JSA / JSB Waiting times Survey

nukinfuts · 20-08-2009 6:54pm

got mine today! at last, maybe going in last week did some good!
so to sum up - Galway office, JSB, 11 weeks

Fromvert · 21-08-2009 3:50pm

Got a letter today:). First payment on Tuesday with 9 and half weeks back pay.

Location: Blanchardstown
Waited: 10/11 weeks
Its JSA

Anyone have an idea how long it takes back pay to be received? It just says they will be issued shortly.

Xiney · 24-08-2009 1:36pm

got a letter when we walked into our new apt on Saturday.

Picking up my first payment tomorrow and I've been backdated to 1 Dec. Happy Days

(Was waiting 21 weeks since I applied.)

lo2009 · 27-08-2009 10:16pm

I applied for a repeat claim for jobseekers allowance on 6th august in coolock and I pick up my first payment tomorrow 28th, less than three weeks wait but probably because it was a repeat claim(am relieved because when I applied last year I had to wait nearly four months) so happy the wait is over and wasn't too long:)

siobhan.murphy · 28-08-2009 12:10am

jsb
was waiting 8 weeks
Tralee

cute_cow · 31-08-2009 11:38am

I applied for a repeat claim in Kilbarrack this morning, girl said wait time could be 3-4 weeks. she also said because the kids are back to school, their work force had increased, and wait times has significantly reduced. Be very surprised if it was 3-4 weeks, but will update when i find out more!

eclectichoney · 01-09-2009 10:49pm

JSB
Dun Laoghaire

Applied last Thursday, got a call two days later to say my claim had been processed and my first payment can be collected this Thursday! :eek:

Amazingly fast.

IT Loser · 02-09-2009 4:21pm

JSA
BRAY
Applied May 4th
Nothing yet.

Saadyst · 03-09-2009 4:02pm

eclectichoney wrote: »

JSB
Dun Laoghaire

Applied last Thursday, got a call two days later to say my claim had been processed and my first payment can be collected this Thursday! :eek:

Amazingly fast.

Wow. My situation is probably different (recently moved over from the UK..), but I've been waiting since May 18th or so, with no word at all

ats · 07-09-2009 10:57am

applied end of July for Jobseekers benifit, got all my back pay today

IT Loser · 07-09-2009 3:51pm

IT Loser wrote: »

JSA
BRAY
Applied May 4th
Nothing yet.

My claim was "approved" on Sept 5th, I got a letter today, then I got a phone call today also, telling me I was not in payment and that I had to call into the office for some meeting.

Well and truly annoyed by it all now.

tommy21 · 07-09-2009 5:33pm

IT Loser wrote: »

My claim was "approved" on Sept 5th, I got a letter today, then I got a phone call today also, telling me I was not in payment and that I had to call into the office for some meeting.

Well and truly annoyed by it all now.

Man that sucks, I know you;ve been waiting a very long time - did it work out for you?

IT Loser · 07-09-2009 5:39pm

tommy21 wrote: »

Man that sucks, I know you;ve been waiting a very long time - did it work out for you?

Nah, not yet, the meeting isn't until 9:45am tomorrow, Chewsday de 8th.

I will keep you all informed.

Cheers!

Jet Black · 07-09-2009 7:33pm

Social Welfare Office: Finglas
Social Welfare Payment:Jobseekers Allowance
made redundant: 27 may
Application Date:2 june brought p45 on 4 june
first payment recieved:10june
Weeks from Application to Payment:1 weeks

A guy i worked with who lived in sword's said he was waiting over 6week's and asked me why mine only took a week. I said everyone in Finglas is already on the dole.

Xiney · 07-09-2009 8:15pm

Mask wrote: »

A guy i worked with who lived in sword's said he was waiting over 6week's and asked me why mine only took a week. I said everyone in Finglas is already on the dole.

LOL

BravoMike · 07-09-2009 10:35pm

Finally my claim has been approved and my payments are coming through. It's a relief, does anyone have an idea how long before the back pay is issued? I have tried ringing Social Welfare a good few times and the people I talk to keep telling me that they are not over my hatch and will call me back! I'm still waiting

Jafin · 07-09-2009 10:40pm

I got all my backpay the first time I went to collect. Should be the same for you. Make sure you have enough pocket space though if youve been waiting a while, itl probably be handed to you in wads of €50s or €100s.

Xiney · 07-09-2009 11:04pm

If it's a very large amount of backpay, you get it in a cheque mailed to your home.

BravoMike · 07-09-2009 11:09pm

Thanks for that,
Im recieving my third payment tomorrow, another thing I recieve my payments by cheque I haven't gone to the post office once and I also have not recieved any letter telling me to sign at a certain hatch. Sure I'll keep ringing

Jafin · 07-09-2009 11:37pm

Xiney wrote: »

If it's a very large amount of backpay, you get it in a cheque mailed to your home.

What constitutes a very large amount? My first payment was almost €1400 and it was given to me in cash.

Jafin · 07-09-2009 11:39pm

BravoMike wrote: »

Thanks for that,
Im recieving my third payment tomorrow, another thing I recieve my payments by cheque I haven't gone to the post office once and I also have not recieved any letter telling me to sign at a certain hatch. Sure I'll keep ringing

I dont think they tell you what hatch to sign at in a letter, you just go to the local office and each hatch has a few letters assigned to them (eg. hatch 1 A-G, Hatch 2 H-M etc.) and you just follow that queue depending on the first letter of your surname.
Thats how it was at my office when I was signing on anyway.
Thankfully Im off the dole now after being on almost a year.

BravoMike · 07-09-2009 11:54pm

Jafin wrote: »

I dont think they tell you what hatch to sign at in a letter, you just go to the local office and each hatch has a few letters assigned to them (eg. hatch 1 A-G, Hatch 2 H-M etc.) and you just follow that queue depending on the first letter of your surname.
Thats how it was at my office when I was signing on anyway.
Thankfully Im off the dole now after being on almost a year.

Fair enough, I'm just confused I have been recieving payments but have been told nothing about signing.
Your one of the lucky ones

Xiney · 07-09-2009 11:59pm

Jafin wrote: »

What constitutes a very large amount? My first payment was almost €1400 and it was given to me in cash.

somewhere around 2000 I think, but I'm not sure. My first payment was way over that and it was sent by cheque.

miec · 08-09-2009 3:11pm

Hi all

I am still waiting, it is four months now, although I've been told I should get paid this week or next week.

xtradel · 08-09-2009 3:37pm

Waiting 9 weeks since yesterday from the Galway office for jobseekers benefit. Rang numerous times & always left on hold for 20-30 mins before giving up. Once sombody lifted the reciever & put it back down again, charming!

tommy21 · 08-09-2009 4:39pm

Rang Cork City Office today to query something small, and they actually answered the second time I rang! Things are looking up

In all fairness I have found the SWO there to be top notch really, can't complain.

martinabiala · 09-09-2009 8:56pm

Place: Galway
Application made on 24 April 2009, still no responce.
No interview, nothing. Worked for 4 years so JB entitled.
Went to them last month, ''your application is pending'' - that is all I heard after 4 hours waiting time...
The lady was not very pleasant to deal with...

Applied for SWA end of May, went thru all the paperwork (Gardai, Tax, Local Housing Authority for rent supplement, account status etc.)
Received it 3 June, otherwise would have starved... But they just said, that it takes too long with my Social Welfare JB aplication and something must be wrong filled in...Does anyone know can CWO suspend my payments while I am awaiting JB ?

I dont know what to do next... I can't make an appeal because I didn't get a decision. Does anyone know what could I do to speed it up? Maybe write to The Office of the Ombudsman? But they will also ask for some evidence, like decision or so...
One of my friends is waiting for his JA since december 2008 and his first interview will take place in october 2009 ! It is not a joke...

martinabiala · 09-09-2009 9:16pm

Could someone tell me what is it means test? How does it look? Or maybe give a link with information about it? There is no specification at Social Welfare website and Citizens website ...

Is JB means tested or not?

I heard, that they ask for proof of actual jobseeking at the interview, but I dont have any, companies usually do not send responces to applications!!!

All that is a nightmare to me!

I hope to find some job 4 Xmas ...

tommy21 · 11-09-2009 12:17am

martinabiala wrote: »

Could someone tell me what is it means test? How does it look? Or maybe give a link with information about it? There is no specification at Social Welfare website and Citizens website ...

Is JB means tested or not?

I heard, that they ask for proof of actual jobseeking at the interview, but I dont have any, companies usually do not send responces to applications!!!

All that is a nightmare to me!

I hope to find some job 4 Xmas ...

Don't take this the wrong way, but all that info is on both websites, so you best look again, or alternatively browse the forum, or post a specific question out there if you can't find the answer.

IT Loser · 11-09-2009 3:21pm

Okay then just to confirm:

Applied May 2009, Bray, Jobseekers Allowance.

Received first payment Wednesday, September 9th, 2009.

Entering regular payment as of Tuesday 15th 2009.

tommy21 · 11-09-2009 4:59pm

IT Loser wrote: »

Okay then just to confirm:

Applied May 2009, Bray, Jobseekers Allowance.

Received first payment Wednesday, September 9th, 2009.

Entering regular payment as of Tuesday 15th 2009.

Hurrah!

MikeC101 · 11-09-2009 9:24pm

Applied first week May 2009, Tullamore, Jobseekers Allowance (was outside the last two tax years as worked abroad)
Interviewed end of August.
Payment started second week in September.

Whatever about the wait, and the non answering of phones, the staff were very polite and friendly, and excellent to deal with when I did get face to face time with them.

martinabiala · 12-09-2009 11:07am

tommy21 wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way, but all that info is on both websites, so you best look again, or alternatively browse the forum, or post a specific question out there if you can't find the answer.

You could easly answer my questions in those 38 words you wrote, i wouldn't ask for it here if there was answer somwhere else......:eek:
I have checked their websites several times and there is no info how the means test looks, it only says : ' JA is means tested...' JB is not...

Fortunately i've got a job, so have no more interest in all that

...

tommy21 · 12-09-2009 6:18pm

martinabiala wrote: »

You could easly answer my questions in those 38 words you wrote, i wouldn't ask for it here if there was answer somwhere else......:eek:
I have checked their websites several times and there is no info how the means test looks, it only says : ' JA is means tested...' JB is not...

Fortunately i've got a job, so have no more interest in all that ...

Well you have to do a bit of the ground work yourself like. Google means test social welfare (narrow it to Ireland) and you get
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/irish-social-welfare-system/means-test-for-social-welfare-payments/means-test

Simple.

But as you said you won't need the info now that you've secured a job. I'm sure you'll come back and help other people out though.

crushproof · 14-09-2009 1:32pm

eclectichoney wrote: »

JSB
Dun Laoghaire

Applied last Thursday, got a call two days later to say my claim had been processed and my first payment can be collected this Thursday! :eek:

Amazingly fast.

What the heck?! I've been waiting since June for mine! Grrr!

Saadyst · 14-09-2009 1:43pm

crushproof wrote: »

What the heck?! I've been waiting since June for mine! Grrr!

Been waiting since May, same office - went in last week and asked for an update, the woman said that someone had been assigned for a means test on Aug 27th and he should have been in touch by now... but to sit tight and they'll get round to it.

BravoMike · 14-09-2009 4:06pm

In reciept of payment but my back pay has been refused and has not been paid. Im seriously pissed off at this stage :mad::mad:

miec · 14-09-2009 4:26pm

Hi BravoMike

Have they said why? That sounds incredibly unreasonable, no wonder you are angry.

miec · 14-09-2009 4:27pm

Also, anyone who is not happy with the service they receive can get more info at http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW104/Pages/CommentsorComplaints.aspx

BravoMike · 14-09-2009 4:42pm

No real reason yet waiting for letter as to why. I will be defenately appealing the decision.

IT Loser · 15-09-2009 9:08pm

BravoMike wrote: »

In reciept of payment but my back pay has been refused and has not been paid. Im seriously pissed off at this stage :mad::mad:

Backpay is usually only awarded where, for some reason beyond your personal control, and in the absence of precedent, you did not apply for Social Welfare payments as soon as you could have.

For example, a person who was ignorant of the existence of Social Welfare benefits could always avail of backpay. Thats an extreme example.

A less extreme example would be a person who becomes unemployed, has an accident, or suffers a bereavement, and simply physically cannot get around to apply for the benefit in question.

Another example would be a recipient who was being strung along by would be employers, and who attends interviews on a very regular basis, ultimately ending in failure.

If you know of your entitlement, and you acquiesce in the passing of time and do not apply through your own tardiness, delay or basic lack of interest, then you dont stand much of a chance.

Not saying thats you, but if it is you, then thats that.

PM me if you want and I will have a look at your personal facts and see what I can do for you.

Cheers.:cool:

IT Loser · 15-09-2009 9:37pm

BravoMike wrote: »

No real reason yet waiting for letter as to why. I will be defenately appealing the decision.

sorry, my mistake, by back pay did you mean all the weekes you were waiting after you applied? Silly me!:(

Okay then, you are definitely entitled to the money for the period between the initial application and the eventual succeeding of your claim.

However, you must be able to show that you were looking for work during that period.

miec · 17-09-2009 5:26pm

Finally, finally, finally, my claim has been awarded. So I can say that I sign on at Portarlington and I was waiting 19 weeks.

Xiney · 17-09-2009 6:12pm

Congrats miec!

Seriously, bet that's a weight off the shoulders eh?

Shzm · 17-09-2009 7:03pm

Put my claim in for JSA @ Blanchsardstown on July 10th. Inspector just came around today for the means test.

Hopefully not much longer!

xtradel · 18-09-2009 2:32pm

Called in on Wednesday & picking up my first payment on jb this Monday after 11 weeks waiting.

cute_cow · 18-09-2009 2:33pm

cute_cow wrote: »

I applied for a repeat claim in Kilbarrack this morning, girl said wait time could be 3-4 weeks. she also said because the kids are back to school, their work force had increased, and wait times has significantly reduced. Be very surprised if it was 3-4 weeks, but will update when i find out more!

Well i was wrong!! I got a letter today to say that my application for JB was authporised for payment, money will be in PO on wednesday, so was about 3 and a half weeks...am very, very lucky from reading some posts here!

niall1986 · 18-09-2009 5:19pm

waiting seven weeks in bishops square dublin for JB. Anyone else waiting for JB from this office? How long should i wait before i enquire about my claim?

miec · 18-09-2009 7:29pm

Hi Xiney, it was a huge relief, I was able to order in the oil now as we had no way of getting any and we can make a dent in the credit card, so relief all round. Lets just say the relief is tremendous.

Fionn MacCool · 21-09-2009 12:30pm

Why is it so slow? I signed on for the last month or so in England and my claim took about 2-3 weeks to process.