Self employment to JSA

Nirnaeth

So, the income from my business fell to almost nothing back in May due to lack of work available in the field so I applied for JSA. I was told I didn't need to close my business so I thought "hey, might as well leave it open in case it picks up". When my claim came through I had at Weekly payment of €12 from JSA. This was actually a correct figure considering how means from self employment are calculated.
In the 10 weeks I was waiting for my claim to come through, I received no income and so decided to de-register my sole trader business on Aug 10th. I canceled my tax with the Revenue finalizing my self employment. I then sent a letter to my local office stating I intended to cease my business. When I received the letter from the Revenue confirming my tax had been cancelled and therefore my business had ceased, I promptly sent this letter in to my local office.

Fast forward a month later I receive a letter saying I still have a means of €88. My only thought is that because I had to sent the Revenue letter in a week after I asked for the review, the officer did not see the Revenue letter and just calculated my means as usual. How can someone who's business has closed down have a means of €88? I have no means.


I hope this can serve as a lesson to people in a similar situation in the future.
Any feedback welcome.

-Nir

Musicman2000

Normally they calculate your means from the previous years earnings . did you send them in your tax returns from the previous year and what you earned?

Nirnaeth

Yep, they calculated my previous earnings. But I figured that was because I left my business open. My business has been closed down for a month and i'm still getting €12 a week. It's like taking someone who lost their jobs previous income and saying you earn €88 regardless of having no means (income) whatsoever. Spoke to a woman in my office who agreed with me that the officer who re-tested my means must not have known my business was closed.

Musicman2000

It shouldn't make a difference if the business is closed or not all they can go by are you earnings. Keep onto them hopefully you will get sorted.

Nirnaeth

So your saying i'm stuck with a weekly rate of €12? That's seems insane to me, how do they expect me to live off that.

Musicman2000

All I'm saying you are means tested on your earnings , not if the business is open or closed. If your are not happy you need to speak with your local social welfare office and fingers crossed they sort it for you.