On the dole and doing cash in hand work

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:17AM #1

This is my present situation. I am on the dole (204 per week), actively seeking work, and doing some cash in hand work.

In terms of the cash in hand work I can earn anything from 75 euro per week to 300 euro per week (maximum). I have 6-8 week stretches of cash in hand work, and I would say on average I earn 170 euro per week cash in hand (when I am actually doing cash in hand work). But there are stretches of 3-4 weeks where I have no work.

I would LOVE to get off the dole, even if it would mean getting less money per week. If I could be guaranteed 300 euro per week, I would take that. But my current situation is that the cash in hand work is just too unreliable. Some weeks 75 quid, sometimes 300, and sometimes unexpected stretches of no work. If I went off the dole, I would then have to go through the whole application again when out of work, and have the 8 weeks waiting with no income.

Is there any advice you might give me? Anything like a small business allowance I could apply for (if I declare my cash in hand earnings)?

S.I.R · 10-03-2009 12:21AM

weightlifter wrote: »

This is my present situation. I am on the dole (204 per week), actively seeking work, and doing some cash in hand work.

In terms of the cash in hand work I can earn anything from 75 euro per week to 300 euro per week (maximum). I have 6-8 week stretches of cash in hand work, and I would say on average I earn 170 euro per week cash in hand (when I am actually doing cash in hand work). But there are stretches of 3-4 weeks where I have no work.

I would LOVE to get off the dole, even if it would mean getting less money per week. If I could be guaranteed 300 euro per week, I would take that. But my current situation is that the cash in hand work is just too unreliable. Some weeks 75 quid, sometimes 300, and sometimes unexpected stretches of no work. If I went off the dole, I would then have to go through the whole application again when out of work, and have the 8 weeks waiting with no income.

Is there any advice you might give me? Anything like a small business allowance I could apply for (if I declare my cash in hand earnings)?

can you wear a mini skirt and low cut tops...

merrion square ftw.

Nevyn · 10-03-2009 12:21AM

You are meant to only claim the dole for days you are not working and declare the days you are.

Kiera · 10-03-2009 12:24AM

Do you think its fair to take money from the welfare while getting cash in hand when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless? I certainly dont.

speedboatchase · 10-03-2009 12:24AM

If you'd LOVE to get off the dole you can

marcsignal · 10-03-2009 12:25AM

ask your welfare officer about support for starting your own business, if you think you have a sound business idea. I wouldn't surrender any unrelated information just yet* and don't sign off unless you have something sound and regular lined up, because it will take aminimum of 6-8 weeks to process your claim again if you do, and you'll be penniless in the meantime.

*don't mention the War, as regards getting a little work on the side

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:28AM

marcsignal wrote: »

ask your welfare officer about support for starting your own business, if you think you have a sound business idea. I wouldn't surrender any unrelated information just yet* and don't sign off unless you have something sound and regular lined up, because it will take aminimum of 6-8 weeks to process your claim again if you do, and you'll be penniless in the meantime.

*don't mention the War, as regards getting a little work on the side

Thanks for the first bit of sound advice. I dont really think I have a sound business idea unfortunately. I cant see what I am doing right now for cash in hand, expand any further.

Do you think its fair to take money from the welfare while getting cash in hand when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless? I certainly dont.

Dot be a holier than thou arsehole. Of course I dont, thats why I am exploring my dilemma here. But did you read my post? There are 4 week stretches when I have 0 euro cash in hand, often only 75 euro cash in hand. Rarely 200-300 euro. I am here looking for advice on declaring this and getting some kind of subsistence help for weeks where i am earning nothing.

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:29AM

speedboatchase wrote: »

If you'd LOVE to get off the dole you can

I'd also LOVE to have enough money to live on. That is the primary concern. Getting off the dole is secondary to that.

10-03-2009 12:29AM

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:31AM

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

Surely you are being ridiculous.

Lab_Mouse · 10-03-2009 12:33AM

Kiera wrote: »

when there are so many people having problems getting the dole after being made jobless?

your either entitled to the dole or your not..theres no problem getting it if yor entitled to it.

as for working into the hand..why work for minimal wage and pay tax on it.You are genuinely better of staying on the dole.Money makes the world go round,i'll take what i what i can when i can.

easy to say no im not gonna get paid into the hand but when the diffence is a 100 euro's.204 euro per week is sh1te,working 40 hours a week and getting 287 is worse.

working into the hand dissappeared with the celtic tiger but with the recession its back with avengence

BTW I get a ton a day into the hand for labouring=700 per week with the scratcher

Singer73 · 10-03-2009 12:33AM

..adopts Dragons Den face "I'd like to invest 5 million in your plan"

K-9 · 10-03-2009 12:33AM

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Mechanics, bar work etc. etc. etc. I t was acceptable then with the huge tax rates.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

ayapatrick · 10-03-2009 12:35AM

weightlifter wrote: »

Surely you are being ridiculous.

totally ridiculus!( but seeing as this is ah, might be sort of windup)

my advice is keep the mouth shut! and dont be worrying about it.
Arent you entitled to claim the dole, when you have been paying taxes etc?

shur with the country goin down the ****ter - whatever it takes to keep bread on the table!

drunkmonkey · 10-03-2009 12:35AM

Your breaking the law, you could loose your entitlements...

OP is right about starting your own business or at least trying, if someone one is paying you cash already, you've got a talent that someone thinks it's worth paying for...work at it...

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:35AM

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

your either entitled to the dole or your not..theres no problem getting it if yor entitled to it.

This is the crux of my problem. What am I entitled to? Is there an alternative to the dole that I could apply for. So weeks when I earn some money, I receive less (or no) welfare payment?

galwayrush · 10-03-2009 12:35AM

From the amazing salaries, golden handshakes and enormous pensions some people, ( a lot of incompetent people) have, i no longer think it's wrong to make what you can on the side ,even if you are on the dole. It's not as if the OP is not looking for work, but to expect someone to survive on 204 euro a week (when you see all the corruption and it's rewards in high places here) is mind boggling.

Tony Broke · 10-03-2009 12:36AM

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Surely this is illegal and his Ip address should be passed onto the proper authorities?

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

ayapatrick · 10-03-2009 12:38AM

K-9 wrote: »

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Mechanics, bar work etc. etc. etc. I t was acceptable then with the huge tax rates.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

but more than likely arent they goin to give that a hike with this new budget or whatever?

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:39AM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Your breaking the law, you could loose your entitlements...

OP is right about starting your own business or at least trying, if someone one is paying you cash already, you've got a talent that someone thinks it's worth paying for...work at it...

Well, the strange thing is, I am actually quite confident of getting a full time job before too long (Sept I reckon). My area is not too badly hit by the recession (yet). So long term, I wouldnt be looking to make it as a entrepeneur/small business owner.

But I do want to try to do the right thing in the meantime, so who should I speak to about this? I am wary about going straight to social welfare office as I feel they could be looking for any excuse to cut people off at the moment. Would Citizens Info Bureau be a better bet?

marcsignal · 10-03-2009 12:39AM

weightlifter wrote: »

Thanks for the first bit of sound advice. I dont really think I have a sound business idea unfortunately. I cant see what I am doing right now for cash in hand, expand any further.

you can also declare the hours you work, as somone else pointed out. To do this you must ask your welfare officer to put you on casual dockets. you work the hours you work, and claim for the days you didn't work, by filling out the dated dockets and returning them to the SW office every week. If you don't work on a particular day, leave that docket blank. As far as i know, you cannot work more than 3 days in a row/3 days in a week, or something like that.

Alessandra · 10-03-2009 12:39AM

Sorry but consider the people who have to live off the 204euro week to week without cushy cash in hand jobs.
I don't feel sorry for you because you have more money than me if you are clearing 2-300 if only some weeks. You obviously get medical card maybe ren allowance and fuel alllowance and then some weeks get 204+++!!!!:eek:
Taxes are there for a reason. You can honestly not come here and expect sympathy.. Do as another previous poster has suggested re small business. I am not going to condone that you earn fraudulently earn more tax free money while our country is going down the tubes.

drunkmonkey · 10-03-2009 12:41AM

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

easy to say no im not gonna get paid into the hand but when the diffence is a 100 euro's.204 euro per week is sh1te,working 40 hours a week and getting 287 is worse.

that's why the dole should be slashed, if you were getting 100 euro a week, 287 would be an incentive... it's 2 easy on the dole if you can generate cash in hand work, some people make a career out of it...

10-03-2009 12:41AM

ayapatrick wrote: »

totally ridiculus!( but seeing as this is ah, might be sort of windup)

my advice is keep the mouth shut! and dont be worrying about it.
Arent you entitled to claim the dole, when you have been paying taxes etc?

shur with the country goin down the ****ter - whatever it takes to keep bread on the table!

Are you joking? It's gonna go down the shítter a lot faster with everyone seemingly thinking it's alright to rip as much money out of the system.

I'm guessing you all condone the bankers dodgy dealings and people like the Golden Circle screwing the tax payer? Or is it one law for some and one for another?

Get a grip.

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:41AM

marcsignal wrote: »

you can also declare the hours you work, as somone else pointed out. To do this you must ask your welfare officer to put you on casual dockets. you work the hours you work, and claim for the days you didn't work, by filling out the dated dockets and returning them to the SW office every week. If you don't work on a particular day, leave that docket blank. As far as i know, you cannot work more that 3 days in a row/3 days in a week, or something like that.

Ok cool, is that part-timers assistance?

Would i have to then make sure that the casual earnings I was getting were going through the right channels? - ie would I declare the income in a seperate issue to the tax man etc?

10-03-2009 12:41AM

Tony Broke wrote: »

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

Rest my case. God I'd leave tomorrow if I could.

LightningBolt · 10-03-2009 12:42AM

I can't imagine the welfare getting worked up about someone pulling in an extra €70-€100 a week. They'd be more interested in the likes of people who are claiming, working a ft job week in week out and getting a few extra benefits like rent allowance and such. If you can do the part timer scheme though I'd go for it if you're looking to be honest.

weightlifter · 10-03-2009 12:43AM

Alessandra wrote: »

You obviously get medical card maybe ren allowance and fuel alllowance and then some weeks get 204+++!!!!:eek:
Taxes are there for a reason. You can honestly not come here and expect sympathy..

Obviously??

I dont claim rent allowance, fuel allowance and I do not have a medical card.

Davei141 · 10-03-2009 12:44AM

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Rest my case. God I'd leave tomorrow if I could.

What a shame.

redarmy · 10-03-2009 12:45AM

Tony Broke wrote: »

He's only trying to get by ffs!!

What are the authorities doing to the one's that have ****ed this country up and taken/got millions?

spot on;)

K-9 · 10-03-2009 12:46AM

The black economy was huge in the 80's. Considering the tax rates, understandable.

Considering income tax is low here, time to pay your tax.

On the dole and doing cash in hand work

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