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Jobseekers Allowance - Query

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  • 10-11-2015 4:33pm
    #1
    szita2000
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭


    Hey guys.

    Today I got my Jobseekers Allowance. I got it, however it is an amount that I can not scrape by until I find a job.

    Here is the situation:


    Our income:
    • My wife is in full time employment.
    • She brings home about 1800/month


    Our outgoings:
    • Rent is 1500/month
    • Electricity/gas 150/month (level pay)
    • Water charge 20/month
    • Internet 45/month
    • Waste charge about 25/month
    • Mobiles 20/month (pay as you go)
    • Her travel to work is about 100/month in petrol
    • We do have two loans, one on a car one is a personal loan to the tune of 770/month (I did not expect anyone to cover or care about this)
    • Food is not included in this We can live on little.

    I got the JA come back today as follows:
    Basic Rate:
    • Personal rate 188.00
    • Increase for spouse 124.80
    TOTAL 312.8

    Deductions:
    • Less means/weekly (means from spouse Insurable Payment) 281.00
    TOTAL WEEKLY RATE 31.80

    Am I missing something here?
    • Our rent alone is 1500/month (I understand that it is very expensive, we looking to downsize as we lost one income, however to get out of a lease, and save up the month rent upfront and the deposit is a lost cause)

    Can someone explain how this rate is calculated?
    Is there a general rent price that is taken in to account for the area we live in?

    I am interested to see how I am not qualified for the full personal rate, which would mean a lot.
    At the moment our income and outgoings making a huge negative balance.
    (a rough guide will do)

    Thanks in advance.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Balagan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,168 ✭✭✭Balagan


    Your outgoings, such as rent etc., are not factored in when you are being means tested for Jobseekers Allowance. It is based only on income.


  • Options
    #3
    szita2000
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭szita2000


    Thanks Balagan. This makes sense now.


  • Options
    #4
    szita2000
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭szita2000


    Would anyone know how they come to my wife's means of 281.00 How is her means calculated?


  • Options
    #5
    wellieboot
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭wellieboot


    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/work_and_jobseekers_allowance.html#lee4ad


  • Options
    #6
    haveringchick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭haveringchick


    If your wife was not working at all you would receive 312 (188+124)
    They look at her income 415 per week (1800 *12 / 52)
    They allow 20 per day up to a max of 3 days so 415 -60 leaves 355
    They consider 60% of this to be means
    So 213 is means
    Deduct the means from the payment you would be entitled to if she were not working
    So your entitlement is 99

    Edited to add:
    I see on further reflection that your wife's TAKE HOME is 1800
    Unfortunately only PRSI is allowed, not PAYE or USC
    Thus your entitlement is actually much less
    Outgoing are not taken into account as most outgoings are connected to lifestyle choices
    Hopefully you get another job soon


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