Welfare Question

michael_b_

I recently started a new job as my old job was unreliable for hours etc. I'm on contractual work so some weeks I earn a decent living and other weeks nothing.

It's part time work but because of my earning some weeks I was wondering can welfare see how much you've been paid? Do they have access to the amount of tax you've paid?

If they do then it'll seem that I am being paid far more than I actually am as I'm initially taxed on the assumption that I'm being paid for 52 weeks. (I claim the weeks I've been over taxed back at the end of the year).

When I do work it is part time but I can earn up to €500 in those two days. While then on other weeks I may earn €0. Sometimes I may have work for 3-4 weeks in a row and other times (like this week) I may not for 2 weeks.

I understand that I'm not entitled to anything on the weeks that I earn and that I am entitled to an allowance on the weeks that I don't work.

I suppose what I am wondering is do welfare look at your tax paid to see what you are earning as it may seem like I'm earning more than I actually am.

I apologise for the long winded message, any help would be very much appreciated.

Squatter

michael_b_ wrote: »

I recently started a new job as my old job was unreliable for hours etc. I'm on contractual work so some weeks I earn a decent living and other weeks nothing.

It's part time work but because of my earning some weeks I was wondering can welfare see how much you've been paid? Do they have access to the amount of tax you've paid?

If they do then it'll seem that I am being paid far more than I actually am as I'm initially taxed on the assumption that I'm being paid for 52 weeks. (I claim the weeks I've been over taxed back at the end of the year).

When I do work it is part time but I can earn up to €500 in those two days. While then on other weeks I may earn €0. Sometimes I may have work for 3-4 weeks in a row and other times (like this week) I may not for 2 weeks.

I understand that I'm not entitled to anything on the weeks that I earn and that I am entitled to an allowance on the weeks that I don't work.

I suppose what I am wondering is do welfare look at your tax paid to see what you are earning as it may seem like I'm earning more than I actually am.

I apologise for the long winded message, any help would be very much appreciated.

If you want Social Welfare to know what your average weekly income has been over a period of weeks or months, then the best thing to do is to give them your payslips on a regular basis. Your payslip should have details of both your weekly and your cumulative pay - which is what they're looking for. They're not interested in your tax affairs - just in your weekly means.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, the only way that the DSP can find out what tax you've paid is early in the following year after your employer has filed his P35 with Revenue - or if you have given them a P45 during the year.

(Obviously, if you give them a P60, then they'll know what tax you paid during the previous year!)

Even Revenue don't know how much tax you've paid in a given year until your employer files the P35!