Please tell me this is not possible

fplfan12345 · 01-04-2025 04:12AM #1

I’ve recently spoke to an old schoolmate that I haven’t seen for about 20-25 years. I don’t like to say it but he’s never really progressed in life and has relied on state benefits for his entire life.

He told me a story that I almost refuse to believe is possible. Himself and his cousin sign on in Ireland but live and work (cash in hand) in Northern France. They take it in turns to fly home every other month to sign on.

So one will fly home and stay in Ireland for about 24 hours. They will sign on then come back that same day and sign on for the cousin.

Is he winding me up ?

Surely all Irish government agencies share information and it can been seen that they are flying in and out every month and also claiming benefits ?

And why don’t they have a photo in the database so only the person receiving the benefit can sign every month ?

As much as I like to live and let live this is irking me no end.

Avatar in the Post · 01-04-2025 06:05AM

“I don’t like to say it but he’s never really progressed in life and has relied on state benefits for his entire life.”

He’s hardly relying on state benefits if working.

Some people commit SW fraud for many years. Very few that go around bragging about it get away it.

newuser... · 01-04-2025 06:11AM

Dont they have to collect at po

billyhead · 01-04-2025 07:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315555#Comment_123315555

You can be paid into your bank account.

beachhead · 01-04-2025 07:54AM

Entirely possible,it was a career for people before the psc card was introduced.It must still be happening if claimants are not being asked for ID to collect money.Transfer into a bank a/c avoids that.But what about answering letters as to what you are doing to get employment?

suvigirl · 01-04-2025 07:54AM

Surely all Irish government agencies share information and it can been seen that they are flying in and out every month and also claiming benefits

Which government agency are keeping tabs on the travel movements of all citizens OP? It's not Communist Russia.

Is it true? Maybe. Some people commit fraud. Job seekers usually have to sign for their payments at a Post Office, but if they have been collecting for years then it's possible they are being paid into bank accounts for years. If you feel very strongly about it, you can always report suspected fraud

Dial Hard · 01-04-2025 07:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315608#Comment_123315608

Not Jobseekers, you can't, it has to be collected in person every week.

Necro · 01-04-2025 07:58AM

Nice April fools, OP. Reeled a few in😂

Hermy · 01-04-2025 08:00AM

"…he’s never really progressed in life…"

Do you mean he's opted not to climb the career ladder?

I wouldn't necessarily see that as a lack of progress.

Murph_D · 01-04-2025 08:00AM

April Fool.

Dial Hard · 01-04-2025 08:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315626#Comment_123315626

I was just coming back to say, I've just copped the date...

Beechwoodspark · 01-04-2025 08:16AM

OP if this is true I beseech you - REPORT REPORT REPORT him to the authorities.

Deregos. · 01-04-2025 08:27AM

Its not even 8.30 and so far it's this and Trump buying Shannon airport.

fplfan12345 · 01-04-2025 08:41AM

Genuinely didn’t realise the date and no it’s not a childish prank.

I assumed technology would allow the social welfare department to have a relationship with the whatever agency tracks people coming in and out of the country and have the ability to cross check.

Anytime I’ve entered Ireland I’ve had my passport scanned.

Mrs OBumble · 01-04-2025 08:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315693#Comment_123315693

If you're not winding us up, he was winding you up.

Yes, welfare do check flight data. And yes, there's a photo on the social welfare sign in card

Calahonda52 · 01-04-2025 09:16AM

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/maryland-father-mistakenly-deported-el-salvador-prison?cid=ios_app

Try this for size

The Trump administration conceded in a court filing Monday that it mistakenly deported a Maryland father to El Salvador “because of an administrative error” and argued it could not return him because he’s now in Salvadoran custody.

fplfan12345 · 01-04-2025 09:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315701#Comment_123315701

Thanks for clearing it up. I assumed/hoped this would be the case but now I don’t understand how they’re getting away with it as I know he’s not lying.

For everyone else - Why would I come to the correct forum to ask a question as a wind-up ? Surely I’d just go to after hours. You guys are too cynical.

Necro · 01-04-2025 09:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315795#Comment_123315795

At 4am in the morning on 1st April? Come on dude.

Ash.J.Williams · 01-04-2025 09:33AM

Seems like a lot of effort

fatherted1969 · 01-04-2025 09:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315619#Comment_123315619

If you were out of work in the morning you'd be getting those letter fairly quickly. Think SW deem some people unemployable and so use their discretion to just continue to pay out with no problems. We all know people who have never worked or haven't for a long number of years but don't seem to have any bother keeping their payment

SCOOP 64 · 01-04-2025 10:13AM

With the new system won't he's dole money gradually go down anyway.

csirl · 01-04-2025 10:24AM

It's Ireland. Nobody polices anything and there's no such thing as compliance. Everything runs on the honour system.

AndrewJRenko · 01-04-2025 10:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315981#Comment_123315981

There's 6,000 people out there roaring in disagreement at you.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/02/21/investigators-found-6000-cases-of-suspected-welfare-fraud-last-year/

endofrainbow · 01-04-2025 11:48AM

If he's on JSA, how does he prove he's genuinely looking for work and interacting with job search programmes? I smell bs.

zell12 · 01-04-2025 01:06PM

It is possible during pandemic over a period of 72 weeks from September 2020 to February 2022

https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/courts/father-and-son-living-in-spain-but-had-social-welfare-payments-collected-and-sent-to-them-from-sligo/a1000968869.html

AndrewJRenko · 01-04-2025 02:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123316532#Comment_123316532

Idiot of a postmaster should have been on trial too.

Dempo1 · 01-04-2025 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058404721/please-tell-me-this-is-not-possible

What you are referring to is a recent Fraud Case widely reported in the Media, It happened but how remains a Mystery. An employee of the post office in question, was also charged but bizzarely got off Scott free.

The Two Chancers, Convicted & will be a long time paying back the Dosh

NattyO · 01-04-2025 03:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123316925#Comment_123316925

Good lord that case is strange.

The daughter of the woman who was drawing their dole was going out with the son of the offending pair, went to Spain with the father and son, she then broke up with him and started going out with the father. The post master thought there was nothing wrong with some random woman collecting their dole every week, while they were in Spain. Sounds like a bad movie.