Changing JSB claim to JA - not worth applying for?

23Skidoo

I've been on JSB since October of last year, it has been spread out as I have been lucky enough to have a couple of part time jobs and was switched to casual dockets for some of that time.

At the moment I'm working 2 days a week so I'm on the casual dockets, and I received the letter informing me that I only have 21 days JSB remaining and will have to apply for JA.

I get paid almost 200 for the 2 days and my husband has gotten himself a full time job since I started claiming, earning over 550 per week. We have one child but I don't get anything extra for her. I find it hard to see how I would qualify for anything at all under the JA means test so is it possible to just not bother applying? Do they keep harassing you if you just let the JB claim run out and not contact them? I would like to try and keep the additional income from the JB for as long as it lasts but if I tell them I am not applying for JA can they cancel my JSB claim?

I'm also only contracted here til November and fingers crossed I will be kept on after that but what happens if I am not? Am I eligible to apply for JB again or would I have to apply for JA if I am let go at the end of my contract? If I am kept on at the current rate of days/pay will I start building up my eligibility for JSB again if I need it in the future?

Thanks for any advice!!

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

You won't qualify for JSA based on the figures given (I'm assuming that that's €550 net your husband earns).

If you don't contact DSP, they generally won't contact you again. Your JSB payment will run it's course and then once the benefit expires, that'll be that. They won't cancel it based on you not applying for JSA, so don't worry.

In order to requalify for JSB, you need to pay 13 class A contributions between the time your claim is closed and when you sign on again, you also need to qualify based on the contributions in the Contribution year 2 years previous to when you make your claim (2014 as it stands). See this page for further info http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Jobseeker's-Benefit.aspx

23Skidoo

Thanks for the reply, his salary is roughly 550 gross but I doubt they give that much leeway for taxes, etc. Plus he may have commission on top of that. Is there an actual figure they put on it as the maximum? I mean, I understand there's a lot of confusion around calculating your means but surely they could just make it very clear that once you receive over €xxx you don't qualify? I've seen that information available for other sw payments like fis, can't understand why it's so hard to get the info for Ja

mp22

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/work_and_jobseekers_allowance.html

Also if you are refused JSA you may be able to sign for credits.

king2

23Skidoo wrote: »

I've been on JSB since October of last year, it has been spread out as I have been lucky enough to have a couple of part time jobs and was switched to casual dockets for some of that time.

At the moment I'm working 2 days a week so I'm on the casual dockets, and I received the letter informing me that I only have 21 days JSB remaining and will have to apply for JA.

I get paid almost 200 for the 2 days and my husband has gotten himself a full time job since I started claiming, earning over 550 per week. We have one child but I don't get anything extra for her. I find it hard to see how I would qualify for anything at all under the JA means test so is it possible to just not bother applying? Do they keep harassing you if you just let the JB claim run out and not contact them? I would like to try and keep the additional income from the JB for as long as it lasts but if I tell them I am not applying for JA can they cancel my JSB claim?

I'm also only contracted here til November and fingers crossed I will be kept on after that but what happens if I am not? Am I eligible to apply for JB again or would I have to apply for JA if I am let go at the end of my contract? If I am kept on at the current rate of days/pay will I start building up my eligibility for JSB again if I need it in the future?

Thanks for any advice!!

I dont think you would be entitled to anything on JA due to your husbands income. If you apply for it they will put you through a means test asking for all details of your income, bank statements, etc and then tell you after much ado that you are entitled to zilch! If you decide not to apply for JA it wont affect your JB payment & they wont hassle you about it, they'll be happy, one less off the books! Can you build up your entitlement to JB again continuing in your current job. Not sure but I suspect not. If you claim JB again after gathering the prsi contributions they might say you are not entitled because you have not suffered a loss of employment.