Should I sign on Dole !?

Boredatwork · 08-07-2008 04:35PM #1

Hi guys,

I have been given my redundancy notice and finish up on 18th July. I have been expecting it for last 6 months to be honest cause we are so quiet, hense my name on here !!! So I was told I'd be mad to change jobs a few months ago and to wait for my redundancy cheque !

I have a new job lined up, but I won't start that till the 11th Aug when I come back from my holidays.

My question is should I sign up for the dole or job seekers allowance for the 3 weeks between jobs ?

Is there anything that I should be aware of if I do this ?

Should I not tell them in dole office that I have a job lined up already?

Will my new employer know I've signed on when I start there ?

Cheers for any answers guys !

Keano · 08-07-2008 04:48PM

You will not be entitled to job seekers allowance. AFAIK you have to wait a period of 12 weeks before seeking it after receiving redundancy.

delly · 08-07-2008 04:55PM

If you have qualifying PRSI payments then you are entitled to jobseekers benefit, which unlike jobseekers allowance is not means tested. If your redundancy is above €50k, only then will you have a waiting period on a sliding scale.

So in theory you could be getting nearly €600 for the 3 weeks you are out of work.

dubman25 · 08-07-2008 04:57PM

Boredatwork wrote: »

Hi guys,

I have been given my redundancy notice and finish up on 18th July. I have been expecting it for last 6 months to be honest cause we are so quiet, hense my name on here !!! So I was told I'd be mad to change jobs a few months ago and to wait for my redundancy cheque !

I have a new job lined up, but I won't start that till the 11th Aug when I come back from my holidays.

My question is should I sign up for the dole or job seekers allowance for the 3 weeks between jobs ?

Is there anything that I should be aware of if I do this ?

Should I not tell them in dole office that I have a job lined up already?

Will my new employer know I've signed on when I start there ?

Cheers for any answers guys !

are you serious asking that here or are you just really bored:D

black & white · 09-07-2008 12:04PM

AFAIK you cannot sign on if you are out of the country on hols as you must be available and actively seeking work. If you were out of work for a good while you would be entitled to holidays but in your case I doubt it.

AARRRGH · 09-07-2008 01:42PM

I think ethically, you should not sign on, as you have a job lined up which you don't want to start until you come back from your holidays.

Basically you have chosen to be out of work for a few weeks.

I know I'm fighting a losing battle here, but I think people should be honest and not sponge when they don't have to.

forza athletico · 09-07-2008 01:57PM

dublindude wrote: »

I think ethically, you should not sign on, as you have a job lined up which you don't want to start until you come back from your holidays.

Basically you have chosen to be out of work for a few weeks.

I know I'm fighting a losing battle here, but I think people should be honest and not sponge when they don't have to.

Why not sign on? I presume that the person in question pays their taxes, unemployed as of July 12 and lucky enough to be offered a redundancy package. People need to still pay their bills

mollydolly271 · 09-07-2008 02:05PM

YEAH DEFO SIGN ON YOU'VE PAID UR TAXES AND AS FAR AS I KNOW YOU ARE ABLE TO GET DOLE STRAIGHT AWAY COS UR BEING LET GO

snellers · 09-07-2008 03:04PM

as a poster mentioned above surely you would be signing on yet you are not actively looking for work (you have chosen to take a holiday!)

if there was no holiday and you were at home I would feel more inclined to say yes take your entitlement as you pay your taxes but a condition of jobseekers benefit is that you are 'actively seeking employment' - you won't be as you are on holiday!

officially I would say the benefits office would have an issue with your claim and reject it if they found out and it could hamper any claims in the future. Yes I know it's unlikely but it is possible.

White-Teeth · 09-07-2008 03:28PM

I'm not sure you can, to be honest. As posters have said, the dole is not a cash machine; i.e., you can't take money when you wish.

You need to be actively seeking work to sign on, and you will be on holidays.

Boredatwork · 10-07-2008 09:52AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. I won't be actively seeking employment, not cause I'll be on holidays but because I have a job lined up already.

I have been planning and looking forward to this holiday for the best part of 9 months now. When I was given redundancy notice I was considering cancelling it, I was feeling aweful and down in dumps with my whole situation, but when I got offered this new job the holiday was back on and I'm really looking forward to it now again.

This new job entails me actually taking a pay cut, but I'm not a sponger and I would not want to be unemployed. I have worked and paid taxes now for a number of years and I just think if I owed the tax-man a few bob he'd chase me for it so if I can get some of my tax money back then I should. (it will stop the government wasting it anyway!)

If I mention to them in dole office that I start a job in 3 weeks will my application be rejected ?

Should I be looking for Job-seekers allowance or Job seekers benefit ?? What is the difference ?

I presume they will take my P45 ? what will I have to give my new employer, will they know I claimed job-seekers allowance / benefit ?

cheers guys

gixerfixer · 10-07-2008 10:08AM

Sign on.You are entitled to it if you have being paying your taxes and PRSI payments.If you dont someone else will.:)

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 11:41AM

gixerfixer wrote: »

Sign on.You are entitled to it if you have being paying your taxes and PRSI payments.If you dont someone else will.:)

He's not entitled to it: he's not looking for a job.

I really hate the Irish sponging attitude.

Bluetonic · 10-07-2008 11:56AM

OP, you should sign on and immediately apply for the two weeks unemployment benefit holidays which you and everyone else are entitled to. This will allow you to claim anything due to you while you are away on holidays.

Your local social welfare office will be able to help your further.

I really hate the Irish begrudging attitude.

studiorat · 10-07-2008 12:00PM

dublindude wrote: »

He's not entitled to it: he's not looking for a job.

I really hate the Irish sponging attitude.

A child of the celtic tiger no doubt!

You are entitled to benefit if you have paid PRSI etc. Just because you have a job lined up doesn't mean you actually have a job. It could easily fall through, it happens. I'd keep looking until you are actually going in on the monday morning, after all you may find something better, if you know what I mean.

When you become long term unemployed your PRSI contribution does not cover you then you are put on assistance this is means tested etc.

You could also consider rent allowance for the period!!

The social welfare system is there for a reason, use it! The TD's don't have a problem claiming their legitimate expenses why should you.

On a personal note, I've been there and I as a self employed person I would not darken the doors of any SW office again. Maybe they've changed over the years but I've found them to be a shower of condecending bastards, I jumped through hoops for £56.00 a week. No thanks...

Job seekers! What a laugh!! When did they start calling it that?

Boredatwork · 10-07-2008 12:11PM

dublindude wrote: »

He's not entitled to it: he's not looking for a job.

I really hate the Irish sponging attitude.

I am not sponging, I will not be earning for the 3 weeks. I have been working & paying tax since I was 17yrs old. If I was sitting at home waiting to start my new job it would be ok ??

If I was to say shag it, not take this job I have been offered and wait for something better and sit on my hole and claim for the next 6 mts then I think I could be accused of sponging, but I think I have done my share of contributing to the system to apply for and get this allowance for these 3 wks.

Thanks guys.

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 02:07PM

Boredatwork wrote: »

I am not sponging, I will not be earning for the 3 weeks.

Eh, you are sponging. You chose to go on holiday before starting your new job. This is all a choice and has nothing to do with looking for work.

You are a sponger.

Boredatwork wrote: »

I have been working & paying tax since I was 17yrs old. If I was sitting at home waiting to start my new job it would be ok ??

If the other company said "we can't employ you for a few weeks" and this was a problem for you, I would have a lot of sympathy, but the reality is you are delaying starting your job because you want to take a nice three week holiday.

Boredatwork wrote: »

If I was to say shag it, not take this job I have been offered and wait for something better and sit on my hole and claim for the next 6 mts then I think I could be accused of sponging, but I think I have done my share of contributing to the system to apply for and get this allowance for these 3 wks.

That's not how the dole works.

I don't think you understand what the dole is.

studiorat · 10-07-2008 02:39PM

dublindude wrote: »

That's not how the dole works.

I don't think you understand what the dole is.

I don't think you do? Would you like to elaborate on what exactly you think the "dole" is?

The Original Post stated that the next job begins on the 11th not that he was putting it off until then...

The crux of the issue is that the op will be out of work for 3 weeks in the country or not...
What's to stop them applying for a job on the internet?
I believe they are entitled to 2 weeks off. Signing on is monthly thing no?

Next you'll be saying "it's people like you who have the country in the state it's in"

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 03:04PM

studiorat wrote: »

I don't think you do? Would you like to elaborate on what exactly you think the "dole" is?

"To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you must be available for/genuinely seeking work. You may be asked to show evidence that you are actively seeking work, for example, letters showing job applications or failure to get a job."

The OP is not looking for work. He has a job. He's going on holidays.

studiorat wrote: »

The Original Post stated that the next job begins on the 11th not that he was putting it off until then...

See my text above.

studiorat wrote: »

The crux of the issue is that the op will be out of work for 3 weeks in the country or not...

By choice! The dole is called "Jobseekers Benefit" because it is for "Job Seekers". The OP, by choice, is choosing not to work (he would rather be abroad on a holiday) and is not looking for work.

It is that simple. He does not qualify.

I know Irish people love screwing over authority and getting away with scams, but the fact is he does not qualify for the dole. He would have to lie to get it.

studiorat wrote: »

Next you'll be saying "it's people like you who have the country in the state it's in"

Don't be irrational.

Gone West · 10-07-2008 03:18PM

dude, I hear you and agree 100%
It is unethical for him to look for the dole.
No question about it.

Bluetonic · 10-07-2008 04:14PM

dublindude how come you chose to ignore my post regarding the right of someone on job seekers benefit to have a two week holiday?

I suppose you would begrudge this also to people?

Fact is the OP is entitled to sign on for one week and take holidays for two weeks and still receive payment - to clarify the issue I asked at my local social welfare office earlier today showing the officer the text of the original post and the officer confirmed the OP may sign on.

I hope this helps.

Nickibaby* · 10-07-2008 04:28PM

This thread is unbeleivable :rolleyes:

OP is not starting a job until the 11th - agreed with his hopefully new employer that this will be the date he starts on. He has lost his job through no fault of his own he was made REDUNDANT. There are so many people who have no intentions of getting a job, while the OP is only going to be out of work for 3 weeks, what he does in those 3 weeks shouldn't be an issue.

He has paid his taxes, and will continue to do so, he is entitled.... some people are so begrudging when things work out for people :rolleyes:

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 04:51PM

Bluetonic wrote: »

dublindude how come you chose to ignore my post regarding the right of someone on job seekers benefit to have a two week holiday?

I ignored it because it is a total non-issue.

I am not saying people on the dole are not entitled to a holiday. I am saying people who are not looking for a job are not entitled to be on the dole.

There is a huge difference.

Bluetonic wrote: »

I suppose you would begrudge this also to people?

Eh, I am not a begrudger. I want people to go out and earn success. I don't want them sitting on their arse claiming the dole.

I would never have any issue with someone trying to be rich, or being rich. I have a problem with the exact opposite: spongers.

Nickibaby* wrote: »

Fact is the OP is entitled to sign on for one week and take holidays for two weeks and still receive payment - to clarify the issue I asked at my local social welfare office earlier today showing the officer the text of the original post and the officer confirmed the OP may sign on.

LOL. OK Walter.

Nickibaby* wrote: »

This thread is unbeleivable :rolleyes:

He has paid his taxes, and will continue to do so, he is entitled.... some people are so begrudging when things work out for people :rolleyes:

If he goes into the dole office, and truthfully explains his situation, he won't get the dole.

Paying your taxes does not entitle you to the dole.

You have to be looking for work. He is not looking for work. He is going on holidays before he starts his new job.

studiorat · 10-07-2008 05:07PM

My suggestion would be that the OP continues to look for a job until such time as they are withdrawing money from their first salary check. Counting chickens an all that. What's to say things won't change in the next month?

Speaking of which, is there provision for someone who is waiting for their first months salary?

Since someone here was kind enough ask the social welfare officer I think there's cause to check this out. Hopefully without being called a sponger in the process.

I'm sticking to my guns here cause being involved in the education business I'm sick of seeing good students among others being done over by a technicality. When most are just trying to improve their lot. I didn't get a chance back in the day, I hope others do.

I don't understand why some people insist on forcing people into doing jobs that they do not want to do. It's not good for employers and it's not good for the employee either. So there!

Bluetonic · 10-07-2008 05:08PM

dublindude - Why do you still pick and chose what you reply to?

I asked in the local office of the department of social welfare, showing the original post and the officer said they were entitled to sign on.

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 05:09PM

Bluetonic wrote: »

dublindude - Why do you still pick and chose what you reply to?

I believe I've been breaking up your quotes and replying to each part.

Bluetonic wrote: »

I asked in the local office of the department of social welfare, showing the original post and the officer said they were entitled to sign on.

I don't believe you. Sorry.

studiorat · 10-07-2008 05:10PM

Well maybe we should wait and see so. Does he have a contract?
What is this person to live on for maybe the next 2 months.

studiorat · 10-07-2008 05:16PM

dublindude wrote: »

It is that simple. He does not qualify.

While I'm at it. I really don't think you should be making these decisions for people here. Unless of course you are a social welfare officer, then I suggest you get back to work (smiley face)

Let the guy ask for himself, I think the SW are really more qualified to make that call.

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 05:20PM

studiorat wrote: »

Well maybe we should wait and see so. Does he have a contract?
What is this person to live on for maybe the next 2 months.

No.

He finishes work on July 18. He doesn't start his new job until August 12, which is three weeks later. This is because he is going on a three week holiday.

There is no two months or sitting around looking for a job. There is simply a holiday between jobs.

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 05:21PM

studiorat wrote: »

While I'm at it. I really don't think you should be making these decisions for people here. Unless of course you are a social welfare officer, then I suggest you get back to work (smiley face)

Let the guy ask for himself, I think the SW are really more qualified to make that call.

I agree, but the text I posted above from social welfare is pretty clear -

You have to be unemployed and looking for work.

The OP is not looking for work.

AARRRGH · 10-07-2008 05:23PM

Anyway, we could talk about this all day.

I don't think it is right to claim the dole when you don't need it or don't qualify for it.

Other people disagree.

That's fine.

I won't change your mind, you won't change my mind.

End of story.

Should I sign on Dole !?

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