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jobseekers benefit questions

  • 01-02-2015 6:19pm
    #1
    irishash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 657 ✭✭✭


    Last year, after a period of 15 months looking for a job, my wife applied to the social welfare for jobseekers benefit. It was more to do with the advantage of getting access to courses and further education rather than about any kind of monetary reason. But because I had a full.ti.e job, they told her that she was not entitled to any benefit at this time. I should also point out that my wife is from Poland and apart from a few part time jobs, she has not had a full time job in Ireland since arriving to live here over 3 years ago.

    Our situation has now changing in that I am only working 20 hours a week and we would like to re-apply for the benefit, but from previous discussions with social welfare, they gave the impression that we would be expected to spend our savings before any help was forthcoming.

    As I mentioned before, she would like this benefit more for the access to courses and further education than anything else. We were told that if she is not getting the benefit, she cant get prioritised on any FAS sponsered course.

    Is there any reason she should not be allowed to claim the benefit? Looking for help as I would like to know as much info before we go for a new appointment. I am clueless about all this as I have never had to claim myself. Any advice would be very welcome.


Comments

  • #2
    eastbono
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭eastbono


    It seems from what you have posted that your wife doesnt have any entltlement to jobseekers benefit but did apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment and was found to be means in excess due to your earnings. Your circumstances have now changed and your wife can re-apply for jsa and be means tested. If you have any captital over €20,000 then that is also assessed as is any property you may have other than your principal residence. Any earnings you have will be assessed against your wifes claim. Just a quick question could you not have paid for a course for your wife? Its not the Departments job to provide education to anyone.


  • #3
    irishash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 657 ✭✭✭irishash


    eastbono wrote: »
    It seems from what you have posted that your wife doesnt have any entltlement to jobseekers benefit but did apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment and was found to be means in excess due to your earnings. Your circumstances have now changed and your wife can re-apply for jsa and be means tested. If you have any captital over €20,000 then that is also assessed as is any property you may have other than your principal residence. Any earnings you have will be assessed against your wifes claim. Just a quick question could you not have paid for a course for your wife? Its not the Departments job to provide education to anyone.

    I have sourced courses for her but they are quite expensive. We are burning through our saving right now. I am not looking to get a free ride, more trying to accept any help that the state is wiling to provide. If this is not possible then we will be forced to move location which will have a large impact on my ability to support us both. Like I said before neither of us have ever taken a penny from this state and we would both like to keep it that way. We are simply looking for assistence in trying to find her stable employment, but it seems that FAS only want to help people getting social.


  • #4
    eastbono
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭eastbono


    If your hours and earnings have reduced considerably then its possible that she may qualify for jobseekers allowance. If she does qualify then she can apply for courses through FAS. Again if your capital is less than €20,000 then this will not be assessed against here claim. I dont know who told you that you would have to use up all your savings but that is incorrect.


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