Rural social scheme rates

sweetsugar

Hi

This could be the wrong place to ask but thought l ask as it is do with farmers on RSS.
Feel free to move this to the benefits

Don't want to go into great details

Husband is on RSS and has part time farm relief (whenever there is work)
Was claiming for me and 3 kids. Had been mean tested on income from farm relief and got 387
RSS gave 45 euro to top it up to 422 ( 25 for mean test and 20 top up)
Earlier this year, l went on the dole (JSA), claming for me and 3 kids (245 euro)
Husband only claimed for himself. (208)
l went back working part time last sept, stopped JSA
My hours varies between 15 to 20 a week
My husband got onto RSS to claim for me and 3 kids
Means tested by DSP for what l earned from sept to dec and what husband earned last year which it came to 136 euros.
I understand this and l thought it would be top up to 402 by RSS.
Was told by them, they were not topping it up except for 20euros
Now my husband will only be getting 286euros
His farm relief is irregular, some weeks/months there is no work
At the moment work is quiet for me and hrs are shorter
So roughly all we getting is 420, this can't be right. Was better off on the dole

l am very disappointed and upset by this. All we wanted to do was to have abit more money
l went back working to earn more money as we couldn't afford to live on RSS and farm relief wage, but instead l am working for nothing because of the mean test
We have 3 kids and a mortgage, dont smoke or drink and very rarely go out, it is a struggle
l was delighted to get this part time jobs as l could work while kids were in school and not only that, to have extra money and to socialise.
But it looks l have to give it up and l don't want to do this and certainly don't want to go back on the dole.
The problem is not with the DSP as they are right about the mean test, its the RSS and they won't help us. All they said was there was a change in their system and they can't do nothing about it

Can anyone help us to what is the best solution.
Who can we go to
All we want to do is have abit extra money and not worry about money all the time

_Brian

RSS payment rates have changed and no longer take account of spouse or children.
This is a national change and not just being locally implemented to you.

The rates are on the citizens advice and welfare websites for you to check yourself.
But it's basically the current means tested SW rate plus €20, or €208, which ever is the greater.

sh1tstirrer

sweetsugar wrote: »

Hi

This could be the wrong place to ask but thought l ask as it is do with farmers on RSS.
Feel free to move this to the benefits

Don't want to go into great details

Husband is on RSS and has part time farm relief (whenever there is work)
Was claiming for me and 3 kids. Had been mean tested on income from farm relief and got 387
RSS gave 45 euro to top it up to 422 ( 25 for mean test and 20 top up)
Earlier this year, l went on the dole (JSA), claming for me and 3 kids (245 euro)
Husband only claimed for himself. (208)
l went back working part time last sept, stopped JSA
My hours varies between 15 to 20 a week
My husband got onto RSS to claim for me and 3 kids
Means tested by DSP for what l earned from sept to dec and what husband earned last year which it came to 136 euros.
I understand this and l thought it would be top up to 402 by RSS.
Was told by them, they were not topping it up except for 20euros
Now my husband will only be getting 286euros
His farm relief is irregular, some weeks/months there is no work
At the moment work is quiet for me and hrs are shorter
So roughly all we getting is 420, this can't be right. Was better off on the dole

l am very disappointed and upset by this. All we wanted to do was to have abit more money
l went back working to earn more money as we couldn't afford to live on RSS and farm relief wage, but instead l am working for nothing because of the mean test
We have 3 kids and a mortgage, dont smoke or drink and very rarely go out, it is a struggle
l was delighted to get this part time jobs as l could work while kids were in school and not only that, to have extra money and to socialise.
But it looks l have to give it up and l don't want to do this and certainly don't want to go back on the dole.
The problem is not with the DSP as they are right about the mean test, its the RSS and they won't help us. All they said was there was a change in their system and they can't do nothing about it

Can anyone help us to what is the best solution.
Who can we go to
All we want to do is have abit extra money and not worry about money all the time

Do you budget your money?

sweetsugar

l agree with you Brian, there was change in the RSS, it is very disappointed.
sh1tstirrer, we do budget for all our expenses, it just getting harder to budget and save as there is more expenses especially the ones you don't expect

At the moment we have decided to continue as we are and just have to manage as we always did. Nothing we can do about it. If l give up my job, we have less money.
Sometime l wonder would we better off if we were on the dole.

PCGEN

I have recently been offered a 3 day week of employment on min wage.

I was also hoping to get placed on the RSS scheme and do both. Would anyone know if this is possible? Or where would I find out.

_Brian

PCGEN wrote: »

I have recently been offered a 3 day week of employment on min wage.

I was also hoping to get placed on the RSS scheme and do both. Would anyone know if this is possible? Or where would I find out.

Yea it's possible providing theincome from the part time work doesn't undermine the social welfare payment you are qualifying under to partake in the Scheme.

PCGEN

Hi Brian


I'd be getting €9.25 x 24 hours = €222 per week (not sure if I'd get 3 days every week)

JA allowance is €193

Do you think I'd still qualify for Rural Social Scheme?

_Brian

PCGEN wrote: »

Hi Brian


I'd be getting ?9.25 x 24 hours = ?222 per week (not sure if I'd get 3 days every week)

JA allowance is ?193

Do you think I'd still qualify for Rural Social Scheme?

You'll only get a position if your actually on a suitable SW payment at the time of applying, if you commence work and cease the SW payment then you won't be eligible to make an application for the scheme. I'm not sure if you can work part time and receive JA payment.

If however you get the place on the scheme first while still on the SW payment, and then start the part time job while on the scheme I don't see there will be an issue with you continuing to do both.

PCGEN

Does anyone know if you do get a placement on a Rural Social Scheme, can take up temporary full time work for a couple of months and then return to RSS?