Struggling... what help is available.

Irishphotodesk

Greetings,

Brief background , since March I have been unemployed, received pandemic payment until May - I was given 3 days of work every 2 weeks, my PUP was signed off and then moved to unemployment assistance €163 a week.

My wife works from home part-time getting paid quarterly €1500 so ...earning €500 per month or approx €125 week.

We have 2 schoolgoing kids.

Since March we have been struggling , the lack of income has caused us to get into deeper debt, at present we are paying all bills, mortgage etc but I don’t think we will be able to next month without any assistance.

I’m in receipt of €163 per week from social welfare, I get paid monthly from my 3 days every 2 weeks of work, which works out approx €750 per month, this averages €180 a week.

Is there anything that we might qualify for or someone we could talk to who might be able to help us, I have tried to get in touch with my local social welfare office, but have been told my situation will be reviewed at the end of September, followed by a letter received yesterday saying my unemployment assistance payment is to be reduced by €13 because of some increase that the government introduced previously - which is now being removed.

Since May my bank account has run into over €3k overdraft....and it’s unlikely I will get out of it anytime soon.

zell12

WFP is an option - minimum qualifying limit for 2a2c is €632pw. The payment you receive is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the income limit which applies to your family.
Call the DEASP office again for any other options
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

Irishphotodesk

zell12 wrote: »

WFP is an option - minimum qualifying limit for 2a2c is €632pw. The payment you receive is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the income limit which applies to your family.
Call the DEASP office again for any other options
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

Thank you, will contact them again and ask if we qualify for this and if there is anything else they have which we might qualify for.

screamer

You should contact your service suppliers to see if there is anything they can do for you. Unfortunately the banks blanket payment breaks are gone since today but they are still going on case by case basis, call them, it won’t hurt to ask what they can do for you. Best of luck, and mind yourselves.

Gatling

Reach out to your local st Vincent's ,they might be able to help with shopping vouchers I know it's not exactly not what your looking for but every little helps