Qualifying for JB when two years back from US

houseyhouse

Hi everyone. My partner was laid off very suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely no warning and no reason given (we've been told by FLAC he has an 'ironclad' case for wrongful dismissal but that will take time to sort out). He applied for Jobseekers but was told he doesn't qualify for Benefit and we don't pass the means test for Allowance.

My problem is with him not qualifying for JB. We moved back to Ireland from the US in summer 2018. He worked continuously for 2 years 4 months, paying stamps etc. They're saying he can't get JB because he doesn't have 39 stamps for 2018. As far as I can tell US social security credits aren't counted for JB.

It seems mad to me that you can work for 2+ years and not qualify for JB. If he'd been in Ireland claiming the dole in 2018 he'd qualify now but because he was working abroad he doesn't. Does anybody have any similar experience and what did you do? Thanks.

mystic

houseyhouse wrote: »

Hi everyone. My partner was laid off very suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely no warning and no reason given (we've been told by FLAC he has an 'ironclad' case for wrongful dismissal but that will take time to sort out). He applied for Jobseekers but was told he doesn't qualify for Benefit and we don't pass the means test for Allowance.

My problem is with him not qualifying for JB. We moved back to Ireland from the US in summer 2018. He worked continuously for 2 years 4 months, paying stamps etc. They're saying he can't get JB because he doesn't have 39 stamps for 2018. As far as I can tell US social security credits aren't counted for JB.

It seems mad to me that you can work for 2+ years and not qualify for JB. If he'd been in Ireland claiming the dole in 2018 he'd qualify now but because he was working abroad he doesn't. Does anybody have any similar experience and what did you do? Thanks.

Apply in January 2021 when the governing contribution year changes to 2019

zell12

oooh good answer!

houseyhouse

Thank you. He'll apply again in January. We'll be out the few weeks payment but we'll survive. I'm a bit panicky with all this happening right before Christmas, and all the regular bills keep coming in (childcare!!). It just feels a bit crap that he can't qualify even though he's been working and paying in. But I understand that them's the rules and they won't always work perfectly for everybody. In the end we're better off than many this year so I suppose we should remember that and count our blessings.

dartboardio

houseyhouse wrote: »

Thank you. He'll apply again in January. We'll be out the few weeks payment but we'll survive. I'm a bit panicky with all this happening right before Christmas, and all the regular bills keep coming in (childcare!!). It just feels a bit crap that he can't qualify even though he's been working and paying in. But I understand that them's the rules and they won't always work perfectly for everybody. In the end we're better off than many this year so I suppose we should remember that and count our blessings.

Unfortunately the social welfare and other governing bodies in Ireland are so 'black and white' it really is crap! Alot of rules/regulations aren't fair and seem to contradict eachother too.

Good luck!

Dempo1

houseyhouse wrote: »

Hi everyone. My partner was laid off very suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely no warning and no reason given (we've been told by FLAC he has an 'ironclad' case for wrongful dismissal but that will take time to sort out). He applied for Jobseekers but was told he doesn't qualify for Benefit and we don't pass the means test for Allowance.

My problem is with him not qualifying for JB. We moved back to Ireland from the US in summer 2018. He worked continuously for 2 years 4 months, paying stamps etc. They're saying he can't get JB because he doesn't have 39 stamps for 2018. As far as I can tell US social security credits aren't counted for JB.

It seems mad to me that you can work for 2+ years and not qualify for JB. If he'd been in Ireland claiming the dole in 2018 he'd qualify now but because he was working abroad he doesn't. Does anybody have any similar experience and what did you do? Thanks.

Just curious, is he not entitled to JSA? also you mentioned he didn't qualify because of means test? This has nothing to do with contributions, means testing is based on income, assets etc. The JSA is aimed at those who don't have adequate contributions, I could be wrong. JSA is essentially the same amount as JSB. Others may have differing opinion.

houseyhouse

Hi. Thanks for the replies. He didn't qualify for the Allowance because of my income. He didn't qualify for Benefit because of stamps (even though he'd been working for well over two years when he was laid off). I realise we're lucky to have another job in the family but mortgage, childcare costs etc. eat up most of my take home pay so we have very little left without his income. Anyway, he put in a new application on Jan 1st so hopefully we'll get Benefit until he finds another job.