JSA Application

FrayedEdge

Having lost my job in the UK due to the COVID-19 situation, I returned to Ireland in mid-August to live in my
parents' house, applying for Job Seeker's Allowance soon afterwards by filling out the relevant form online.

Within a couple of days, I received a message in my MyWelfare account acknowledging my application and asking me to upload a picture of my PPS card, which I duly did.

Since then I've heard absolutely nothing back. Every day I check my emails and my MyWelfare account, yet no response arrives.

I've phoned up a couple of times, only to have it explained to me that my claim is pending and that, under the current circumstances, I should expect to wait.

I seem to need a current claim in order to apply for a medical card. I have health conditions that require daily medication, and it seems I can't apply for that until my claim is accepted.

I'm feeling more and more despondent and in despair over the situation

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to expedite the process? I'm very worried.

I'd be extremely grateful for any advice offered.

Thank you.

Cherry Blossom

Ask for an appointment at your local intreo office to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. This is a payment to tide you over till your JSA comes through. You will need to bring all bank statements etc with you.

FrayedEdge

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Ask for an appointment at your local intreo office to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. This is a payment to tide you over till your JSA comes through. You will need to bring all bank statements etc with you.

Thank you very much for your advice.

I know we live in difficult and unusual times, and I know I'm no more important than anyone else. But is the time I've already been waiting fairly standard, or ought I to be worried?

Cherry Blossom

I am not sure as I don’t know anyone who applied recently. From reading posts in this forum lately though they seem to be prioritising pup applications and online applications are taking longer than applications made in writing/in person at the office. I assume you would also have to fulfill the habitual residence condition which may cause your application to take longer as you had been out of the country.

square ball

FrayedEdge wrote: »

Thank you very much for your advice.

I know we live in difficult and unusual times, and I know I'm no more important than anyone else. But is the time I've already been waiting fairly standard, or ought I to be worried?

It is quite slow. The waiting times are normal unfortunately and will get worse. Send an email requesting an update. The online claims are not being dealt by local offices so they won't have information on the claim.

Contact your community welfare officer if you are struggling to meet committments, eg loans, bills etc and they may be able to speed it up.

FrayedEdge

square ball wrote: »

It is quite slow. The waiting times are normal unfortunately and will get worse. Send an email requesting an update. The online claims are not being dealt by local offices so they won't have information on the claim.

Contact your community welfare officer if you are struggling to meet committments, eg loans, bills etc and they may be able to speed it up.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. And thank you for your advice.

I'm aware this is a difficult situation for everyone involved and I don't expect preferential treatment, but I'm really struggling at the moment and I know my family's support and patience, for which I'm hugely grateful, has its limits. I have borrowed money and relied on goodwill that I will need to repay.

Hopefully I won't be waiting too much longer.

hawkeyethenoo

I applied for jobseekers on the 29th of September and it has just been granted today 27th October. Someone rang me today from a social welfare office to confirm my address. So I was waiting nearly 4 weeks if that helps. Does anyone know if it’s backdated to the day I applied? It says start date 29th October so I’m not sure.

walter the second

My Appliction, from filling it out on myWelfare.ie on the first October, took about 3 weeks before money finally landed in my account.

You're always I think better off sending an email rather than phoning your local Intreo Office, that way there's a record and they have to answer.

My start date of unemployment: 31 August, but it wasn't back dated to this unfortunately. I'm going to send an email asking why not, it should be.

square ball

FrayedEdge wrote: »

Thank you for taking the time to reply. And thank you for your advice.

I'm aware this is a difficult situation for everyone involved and I don't expect preferential treatment, but I'm really struggling at the moment and I know my family's support and patience, for which I'm hugely grateful, has its limits. I have borrowed money and relied on goodwill that I will need to repay.

Hopefully I won't be waiting too much longer.

Contact your local office and ask to make an application for an emergency payment to tide you over until a decision has been made.

square ball

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

I applied for jobseekers on the 29th of September and it has just been granted today 27th October. Someone rang me today from a social welfare office to confirm my address. So I was waiting nearly 4 weeks if that helps. Does anyone know if it’s backdated to the day I applied? It says start date 29th October so I’m not sure.

It should be. It will say the date on your decision letter.

square ball

walter the second wrote: »

My Appliction, from filling it out on myWelfare.ie on the first October, took about 3 weeks before money finally landed in my account.

You're always I think better off sending an email rather than phoning your local Intreo Office, that way there's a record and they have to answer.

My start date of unemployment: 31 August, but it wasn't back dated to this unfortunately. I'm going to send an email asking why not, it should be.

Probably because you only applied on first of October. You could have been doing anything in the intervening period.

You may need to explain to them the reason you didn't apply as soon as you became unemployed.

StackSteevens

walter the second wrote: »

My start date of unemployment: 31 August, but it wasn't back dated to this unfortunately. I'm going to send an email asking why not, it should be.

I'm unfamiliar with the online application form, but part 8 of the paper form asks: "If you did not claim as soon as you became unemployed, please state the reason why: ....... " and also asks the date you wish to clam from.

Did you complete those questions on the online application (assuming that they exist!).

walter the second

Part 8 of the paper form asks: "If you did not claim as soon as you became unemployed, please state the reason why: ....... " and also asks the date you wish to clam from.

No, this isn't on the online application form. TBH I was looking for a job as soon as my one was over, thought I mightn't even need to apply for social welfare at all. But after a month thought it would be smarter....

In any case I've emailed my local Intreo office to see what's going on.

***UPDATE***

In fairness quick reply, just got this now after emailing them today:

Hello (my name),

A Jobseeker's Claim is only effective from date of application.

The onus is on the customer to apply as soon as he becomes unemployed. We can look at backdate if sufficient proof is given of job-seeking efforts but none of this was submitted with your claim.

Please fully complete the attached form UP45a and forward 1 proof per week of having applied for positions/registering with agencies etc.

walter the second

walter the second wrote: »

Part 8 of the paper form asks: "If you did not claim as soon as you became unemployed, please state the reason why: ....... " and also asks the date you wish to clam from.

No, this isn't on the online application form. TBH I was looking for a job as soon as my one was over, thought I mightn't even need to apply for social welfare at all. But after a month thought it would be smarter....

In any case I've emailed my local Intreo office to see what's going on.

***UPDATE***

In fairness quick reply, just got this now after emailing them today:

Hello (my name),

A Jobseeker's Claim is only effective from date of application.

The onus is on the customer to apply as soon as he becomes unemployed. We can look at backdate if sufficient proof is given of job-seeking efforts but none of this was submitted with your claim.

Please fully complete the attached form UP45a and forward 1 proof per week of having applied for positions/registering with agencies etc.