Jobseeker's benefit ending soon- what now?

Olga87

Hi everyone. I am new here and I have a small issues. I hope so somebody will explain me everything.
I am on JB from 12/02/20. I have it only 156 days ( 6 months). I got a letter today from Social department that my benefit is due to stop in the coming weeks. They also send me a form to claim Jobseeker's Allowance.
It's the longest time I don't have a job. I even want to send somewhere, but because of this COvid-19 there is no job offers in my small city. That's why it was for my wasting time during this pandemic, because everything was closed, and no job. Even before was hard to find something. I am just wondering how much do teh can reduce my paymant from JB to JA??
The last time I was on JA I got only 26 euro per week:(( I don't know how even survive with this amount of money.:(
I really want job but there is no job now. How to solve this?? Of course I will claim for JA but I don't even know how much many they can cut. I can imagine 26 euro per week. It is even possible to get just a small amount of money??
I will be grateful for any respond.

wifey28

JA is means tested, So if you have any other income in the household, or have significant savings then yes you can get nothing or very little

Olga87

wifey28 wrote: »

JA is means tested, So if you have any other income in the household, or have significant savings then yes you can get nothing or very little

Are there any stages about maximum income you can get per week?? ( I am saying about spouse civil/partner?)
How do they count this??
I am so sorry If there is too much to ask.
I understand If partner get 400-500 euro per week, but what about 350??? How to pay bills, rent and other thinks??;/

lughildanach

Bills, rent and other expenses are not taken into consideration.

If your spouse/partner has income of 350/week, it will depend on whether they are employed or self-employed.

Self-employed income is assessed at 100%, so you would not receive any payment, unless you have some children.

If your spouse/parnter is employed, then the first 60 euro per week is not counted, and they only take off 60% of the remaining amount. This would mean 350-60 = 290. 60% of 290 = 174. 350 (rate for a couple)-174= 176. So you would receive 176 Euro per week (without children).

If you have children, then depending on how many children you have, there may be other options, eg. Working Family Payment.

lughildanach

Even if you do not receive a Jobseekers payment, it is really important that you arrange to sign for credits. This helps protect your social welfare rights over the next few years, and also helps build up your pension entitlement.

dartboardio

I am on JB since 14/02/20 and also got the exact same letter. However the guy told me when I applied and got accepted that my payment would end in August, over a month away so I won't be doing anything yet they didn't even give a date in the letter ffs.

Surely I may be entitled to another few months of jobseekers benefit if this time 2 years ago I was working full time and would have more prsi contributions now going back 2 years compared to February gone?

As in Feb 2018 I was working part time but full time from May 2018

StackSteevens

dartboardio wrote: »

I am on JB since 14/02/20 and also got the exact same letter. However the guy told me when I applied and got accepted that my payment would end in August, over a month away so I won't be doing anything yet they didn't even give a date in the letter ffs.

Surely I may be entitled to another few months of jobseekers benefit if this time 2 years ago I was working full time and would have more prsi contributions now going back 2 years compared to February gone?

As in Feb 2018 I was working part time but full time from May 2018

Read the rules and see where you fit in:-

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1221b0-jobseekers-benefit/

lughildanach

dartboardio wrote: »

I am on JB since 14/02/20 and also got the exact same letter. However the guy told me when I applied and got accepted that my payment would end in August, over a month away so I won't be doing anything yet they didn't even give a date in the letter ffs.

Surely I may be entitled to another few months of jobseekers benefit if this time 2 years ago I was working full time and would have more prsi contributions now going back 2 years compared to February gone?

As in Feb 2018 I was working part time but full time from May 2018

You may re-qualify for a period of Jobseekers Benefit if you have worked 13 weeks after drawing 6 months of your previous Jobseekers claim. What dates were you working, and what dates were you claiming Jobseekers before?