Government Benefits Megathread

Skybirdjb · 26-03-2020 5:51pm

They seem to be working on claims around the 18 th now hubby had a call from them today querying something on his form . He’s self employed hopefully we get something soon

so stressful

paruss100 · 26-03-2020 5:52pm

Great cheers for the replies, shes applied already but just wanted to be sure they wouldnt chase us in the future or reject it.

All that fandango · 26-03-2020 7:01pm

Galway20188 wrote:

Has anyone received confirmation or acknowledgment of their application for the emergency payment?
]Havenâ€™t received an email or anything and applied on 18th may
Also havenâ€™t received pay

Open to correction on this but my understanding of it is that no one is given any form of confirmation by them whether their application is successful or not. On the postal form it just says to keep an eye on your bank account every so often.

titan18 · 26-03-2020 7:01pm

Wanderer19 wrote: »

Many employers (not all) can afford it, they're just choosing not to. Look at the amount of creches that were shut looking for full payment for fees, despite not paying their staff.

Oh I know, but that's a minority of the businesses that have closed I'd imagine. Can't imagine a lot of restaurants, pubs etc are able as they've no income coming in unless moved to takeaway, and even airlines will have such a high amount of employees that they can't really afford to either.

70% would hopefully be enough for most as less expenses with very little leisure options and no commuting costs. I can work from home thankfully so as long as company doesn't close or reduce hours (unlikely in short term anyway despite some industry disruption), I'll be ok. People probably most in danger are those with young kids as imagine it might be costly to keep them entertained that even the reduction in other expenses will still hurt.

Dodge · 26-03-2020 7:07pm

All that fandango wrote: »

Open to correction on this but my understanding of it is that no one is given any form of confirmation by them whether their application is successful or not. On the postal form it just says to keep an eye on your bank account every so often.

You’re correct. I know someone who has been redeployed into working on the forms. To speed up data entry only PPSN, DOB, and bank details are entered. Those who can approve see information from the system (name, eligibility etc) but there will be no emails or phone calls/texts. They’ve said they’re working on over 50 times the usual numbers

Lea2000 · 26-03-2020 7:55pm

My hours in work were cut from 3 days to one day due to reduced business 2 weeks ago. I sent in the form on 18/03 for week beginning 16/03 but didn't get anything this week. Does anyone know if 1. I am entitled to the payment and 2. They are delayed because of how busy they are it have I been missed perhaps? Will I get an extra week next week?
Thanks in advance for your response. ðŸ‘

BarryD2 · 26-03-2020 8:39pm

Dodge wrote: »

I *think* you’re over thinking it. I *think* the wording was changed because some were applying for it while still working (Self employed) and saying earnings were down

If your business has stopped (ie you can no longer work as a self employed person) then you can apply

As you’ve said the form is quite simple and they do not have time to check whether you legally have closed your business down completely

Now I can’t provide anything in writing to assuage your fears/suspicions but I hope the words help...

'Self Employed' covers many different situations. At face value, the current wording suits the so called 'Bogus Self Employed' i.e. those who are technically self employed but who have only one or two related customers. i.e. their companies laid them off the permanent payroll for cost reduction reasons and now sub contract the same work to them. It's relatively straigtforward for them to 'cease trading'.

At the other end you have the 'Real Self Employed' who run small businesses and have built up multiple customer relationships and various streams of income. In these instances, the majority of one's income may be gone but there are a few customers to service. 'Sorry Bud, I can't fix your xyz because I lost all my main contracts and the Dept insists I cease trading and you're just a nuisance'.

It's hard to believe that Gov policy would be to oblige the latter to close down completely to allow a claim but that seems to be the case. Much better to allow whatever limited trading can be done and the business ticking over, whilst assisting to make up something towards the main loss of income.

I often think the PS who make up these rules are quite out of touch with the reality of daily life & commerce for self employment and sole traders.

JoshuaB · 26-03-2020 8:40pm

My income earnings consisted of 2 days working part-time in a pub with 3 days partial social welfare relief via jobseekers benefit casual work scheme of approximately €85. I have been temporarily laid off due to the closure of the pub which has resulted in the loss of 16-20 hours per week i.e. between €180-220 per week.

I have been told by the Department of Social Protection that I am not entitled to the Covid-19 payment as I have an existing Jobseekers Benefit claim, despite sustaining income loss of approximately €200 per week and I am also not entitled to anything more than the €131 social welfare payment which is a far cry from the €350 payment under the Covid-19 Emergency Payment Scheme.

Has anyone else been faced with this situation, or have any advice?

plodder · 26-03-2020 8:47pm

The UK has just announced a package for the self employed of 80% of average monthly profit up to a maximum of £2,500. This will allow many self employed (including those providing essential services) to continue working unlike our "scheme" where you have to shut your business down to claim any assistance. I believe they will look for evidence of audited accounts etc to make sure claims are genuine. Hopefully, we get something similar here.

Dodge · 26-03-2020 9:22pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

'
It's hard to believe that Gov policy would be to oblige the latter to close down completely to allow a claim but that seems to be the case. Much better to allow whatever limited trading can be done and the business ticking over, whilst assisting to make up something towards the main loss of income.

I often think the PS who make up these rules are quite out of touch with the reality of daily life & commerce for self employment and sole traders.

Other schemes apply. This is specifically for people who almost immediately have no income.

it has to be that for speed reasons. You can apply for other schemes but they’re obviously harder to quantify. This scheme has NO time

I’m not suggesting it’s perfect. I’m suggesting it’s a fairly decent scheme under a massive amount of pressure

trisha e · 26-03-2020 9:40pm

Could help all those people who lost jobs to get benefits quicker

Beasty · 26-03-2020 10:34pm

#98....

Tommy Max · 27-03-2020 1:12am

can someone explain the wage subsidy scheme please. for example an employees average weekly net wage is €600. from what i gather the employer would get €350 for an employee on such a salary rate.

The employer is encouraged to make up the difference to return the employer to its normal salary. so the employer still needs to fund €250 itself.

if the employer refuses to do so? then the employee only gets the €350 but is working for less than half its contracted salary. the employee could get the same amount €350 on the emergency covid payment and not have to work if laid off and would be able to stay at home with kids and not be paying a child minder etc.

Am I missing something?

Beasty · 27-03-2020 1:16am

Threads merged, and that special prize goes to....

....the previous poster;)

Former Coach · 27-03-2020 10:06am

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has said that nearly all unemployment benefit claims received since 19 March and up to close of business yesterday will be processed for payment today and will be lodged in customers' bank accounts next Tuesday. 🤞

JCX BXC · 27-03-2020 10:22am

Great, 2 weeks+ without money today and was almost first in the door with the form.

It's the lack of information that's particularly annoying.

Masala · 27-03-2020 10:34am

Tommy Max wrote: »

can someone explain the wage subsidy scheme please. for example an employees average weekly net wage is €600. from what i gather the employer would get €350 for an employee on such a salary rate.

The employer is encouraged to make up the difference to return the employer to its normal salary. so the employer still needs to fund €250 itself.

if the employer refuses to do so? then the employee only gets the €350 but is working for less than half its contracted salary. the employee could get the same amount €350 on the emergency covid payment and not have to work if laid off and would be able to stay at home with kids and not be paying a child minder etc.

Am I missing something?

The €350 is for when stirring at home having be8ng laid off. The €600 is paid for turning up to work and doing 39 hours. If employee doesnt want to work for the difference then he has no option but to quit. He then can only claim €203 a week

No employer is going to pay €€600 a week so you can sit and play with your kids when he has work for you. If he has no work ... he will lay you off and you can sit with the €350 a week then.

Of course.. with yesterday’s figures on predicted unemployment.. you might not have a job to come back to and this €35O could revert bac5 t9 the normal €203 by then.

BarryD2 · 27-03-2020 10:44am

Dodge wrote: »

Other schemes apply. This is specifically for people who almost immediately have no income.

it has to be that for speed reasons. You can apply for other schemes but they’re obviously harder to quantify. This scheme has NO time

I’m not suggesting it’s perfect. I’m suggesting it’s a fairly decent scheme under a massive amount of pressure

What other schemes apply Dodge to self employed / sole traders as regards the Covid19 issue ????

Please point them out. Because I've looked and I'm sure others have looked and there ain't any as of yesterday.

I don't have any employees so that's irrelevant. I don't want a loan, because surprise - loans have to be paid back.

bruce wayne · 27-03-2020 10:52am

Tommy Max wrote: »

can someone explain the wage subsidy scheme please. for example an employees average weekly net wage is €600. from what i gather the employer would get €350 for an employee on such a salary rate.

The employer is encouraged to make up the difference to return the employer to its normal salary. so the employer still needs to fund €250 itself.

if the employer refuses to do so? then the employee only gets the €350 but is working for less than half its contracted salary. the employee could get the same amount €350 on the emergency covid payment and not have to work if laid off and would be able to stay at home with kids and not be paying a child minder etc.

Am I missing something?

The revenue website explains it pretty well

https://revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/temporary-covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme.aspx

Basically the scheme is a mechanism for employers to keep their employees on their books rather than having to let them go and for the employees to have to apply for the payment themselves.

Under the scheme, the employer can claim up to €410 per week for each employee. So their option is to send the employee home and reduce their salary down to €410, or if they can afford it they can top €410 amount and maintain their employees salary. So in the case of your example if the employee was earning €600, if the employer uses this scheme and they only need to top up the employees payment by €190 a week - thus reducing their wage bill and maintaining the employees salary.

It really all depends on what the employer can afford. If sales have fallen off a cliff and there is no money coming in, then at the very least they can apply this scheme and the employees get the €410 a week without the hassle of being let go and having to apply via welfare.

The scheme is only for companies that have been drastically hit by the crisis and there is no work for the employees, or they have been ordered to close down (coffee shop employees or hairdressers might be a good example)- it is not for employees that are still coming into work. If an employee is still coming into work they are to be paid their normal salary.

bruce wayne · 27-03-2020 10:57am

BarryD2 wrote: »

What other schemes apply Dodge to self employed / sole traders as regards the Covid19 issue ????

Please point them out. Because I've looked and I'm sure others have looked and there ain't any as of yesterday.

I don't have any employees so that's irrelevant. I don't want a loan, because surprise - loans have to be paid back.

I believe the wage subsidy scheme applies to self employed and company directors if they are paid via the PAYE system. You could call revenue and ask them about your specific circumstances. Under the scheme you will be reimbursed up to €410 a week.

link here - https://revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/temporary-covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme.aspx

Jack14 · 27-03-2020 11:13am

When are we getting paid this corvid19 payment I applied last Thursday and still no payment off work 2weeks

clevtrev · 27-03-2020 11:20am

I doubt many employers will be in a position to top up if they manage to qualify for the income support scheme. the employer is meant to have an inability to pay normal wages and other outgoings (Like the ESB????). Revenue have also thrown in the kicker that there will be severe penalties for abuse of the scheme so why would an employer bother. Unless all the employees are still at work it is far simpler to put an employee on temporary layoff for €350 and see them after the virus is gone.

"Employers must self-declare to Revenue that they have experienced significant negative economic disruption due to Covid-19, with a minimum of 25% decline in turnover, and an inability to pay normal wages and other outgoings, in accordance with guidance to be issued by Revenue. There will be severe penalties for any abuse of the scheme."

27-03-2020 11:24am

bruce wayne wrote: »

I believe the wage subsidy scheme applies to self employed and company directors if they are paid via the PAYE system. You could call revenue and ask them about your specific circumstances. Under the scheme you will be reimbursed up to €410 a week.

link here - https://revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/temporary-covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme.aspx

This is not applicable to the vast majority of self employed people.

I see in the UK they're offering financial assistance to the self employed while allowing them to keep whatever work they can. This is the sensible approach IMO.

Galway20188 · 27-03-2020 11:47am

Former Coach wrote: »

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has said that nearly all unemployment benefit claims received since 19 March and up to close of business yesterday will be processed for payment today and will be lodged in customers' bank accounts next Tuesday. ðŸ€ž

Any clarity on if this includes backpay for people who applied but didn’t receive payment this week?

Blowup · 27-03-2020 11:56am

I sent them an email yesterday and this was the reply:

The next payment run is tomorrow night so if you have applied it should pick it up.

If you have concerns reapply online.

Meaning Friday night (today) just don't know when it will hit our banks.

Former Coach · 27-03-2020 1:07pm

Galway20188 wrote: »

Any clarity on if this includes backpay for people who applied but didn’t receive payment this week?

Nothing that I’ve seen mention of sadly. Guess we’ll just have to wait until Tuesday🤞🙏

Smurf123 · 27-03-2020 1:29pm

I was on a working holiday visa in Canada and I had to move back home due to the corona virus. Does anyone know if I’m entitled to the Covid-19 payments or do I apply for job seekers payments ?

easypazz · 27-03-2020 1:35pm

Galway20188 wrote: »

Any clarity on if this includes backpay for people who applied but didn’t receive payment this week?

It will be backdated.

Wanderer19 · 27-03-2020 1:44pm

bruce wayne wrote: »

The revenue website explains it pretty well

https://revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/temporary-covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme.aspx

Basically the scheme is a mechanism for employers to keep their employees on their books rather than having to let them go and for the employees to have to apply for the payment themselves.

Under the scheme, the employer can claim up to €410 per week for each employee. So their option is to send the employee home and reduce their salary down to €410, or if they can afford it they can top €410 amount and maintain their employees salary. So in the case of your example if the employee was earning €600, if the employer uses this scheme and they only need to top up the employees payment by €190 a week - thus reducing their wage bill and maintaining the employees salary.

It really all depends on what the employer can afford. If sales have fallen off a cliff and there is no money coming in, then at the very least they can apply this scheme and the employees get the €410 a week without the hassle of being let go and having to apply via welfare.

The scheme is only for companies that have been drastically hit by the crisis and there is no work for the employees, or they have been ordered to close down (coffee shop employees or hairdressers might be a good example)- it is not for employees that are still coming into work. If an employee is still coming into work they are to be paid their normal salary.

The employee can be working - although it may be on reduced hours, or no hours. Just because you've lost a minimum of 25% of your business doesn't mean you don't need any staff, but it may not be viable to keep everyone at their normal rate. This is to retain the link with the employer, and also gets the employer to do the job of making payments on behalf of SW.

Wanderer19 · 27-03-2020 1:51pm

Smurf123 wrote: »

I was on a working holiday visa in Canada and I had to move back home due to the corona virus. Does anyone know if I’m entitled to the Covid-19 payments or do I apply for job seekers payments ?

You need to apply for jobseekers. You would of had to be registered with an employer in Feb and March to claim the emergency payment.

BarryD2 · 27-03-2020 3:47pm

bruce wayne wrote: »

I believe the wage subsidy scheme applies to self employed and company directors if they are paid via the PAYE system. You could call revenue and ask them about your specific circumstances. Under the scheme you will be reimbursed up to €410 a week.

link here - https://revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/temporary-covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme.aspx

Possibly if you set yourself up as a limited company and paid yourself as an employee. But would think the vast majority of self employed are 'sole traders' and neither an employer nor a employee.

Irishdreamer · 27-03-2020 3:47pm

Apologies if my question has been answered already!

I'm a bit confused about the wage subsidy scheme. The business I work for has two different lots of staff.
One set of staff are paid by a funding body & the business itself (the business only pays a small percentage of the actual wages for these staff).
The second set of staff are paid entirely by the business, no funding received for their wages.

So we are assuming that we cannot apply for the scheme for the set of staff with wages paid for by funding & business.
However could we apply for the scheme for the staff whose wages the business pays for entirely on it's own?

If we can apply for the scheme for the second set of staff, say an employee has gross wages of €250 - how does that work with the scheme as the wages are less than the €410? Do we get 70% of the €250 back & we pay the 30%?

All our staff are working from home so we are continuing to pay their wages however with no income for the business at the moment, we may start to have issues paying the full wages of the second set of staff. We would like to keep paying them & are hoping we can apply for the wage subsidy scheme.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

zweton · 27-03-2020 3:50pm

got the dreaded call this morning from my manager, they have told me they will pay 430 a week, does this mean I can still qualify for the covid benefit? As in get 430 from employer and 350 for the Covid?

splinter65 · 27-03-2020 3:52pm

zweton wrote: »

got the dreaded call this morning from my manager, they have told me they will pay 430 a week, does this mean I can still qualify for the covid benefit? As in get 430 from employer and 350 for the Covid?

No. What is your normal weeks wages?

zweton · 27-03-2020 4:09pm

splinter65 wrote: »

No. What is your normal weeks wages?

1000 a week after tax

Limpy · 27-03-2020 4:16pm

[PHP][/PHP]

zweton wrote: »

1000 a week after tax

Its capped. If you got the covid19 payment you would get 350, your employer then could top you up 30%.. they need too show business has dropped 25%?

splinter65 · 27-03-2020 4:58pm

zweton wrote: »

1000 a week after tax

You’re going to get €410. Wether or not your employer tops up that €410 or how much he tops it up is between you and him but no, you don’t get the €350 too.

brianregan09 · 27-03-2020 5:08pm

Hi have a question , basically I'm on Disability Allowance and I can work up to 12 hours (comes under rehabilitative work i think) is there anything available to me to cover my loss of 12 hours , my employer is paying all our full time staff the covid 19 scheme but I don't know where I fall in this am I just going to lose my extra 100 euros a week ?

brianomc · 27-03-2020 5:11pm

When you apply for the 350 pandemic payment online it says in the notification afterwards that "If you are applying for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, you will also need to apply for Jobseekers".

If we have been laid off temporarily but we expect to be back open in May if this thing clears up, is there any point in applying for jobseekers? Maybe I am overlooking something.

Thanks in advance

celt262 · 27-03-2020 5:20pm

What's the story where the employers business is down by 50% but they can afford to pay wages for the next 6 weeks. Can they get on the 70/30 scheme?

I ask as the company i work for are saying they cannot get it as they have money in the bank to pay wages for 6 weeks. They are not doing this and have put us on 2 day weeks and asking us to sign on for 3 days.

ByrneBrendy · 27-03-2020 6:10pm

Can anyone offer some advice on my situation please: working full time past 6yrs with same company, finished on 11th March to take up a new position; started new job on 12th March, temporarily laid off from this job from 16th March: which company should I write on my COVID19 Pandemic Unemployment form or does it matter? Thanks in advance for an advice ðŸ˜Š

mickdw · 27-03-2020 6:15pm

Has any sole trader managed to get any kind of answer from welfare re the cease trading wording.
The majority are just applying and stating they have ceased which is fair enough and every bit as entitled to a payment as paye but it doesnt sit right with me and might create all manor of hassle down the line.

Skybirdjb · 27-03-2020 6:25pm

mickdw wrote: »

Has any sole trader managed to get any kind of answer from welfare re the cease trading wording.
The majority are just applying and stating they have ceased which is fair enough and every bit as entitled to a payment as paye but it doesnt sit right with me and might create all manor of hassle down the line.

My husband is a sole trader and his work dried up last week with no jobs booking in . I rang the helpline and they said he was entitled to the payment and to apply for jobseekers while on it so that when the emergency payments end he will still get something.they also said then when work starts coming in again but not a full week he can claim for the days he doesn’t have work in .
They rang the other day to check something on the form so I’m hoping he will get it . I’m presuming it will just have to go down on the returns for this year as social welfare payments
Hope this helps it’s hard enough being a sole trader

extra gravy · 27-03-2020 6:33pm

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/0a03c4-payment-update-for-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment-and-jobsee/

Payment update

davedanon · 27-03-2020 6:42pm

extra gravy wrote: »

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/0a03c4-payment-update-for-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment-and-jobsee/

Payment update

Cheers. This bit...

"For example some claims may not have met eligibility criteria."

puzzles me. On what grounds would an applicant not be eligible, I wonder? If the only information is Name, address, PPSN, how would they determine ineligibility?

rahmalec · 27-03-2020 6:50pm

Skybirdjb wrote: »

My husband is a sole trader and his work dried up last week with no jobs booking in . I rang the helpline and they said he was entitled to the payment and to apply for jobseekers while on it so that when the emergency payments end he will still get something.they also said then when work starts coming in again but not a full week he can claim for the days he doesn’t have work in .
They rang the other day to check something on the form so I’m hoping he will get it . I’m presuming it will just have to go down on the returns for this year as social welfare payments
Hope this helps it’s hard enough being a sole trader

Ya I'm wondering what the story here is.
The specific wording says "ceased trading" but when the scheme was first announced it just said reduced work. Ceasing trading taken in a literal and specific way means having to submit final accounts, deregister business names, close up companies, etc. Completely impractical and the opposite of what I imagine is the spirit of the scheme.

In my own case, I work(ed) in the music industry and it has ground to a complete halt. Only remaining source of income is two hours teaching a week (paye) and possibly a cancellation fee or two here and there. I applied and will see what they say.

extra gravy · 27-03-2020 6:54pm

davedanon wrote: »

Cheers. This bit...

"For example some claims may not have met eligibility criteria."

puzzles me. On what grounds would an applicant not be eligible, I wonder? If the only information is Name, address, PPSN, how would they determine ineligibility?

I don't know tbh, could it be if they were already receiving another type of welfare payment?

Heres Johnny · 27-03-2020 6:54pm

zweton wrote: »

got the dreaded call this morning from my manager, they have told me they will pay 430 a week, does this mean I can still qualify for the covid benefit? As in get 430 from employer and 350 for the Covid?

It's 410 anyway, not 430

The 410 has replaced the 350,there is no 350 anymore

easypazz · 27-03-2020 7:15pm

davedanon wrote: »

Cheers. This bit...

"For example some claims may not have met eligibility criteria."

puzzles me. On what grounds would an applicant not be eligible, I wonder? If the only information is Name, address, PPSN, how would they determine ineligibility?

If you are over 66 you won't get it.

Dodge · 27-03-2020 7:18pm

davedanon wrote: »

Cheers. This bit...

"For example some claims may not have met eligibility criteria."

puzzles me. On what grounds would an applicant not be eligible, I wonder? If the only information is Name, address, PPSN, how would they determine ineligibility?

Age, residing in ROI, whether you were actually working or not, whether you are still working etc

Aside from the age grounds, you can be sure some chancers put a form in looking for a bit of luck...

Government Benefits Megathread

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