I could look at?

Thanks for the advice. The only two sources I have of this change are hearsay. The first is my mother who had difficulty claiming after she became employed last year because she was caring for an elderly relative two years ago. I read this article on www.thejournal.ie yesterday, where a woman had the same condition applied to her application. It's only then that I realised this will probably apply to me as well.

http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/social-welfare-self-employed-ireland-1872919-Jan2015/

I havent been able to find anything official either.

aunt aggie

Thanks Miike. From the link you sent, it looks like I will be okay as long as I can find my P60s from my job in England.

If you have been working in another EU member State, your social insurance record in that Member State may be credited to your record in Ireland to help you qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. If you need to combine your contributions from another EU country to claim Jobseeker's Benefit, you must have paid at least 1 reckonable contribution since the date of your return to Ireland.

Still the new condition isnt fair, especially on young people or people who've made a real effort to back in work after been unemployed previously.

ABajaninCork

aunt aggie wrote: »

Thanks Miike. From the link you sent, it looks like I will be okay as long as I can find my P60s from my job in England.

It's a P45 you'll need. The P60 will only be issued at the end of the tax year.

aunt aggie

Have that for 2015, and P60s also showing contributions. In 2013 I was working through an agency as a contractor rather than working directly for my employer. Does anyone know if this would qualify as been self employed? That might be the only sticking point...

ABajaninCork

aunt aggie wrote: »

Have that for 2015, and P60s also showing contributions. In 2013 I was working through an agency as a contractor rather than working directly for my employer. Does anyone know if this would qualify as been self employed? That might be the only sticking point...

No. I was in the same position when I moved here, having worked for Blue Arrow. You would have been employed by the agency. Although the P60's weren't really needed, I still supplied 3 years worth as well as a letter from my last employer proving I paid NI.

You will therefore be assessed for JSA, rather than JSB.

eastbono

@auntaggie the fact that you have worked in Ireland since you returned from the uk means that sw can ask for you contributions from the uk to be transferred and it is more than likely that you will qualify for jsb. In the mean time it would also be a good idea to apply for jsa as it takes some time for the UK authorities in Newcastle to return the info requested by sw here in Ireland.

aunt aggie

eastbono wrote: »

@auntaggie the fact that you have worked in Ireland since you returned from the uk means that sw can ask for you contributions from the uk to be transferred and it is more than likely that you will qualify for jsb. In the mean time it would also be a good idea to apply for jsa as it takes some time for the UK authorities in Newcastle to return the info requested by sw here in Ireland.

Thanks for all the advice lads. I'm not out of work yet but I know its coming and just want to know where I stand so there's no surprises if I am out of work for a few months.

smiley_face400

I came home from working in New Zealand and Australia for 2 years. All they asked for was my P45 and the last P60 I got after I had moved. Once I handed in all that it was processed in a matter of days