Means tested twice in 4 months, huge difference

Always Tired

I started a part time job in September and was means tested and found that based on my income of 350.00 over 3 weeks that they would deduct 18.00 euro for every day worked on the Xs and Os dockets.

Then an inspector sent a letter that they were to call and i had to produce pay slips and bank statements again. I wasn't even told this was another means test or what it was for.

Now they have sent a letter saying I will have 46.00 deducted for every day I work.

They have my income over a 28 day period to be 2,721.6 euro. I am on the national minimum wage and working 2-3 days per week. I don't know where they could be getting that number from. That would put my yearly income at nearly 33 grand a year! I dont have a payslip for more than two hundred something in any recent week. It's baffling.

It says you can appeal but it doesn't make clear what address to write to. And I wonder why was I means tested twice in succession so quickly after coming off the dole to a part time min wage job. Seems fishy.

Always Tired

Always Tired wrote: »

I started a part time job in September and was means tested and found that based on my income of 350.00 over 3 weeks that they would deduct 18.00 euro for every day worked on the Xs and Os dockets.

Then an inspector sent a letter that they were to call and i had to produce pay slips and bank statements again. I wasn't even told this was another means test or what it was for.

Now they have sent a letter saying I will have 46.00 deducted for every day I work.

They have my income over a 28 day period to be 2,721.6 euro. I am on the national minimum wage and working 2-3 days per week. I don't know where they could be getting that number from. That would put my yearly income at nearly 33 grand a year! I dont have a payslip for more than two hundred something in any recent week. It's baffling.

It says you can appeal but it doesn't make clear what address to write to. And I wonder why was I means tested twice in succession so quickly after coming off the dole to a part time min wage job. Seems fishy.

Is the €350 per week or total for 3 weeks?
How many hours a week are you working?

Always Tired

Always Tired wrote: »

I started a part time job in September and was means tested and found that based on my income of 350.00 over 3 weeks that they would deduct 18.00 euro for every day worked on the Xs and Os dockets.

Then an inspector sent a letter that they were to call and i had to produce pay slips and bank statements again. I wasn't even told this was another means test or what it was for.

Now they have sent a letter saying I will have 46.00 deducted for every day I work.

They have my income over a 28 day period to be 2,721.6 euro. I am on the national minimum wage and working 2-3 days per week. I don't know where they could be getting that number from. That would put my yearly income at nearly 33 grand a year! I dont have a payslip for more than two hundred something in any recent week. It's baffling.

It says you can appeal but it doesn't make clear what address to write to. And I wonder why was I means tested twice in succession so quickly after coming off the dole to a part time min wage job. Seems fishy.

Having in excess of the €20,000 allowed before means testing kicks in would be taken into account, likewise income from property or a cohabitant earning and/or with savings, or income from maintenance if separated or, if you are under 25, living with parents. Details of the means test here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/means_test_for_jobseekers_allowance.html Helpful details here re calculating when you have income from part time work: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/work_and_jobseekers_allowance.html

Info on the Social Welfare Appeals Office and links and guidance re the procedure here: https://www.socialwelfareappeals.ie/
You can make an appeal within 21 days of receiving the decision. The Chief Appeals Officer has discretion to extend this period in certain limited circumstances.

Always Tired

I literally have no means in terms of savings, property etc.

I think they actually meant that my income was 2741 over 28 weeks not days, which would make more sense.

Still, they've calculated my income based on me working 2 days per week but it varies from 1-4, but because they are saying I work 2 days per week they are making it look like I earn more per day than I do, and the first means test had the max 60.00 disregard for working 3 days and this has only 40.00.

So they are going to deduct 46.00 euro for every shift I work. If i work 2 days i make about 140.00 and they are going to take 92.00 off my payment. So I'll be working for 24.00 a shift. Minus the cost of commuting to work (5er taxi unless the weather is good, i usually walk home even if it is raining). Which i pay not just on my days on shift, but often on my day off to complete the dockets that have to be signed by a manager filled out and dropped into the SW office by wednesday it's basically not going to be worth it to keep this job as it's quite stressful at times. Definitely not worth less than 20 quid a day which is what I'll end up with.

I much prefer to be working so this is really annoying but to take the guts of 50 quid a day for a min wage job where you earn 70 a day there is no point.

Ave Sodalis

OP, they could be correct. I have about the same taken off me for every day I work and likewise, I earn minimum wage. I also only get €107 as a base, so I get €15 if I work two days, and nothing if I work three. I would ask in the office about the income error, but the amount removed is not outside of standard.

Always Tired

Thanks Ave. That's crazy you can't even work 3 days on min wage or you lose your whole payment altogether. Years ago i was on the same wage and they only took thirty something.

I will still question it and possibly appeal. The 2nd means test was done quite hastily and i wasn't even told that's what the meeting was for. It says I earn 97.00 every day I am in work but obvs on min wage you don't get that much.

Was quite annoyed to get this letter the Saturday before Christmas, 3 days after meeting with the SW officer. 4 months ago they said they would only take 18.00. Perhaps that was a mistake.

Hopefully the New Year I can find full time work but I think I'll have to move to do that. Very little going in my neck of the woods. Sick of dealing with the social, was on job path for a year didn't get referred to a single job and i manage to get something myself finally and now they've fixed it so it's barely worth it. It's hard work too.