Forgot to notify Welfare of recent holiday, and now have bank statements review...

Tedious Bore

I went away for a week in October, which was my first holiday of any sort in years and completely forgot that I'm supposed to notify social welfare in advance.

Then got an unrelated letter today asking for 3months of bank statements to confirm I've no substantial savings hidden away, but I'm just realising now there's that week of all my transactions abroad showing in bank statement.

Would anyone know is this likely to be something they're looking out for? and would they warn you rather than cut payments or whatever?

Thanks for any helpful infos

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219803/forgot-to-notify-welfare-of-recent-holiday-and-now-have-bank-statements-review

Whilst it was an error not to inform them, this I believe is just a standard review. They will primarily be looking at lodgements (any evidence of income) and of course balance for the purposes of level of savings you have.

Actual transactions should not be an issue apart from lodgements.

SureYWouldntYa

Can you just blank out the transactions, in particular the expenses? Does it say on the letter that you need to show what the transactions are? If not, tippex over the name and leave the amounts

hawthorne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224263#Comment_118224263

LOL!

Very bad advice! Blanking out stuff will automatically lead to curiosity. SW will ask about the hidden stuff for sure.

My advice: Hand in the bank statement and see what's happening. I bet they only check for incoming money or saved amounts you did not declare when you signed on. It is a routine check.

You always can tell them the truth when they come back to you asking you about certain transactions. All you can expect about the holidays is a warning from SW- that is all. They won't take away your money or throw you off your payment.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224909#Comment_118224909

Correct, incoming transactions all their interested in and possible balance, advising anyone to tipex out transactions, extraordinary 🙄

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224936#Comment_118224936

If you went on a foreign holiday without informing them, it is an indication that there maybe hidden income, you can expect to be queried on it.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224263#Comment_118224263

You might as well put a nice big red circle on the transactions to help them easily identify them….

The people who do these reviews are not fools, they are professionals who do this stuff everyday. They have seen it all before and heard the BS stories - their reaction will be to put a very big magnifying glass over such transactions.

Quags

Are you not allowed go away if on welfare?

Dempo1

Honestly, from what OP has said, I don't believe the Holiday is the issue here, it would seem more like a coincidence the timing of a review which happen regularly.

SW are permitted to take holidays albeit recepients must notify the department. With the exception of travel restrictions during pandemic there is no restriction on were a person can take their holidays.

The OP has not said the Department is even aware of the holiday and maybe linking the review to the holiday taken, I'm not clear on this. Yes it was an error not to inform department but its not a hanging offence and can easily be explained, lack of understanding of rules etc.

Submit what's been requested OP, they are only interested in any potential other income (lodgements) and possibly balance.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118225152#Comment_118225152

You certainly are.

Holidays and social welfare payments

In general you can take up to 2 weeks holidays each year and have your social welfare payment paid. However you must always contact your local Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or your Department of Social Protection (DSP) representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) to check your entitlements before planning or taking holidays. If you plan to take longer holidays or to be abroad for an extended period your social welfare payment may not be paid.

TooTired123

Just this week I was acting for a lady on OPFP. She had submitted bank statements in the course of a review. The SW Inspector wrote to her asking for a written explanation of a lodgement of €100 ( a friend owed her accumulated small borrowings) and €125 going OUT every month described on the bank statement as “utilities”. (She’s sharing a rented house with others. €125 is paid to the bank account of the housemate who pays the bills).

I rang the Inspector who kindly told me that all unexplained transactions have to be explained.

Tedious Bore

Hi, thanks everybody for all your helpful replies, I really appreciate it.

Wasn't sure what the story was regarding privacy more generally as well, as in I wondered if some people might leave all the amounts showing for transactions but blur out where/what they'd been spending their money on. Like I would've thought you should be able to spend your money on anything from sex toys to necessary meds without having privacy compromised, but maybe they want to be certain you're not sending to a second bank account

Anyway, I'll send the statements in to them and just be prepared to explain myself if asked.

Thanks for your help

mystic

Staff doing means reviews are only really concerned about lodgments into accounts but will also notice unusual transactions in another country. You may be called in to explain the transactions.

Perhaps send in a note with the statements explaining you were away and forgot to notify them.

You are allowed to take holidays but they are noted on the system to ensure you are only paid for two weeks.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118230788#Comment_118230788

You’ve hit the nail on the head there with the “other” bank accounts. That’s how the inspector explained it to me.

Wanderer78

no harm in setting up a revolut account, just to give yourself another option, but id say theres nothing to truly worry about in this review, id also recommend increasing your cash only transactions, it ll reduce the amount of information on your statements. best of luck

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232020#Comment_118232020

Why would this person need a Revolut account?

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118230788#Comment_118230788

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232020#Comment_118232020

I'm afraid the olden days of having a few walking around money accounts in seperate banks that nobody knows about are long gone. Revenue have the accounts reported to them annually by the financial institutions, this is done via the PPS number you have given to the bank when setting up your account.

Tedious Bore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118233859#Comment_118233859

I can confirm the letter I received asks for details of all accounts, specificlly mentioning... AnPost , credit unions, Revolut , etc

Is that definitely true about the financial institutions sharing bank account details with Revenue via PPS though? I have a barely used AIB account with less than a hundred in it, which I keep meaning to dig out the details for to just close the account. Bit worried now they might been notified by AIB of this!

I assume there must be some crafty heads out there who just keep savings in cryptocurrencies stuff as well

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234016#Comment_118234016

Whilst it is correct that PPSN are now required to open new bank accounts, including online accounts it was my understanding that Revenue only share data on DIRT tax charged on investments, savings etc, in other words if your paying a large amount of DIRT tax you've clearly got an income source.

Whilst I'm not doubting the mechanism is there to share Accounts information with SW, I'd be doubtful Revenue would be sharing every bank details of Irish Citizens with SW, again I can't be 100% sure but I believe the sharing of data centres around Dirt tax. Its not your Bank sharing Data with SW, it's Revenue.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118233813#Comment_118233813

always handy, people can forward you money into your revolut, you can pay them in cash, resulting in less information on your bank statements

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234016#Comment_118234016

yup they asked for it, that actually doesnt mean you have to share all!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118233859#Comment_118233859

true, but just sometimes, departments have poor communications between themselves, resulting in happy days!

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234016#Comment_118234016

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234561#Comment_118234561

Revenue are communicating constantly with SW and vis versa. The best advice to follow is to tell SW about all the accounts you have open even accounts with only a couple of €s in.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234963#Comment_118234963

They are but not regarding bank accounts, they are cross referencing any PAYE income against SW recepients, most notably PUP recepients. But I do agree, OP should supply whatever has been requested.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234476#Comment_118234476

The very best advice in order to avoid any problems down the line is to co operate with SW when they ask for evidence of entitlement to payments. There’s really nothing to worry about and financial statements are pretty easy to get hold of. The means test for JSA is quite generous at €20000 disregarded, I think.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118234988#Comment_118234988

Yes I agree

Tedious Bore

Thanks, I will be sure and supply info for all accounts

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219803/forgot-to-notify-welfare-of-recent-holiday-and-now-have-bank-statements-review

I cannot offer advise but it be best give what they ask for as blanking out will raise questions...

Is it normal practice for SW to ask for statements... i never heard of this before...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118225152#Comment_118225152

Well you're not looking for work, are you?

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235100#Comment_118235100

They’ve asked for statements since I started dealing with the 17 years ago. If you’re asking for a means tested payment then you have to show all your financial circumstances so they can ascertain how much extra income you need every week in order to live from day to day.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235160#Comment_118235160

You do realise not all welfare payments require a person to be looking for work...

BingCrosbee

I worked as an Employment Advisor and all they want to see is that you have no substantial income lodged to your account and that your welfare claim is legitimate.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235160#Comment_118235160

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235160#Comment_118235160

the OP doesn’t say which payment their getting, but even if they are on JSA they are still entitled to 2 weeks holidays from the conditions of being looking for and available for work each year.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235100#Comment_118235100

It is and has been for quite some time, infact generally required for all new claims requiring a means test

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235303#Comment_118235303

Correct

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235160#Comment_118235160

Completely irrelevant to the question being asked, all SW RECEIPIENTS are entitled to take up to 2 weeks holidays without their payment being affected, they only require people to notify them.

mystic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235401#Comment_118235401

Not true to say 2 weeks holidays apply to ALL SW recipients. This doesn't apply to people getting certain payments. For example, State Pension (Contributory), Invalidity Pension, etc.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235548#Comment_118235548

Your being pedantic, you know full well I'm referring to Jobseeker's payments, why would you seriously believe someone on a pension would need permission to take holidays 🤔

Do you seriously believe people on pensions have their payments cut if they take holidays 🙄

TooTired123

There’s plenty of information available online from very reliable sources about rights and entitlement regarding SW. I’m always amazed that so few citizens will familiarize themselves with even the basics. Joe Duffy demonstrates this day in and day out on Liveline.

mystic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118235822#Comment_118235822

You clearly said "all" payments and I merely pointed out that was incorrect.

If you meant Jobseekers payments you should have specified that type of payment.

There are lots of categories of SW payments, not just Jobseekers.

I know full well that people on pensions can take holidays without penalty. I also know they can receive a payment if they live abroad.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118236819#Comment_118236819

If you were actually following the thread, rather than coming in a little late in the day you'd have known what I was referring too.

Keep up and perhaps look back at the OP and the correct advice I've given

Again, your being deliberately pedantic 🙄

I suspect most sensible people know the difference between a Jobseekers payment, A pension and or illness or disability payment FFS

mystic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118236837#Comment_118236837

Truth hurts, does it?

I did comment on the thread and and offered advice.

You also stated that transactions that weren't lodgements would not be looked at. This is not true either.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118236848#Comment_118236848

Fascinating posters come onto a thread, have clearly no idea what's being discussed, pick a comment and criticize it for the sake of criticising wether its boredom, baiting or just Sunday evening silliness, who knows .

You've made your silly point, clearly don't like my response, so be it but perhaps in future , contrubte rather than be condescending.

Good night 🙄

mystic

I genuinely think you're the one being condescending and don't like being told when you're wrong.

Good night. 👋

square ball

Let the SW office know about the holiday you took. Admit that you forgot to notify them at the time and give them details of your flights boarding passes or whatever.

You are entitled to a holiday on most payments once you notify the office before going abroad.

A certain amount of claims are flagged for review every year but there could be any number of reasons they are looking for your bank statements.

If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about.