JSA Rate / BTEA

donnyb28

Hey guys, my JSA rate at the moment is €144 (rate for 25 year old) with each days worked deducted from that, I'm coming from BTEA for the summer months.

Is my JSA claim seen as a fresh application moving from BTEA, because If not should I not be on the €188 rate being 25, I was on JSA since 2012 and then moved to BTEA September 2013, before the rate changed to full payment for 26 year old in January 15 2014, see here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/jobseekers_allowance.html

Any help appreciated!

eastbono

Were you ever on €188. When did you reach 25? What rate were you on for BTEA.

donnyb28

eastbono wrote: »

Were you ever on €188. When did you reach 25? What rate were you on for BTEA.

Thanks for the reply...
No, I was on age reduced payment as I was 23-24 at the time, for BTEA I was on €120 (€160- mean earnings per week)

I reached 25 at the end of last March. I'm wondering if I should be on the higher rate, if the new rules of being 26 or over don't apply to me as its not a new application. I asked at the office but they didn't really have an clear answer.

Wondering is anyone else in the same situation?

eastbono

The new rules do apply to you. If you had been in receipt of the higher rate in January then it wouldnt have been reduced but the fact that you werent 25 until March means that you wont go to €188 until your 26th Birthday.

donnyb28

eastbono wrote: »

The new rules do apply to you. If you had been in receipt of the higher rate in January then it wouldnt have been reduced but the fact that you werent 25 until March means that you wont go to €188 until your 26th Birthday.

It's odd because last year I got €144 even though the maximum rate was €100 for 24 (which I was at that time) , so would it not increase the same as last year because of previous claims?

'People whose claim is linked to a previous JA claim made within the previous 12 months to which the maximum personal rate applied'

eastbono

The maximum rate last year for 24 was €144. If you had been 25 before January when the budget came into being then you would have been on €188 but the fact that you didnt reach the age of 25 until March means that your rate remains at the lower rate until you reach 26.

Have a look at this from citizens info

Claimants before 15 January 2014
There are no reductions in rates for claimants aged between 18 and 25 who were getting a higher rate before 15 January 2014. (People aged 18-21 got €100, people aged 22-24 got €144 and at 25 the full personal JA rate was payable.) However their payments will increase in line with the new rates.

For example, John turned 22 on 5 January 2014. He has been claiming JA since January 2013 and his rate increased from €100 to €144 on 5 January 2014. John can continue to get a rate of €144. If John continues to claim JA his rate will increase to €188 on his 26th birthday.

Mary is aged 21 and was getting a JA payment of €100 before 15 January 2014. She will turn 22 on 2 March 2014. Mary will continue to get a rate of €100. If Mary continues to claim JA her rate will increase to €144 on her 25th birthday and to €188 on her 26th birthday.

donnyb28

Cool, thanks for clarifying.