House call

Seanachai

A friend recently lost his job and applied for JSA, he just got a letter saying that an inspecor will be calling around next week. If a claimant is not applying for rent allowance why would a house call be necessary?

Gatling

Standard procedure

Balagan

When you apply for a means-tested payment, a Social Welfare Inspector will ask for details of your means. The Inspector may do this at your local Social Welfare Office or may call to you at your home. The Inspector will need to ask you for details about the items that count as means. You may be asked to produce documents such as accounts or bank statements. Your means decision is made by a separate Deciding Officer.
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Social-assistance-Payments.aspx

Seanachai

Gatling wrote: »

Standard procedure

I never had to meet any inspectors at home when I applied, it was almost ten years ago though. Why do they need to call around when they already have all the documents and rent allowance isn't being applied for? Are they going to make an itenary of the applicances and possessions in the house or something?

Bobthefireman

It's because it's allowance rather than benefit. Check that all details on application are factual. No. of dependents etc...

Balagan

Seanachai wrote: »

I never had to meet any inspectors at home when I applied, it was almost ten years ago though. Why do they need to call around when they already have all the documents and rent allowance isn't being applied for? Are they going to make an itenary of the applicances and possessions in the house or something?

The Inspector's visit is to confirm the information given on the JSA application form in respect to status and means etc.

Seanachai

Balagan wrote: »

The Inspector's visit is to confirm the information given on the JSA application form in respect to status and means etc.

Would they not do a surprise visit then?, you can have the house looking like a Roman cell if you have advance notice. If you're renting or living in a nice house would that go against your claim. It doesn't seem like a very effective way of gauging somebodies means, I thought that's what looking into the accounts was all about.

mp22

Seanachai wrote: »

Would they not do a surprise visit then?, you can have the house looking like a Roman cell if you have advance notice. If you're renting or living in a nice house would that go against your claim. It doesn't seem like a very effective way of gauging somebodies means, I thought that's what looking into the accounts was all about.

That would be fraud or attempting same,we don't discuss that here thanks.