nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Missed collecting a JA payment due to a covid infection, now I'm being denied access to the payment

JDFAS

I was unable to present myself at the Post Office to collect my jobseeker's allowance due to being sick with covid-19. The payment expired as I was testing positive for an entire week and still had to avoid going out in public for a further few days after recovering (HSE says up to 5).

I have been denied being awarded the payment retroactively, as the clerk in my local Intreo office decided I was unfit to search for work during this time and therefore don't deserve the payment. This is NOT correct as I was still actively searching online, and is solely up to the speculation of this person I spoke to for 2 minutes. I asked if calling them while still ill and explaining the situation would have prevented this but was shortly told it makes no difference to their decision.

Is there a way to appeal this decision or take it to someone else? I am quite distressed as I was made redundant at a point where I was already worried about my finances.

Thanks for any advice

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Madd002

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058324839/missed-collecting-a-ja-payment-due-to-a-covid-infection-now-im-being-denied-access-to-the-payment

unfortunately in this country the ones that have paid their taxes are the ones they don't like helping and they make it very hard for you.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058324839/missed-collecting-a-ja-payment-due-to-a-covid-infection-now-im-being-denied-access-to-the-payment

I do sympathise, but Technically as you where Sick for an entire week the DSP are correct. It's also the fact you were unable to work. It is a very Harsh decision & you could appeal but I'd be skeptical you'd succeed.

[Deleted User]

You used to be able to appoint an Agent to collect your payment if you were ill - people who are sick in hospital and can't get to a post office to collect their payments don't get their benefits cut off due to illness.

People who were paid "by book" - the agent form used to be on the back of the dated payment page.

I'd appeal this.

(Edit)

Looks like you still can, but you should have informed Intero in advance. The form is available from the post office.

Appointment of Temporary Agent Form (opens as PDF)

I'd definitely appeal this.

Starbucks Toilet Code 2846

There should be information (e.g. a circular) provided by these centres, to explain the grounds on which such a decision has been made, and upon what grounds you might challenge that decision, depending on what proofs you might have.

I mean, you need to survive on something. If you're not entitled to this jobseekers' payment, there must be something else which could 'plug the gap' in your income, due to being ill. We aren't living in the days of Charles Dickens, God be good to us.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058324839/missed-collecting-a-ja-payment-due-to-a-covid-infection-now-im-being-denied-access-to-the-payment

Why did you take a COVID test?

mickdw

The welfare lifers don't appear to have these issues.

If not entitled to your payment, are you.then entitled to.a.disability payment or something.

I recall court cases where judges refused to fine welfare recipients as they believed their payment was the minimum amount they could live on so how does this tie in with taking complete payment from someone who was ill for a week?

This country appear to favour the workshy in all situations. At least now they are bringing in raised payments based on previous income for a period for people made redundant.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429889#Comment_121429889

I'm afraid not relevant in thus case, appointing an agent would be in relation to someone on a Disability or Pension payment & a long term arrangement, not just for a week sickness & not for a Jobseekers payment

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429923#Comment_121429923

There is and very clear rules laid out with regard to collection of payments, some people on here claim folks have days to collect, they absolutely do not. A claim can and are suspended if payment is not collected on the day its Due to be collected

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429978#Comment_121429978

People get sick, even those on JS payments. Illness is not a reason to suspend payment. The error the OP made, was not informing Intreo in advance that they couldnt collect payment.

If you look at the temporary agent form I linked to, it actually specifies Covid19 as a reason for being unable to attend the post office in person.

I think someone in Intreo has made an error of judgement here, that I think has a good chance of being overturned.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429931#Comment_121429931

Those days of Judges not fining people on welfare long gone. 15% of a person's payment can be clawed back for an over payment &I presume the same applies for court fines

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430027#Comment_121430027

I'm afraid you are incorrect. If a person is sick, they claim illness benefit, even if it for a week.

Perhaps you've not noticed , the pandemic is over and all and any arrangements during the pandemic have long since been ended.

There is no error of judgement, by your own admission you were sick for an entire week & technically not entitled to a Jobseekers payment during this time.

I do believe decision was Harsh .

Appeal by all means

Starbucks Toilet Code 2846

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429999#Comment_121429999

Where are those rules laid out? Is there a more up-to-date department circular than that which I have been able to find (2020)?

Either way, my point is the OP ought to have been able to come away with a view of the same guidelines from which the department's staff are working from, so they're all on the same sheet, so to speak. That way s/he won't be out of pocket due to a communicable illness.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430053#Comment_121430053

Fine, I'm not going to argue over it.

People don't get their JS Payments stopped because they are ill or DSP would need to double the size of their administation to deal with it.

Illness benefit also only applies to those with contributions.

OP, the form is still available, so I believe you should appeal and I think you've a good chance of getting it overturned.

Best of luck.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430086#Comment_121430086

You clearly had contributions as you mentioned you were made redundant. You may not like the rules & are free to appeal.

Best of luck with that

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430075#Comment_121430075

A. When claim is awarded

B On DSP Website

C. On citizens information

B. Common sense .

The OP clearly laid out what's occurred, there is little point in sugar coating their options . By their own admission, through sickness they were not available for work ,frankly I'd have said my car had broke down.

There's 3 issues, failure to collect payment & payment suspended & an admission of temp illness.

As I've explained OP said they were made redundant so clearly had contributions.

The decision was admittedly harsh and they can appeal but unlikely to have the decision over turned .

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430143#Comment_121430143

I am not the OP.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430278#Comment_121430278

Apologies but your still wrong

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430342#Comment_121430342

You're.

And apologies, but so are you. Social Welfare have always made provisions for when claimants could not get to the post office for some reason, illness being one of them.

As I said, anyone who is an inpatient in hospital does not have their payments stopped because they are ill, and the last thing they need to be dealing with, is DSP.

And while the OP may have made contributions in the past, not everyone has contributions to fall back on.

The only thing the OP did incorrectly here, was not advise INTREO that they couldn't make it to the post office before they were due to collect their payment. And they probably didn't know they had to do that.

It's gas, someone on JSA can go on holidays out of the country for two weeks and still get their JSA when they come back, but you're implying someone is not allowed get sick for a few days without losing their payment.

OP, appeal. It sounds to me like you encountered a jobsworth who jumped on your admission of illness as their excuse to suspend your payment because they probably didn't actually know how to deal with it properly.

And thats coming from someone (me) who has been a civil servant for over 30 years, so no bias against civil servants here.

Best of luck.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430446#Comment_121430446

Oh my god Ezeoul you are wrong and that’s the end of it. If you are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance you MUST be available AND seeking to participate in full time employment.

The fact is you are not doing that if you’ve got COVID. You WILL lose your payment if you don’t collect it and COVID or the hospital or any other illness isn’t an excuse.

Thems the breaks for JSA. Would you claim it’s unfair an employer doesn’t pay you if you don’t go to work for a week?

Also the DEASP has nothing but “I had covid” as a reason, no proof beyond an antigen test I’m sure, so who’s to say the OP is lying to them?

Im not saying they are but you obviously don’t have a clue how strict JSA can be. Besides that being sick is one thing not collecting your payment is probably very unlikely as even when sick most people still have basic needs to be met..

You’re also 100% dead wrong about an agent collecting a JSA payment. But anyway.

[Deleted User]

Also just because it is worth the OP not being led astray here

And illness benefit requires a GP cert for COVID now.

So regardless OP without a GP cert you’ve no case here tbh. The rules on JSA are clear— you are either available to begin work immediately or you are not eligible.

You seem to possess great knowledge of DA and related payments Ezoule but JSA is a law unto its own. They certainly will cut your payment if you are not fit to begin work straight away. The reason is irrelevant. It’s exactly like a real job if you are not available to work you do not get paid.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430474#Comment_121430474

Well, I wouldn't expect someone in the catering industry to know much about how social welfare operates as explained in my last post.

Leaving the thread now, as not going to get dragged any further into a back and forth about it.

My advice to the OP is appeal. I'm very confident they will have their payment reinstated.

bucketybuck

Seems pretty obvious that the clerk doesn't believe a word of the OP.

Having Covid doesn't stop you from contacting them to say you can't collect, and most people don't give a toss about self isolating now anyway so the clerk probably thinks the OP was up to something else and is just using covid as a convenient excuse after the fact.

It just isn't plausible that somebody genuinely thinks that you can skip signing on day and just rock up later on whenever it suits.

OP may not like that, but what else would prompt the clerk to start being a jobsworth? The point is that there will be little use trying to convince them to change their mind unless you address why they likely made that decision in the first place.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430531#Comment_121430531

So you’re working for the DEASP or something? I see you also like to point out spelling and grammar mistakes how very mature.

I also find it hilarious when you’re proven to be 100% dead wrong you’ve nothing but silly quips and running away.

Oh & I don’t work in the catering industry either I work in the hotel & restaurant industry. But regardless I showed you what citizens advice has on their website. You are saying that as if I made it up myself 😅

Very strange you can’t seem to admit you’re dead wrong.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429889#Comment_121429889

That temporary agent form doesn’t, and never did, apply to Jobseekers payments.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430027#Comment_121430027

During the Covid crisis all the usual rules were suspended but as Covid is over now it is back to the usual rules.

A temporary agent can be appointed, indeed a permanent agent can be appointed, to collect some SW from the post office. However Jobseekers isn’t one of them.

Presenting yourself in the PO in a pre appointed 24 hour time frame goes some way to demonstrating that the claimant is available for full time work ( in other words, not employed).

If you can’t be there, for any reason, then it’s simply a matter of notifying your local SW office as soon as possible after you realise you won’t be there.

“I have a job interview”

”There’s a family emergency”

If you become ill/injured then that’s different.

For the period of time you are ill or injured you no longer meet the terms and conditions for Jobseekers :

in that you are not capable of work.

So technically you can’t get Jobseekers.

If it’s just for a couple of days/48 hours then you simply contact the SW office and they’ll hold it over for you but any more then that and they’ll suspend your entitlement and you’ll get SWA until you are better.

The key here is communicating with the SW office as soon as you encounter a “change in circumstances” in order to avoid ending up totally without any income.

You’ve got to look at it as if you were still in employment and struck down with the flu. You wouldn’t just not turn up, no phone call/text/email. You’d need proof you were sick too. SW operate on the same basic principle.

This is easily resolved now with an admission to SW that the OP simply didn’t understand the terms and conditions attached to jobseekers (very few do), but they do now, and would like to be returned to their payment.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430446#Comment_121430446

You are quite deliberately being rather petulant and referring to those on long term illness, disability or pension payments.

ÓP Was sick for a week, didn't collect their payment which was then suspended. They went on to admit they were sick and by default not available for or looking for work & lost Jobseekers payment for that week.

You've clearly not a clue what the eligibility criteria is to recieve a Jobseekers payment.

To suggest an agent can be nominated to collect someone's Jobseekers payment is preposterous.

DSP have made a decision, harsh it may be but correct.

Now move on 🙄

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430941#Comment_121430941

Correct, my word I'm exhausted trying to explain this

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430699#Comment_121430699

Thank you, I'm exhausted dealing with the shocking lack or basic understanding of how DSP operate, it's extraordinary.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431184#Comment_121431184

If you were employed and you were too sick for work today nearly the first thing you do is contact your employer.

Imagine having been given 7 days out sick by the GP, not contacting your employer, showing up next Monday, expecting to be on the rota and expecting to be paid.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431260#Comment_121431260

I was attempting to be direct in my initial response to OP as opposed to offering ridiculous suggestions & makey uppy nonsense.

Such an exhausting back & fourth with a poster, so abjectly wrong & petulant.

Thankfully you & others clarified matters 😉