Know your Entitlements

Social Welfare

The Basic Social Welfare rates effective from January 2009:

                                                                                       Adult                     Adult Dependent

Contributory OAP (Full Rate)                                    € 230.30              €206.30(aged 66 or over)
Non Contributory OAP                                               € 219.00               €144.70(aged 66 or over)
Contributory Widows – under 66                             € 209.80               ---  
Contributory Widows – 66 or over                           € 230.30               ---
Invalidity Pension                                                       € 209.80              €149.70
All other payments                                                     € 204.80              €135.60
Living Alone Allowance                                             €   7.70  
Over 80 Allowance                                                     €  10.00 

Children

Child Benefit is paid for all children (€ 166.00 per month for the first two, € 203 for the others) up to their 16th birthday or 18th if in full time education or with a disability. Those aged 18 shall be cut to half rate in 2009 and excluded from January 2010. A 50% higher rate is payable for twins.

Child Dependent Allowance of € 26 is paid to persons on Social Welfare up to the end of the academic in which the child reaches 18. A person on social welfare for over 26 weeks can claim up to 22nd birthday if in full time education.

At 18, a single person living at home who has left school can apply for Jobseekers Assistance, but will be assessed with 34% of their parents disposable income after all the necessary deductions in relation to tax, PRSI etc. Once you qualify for any payment, a minimum of € 40.00 per week is paid.

In the year of bereavement a widow(er) with children receives a once off € 6,000 in addition the standard Bereavement Grant € 850 is payable. Widow(er)s are eligible for the half rate unemployment or sickness benefits for a maximum 15 months on a claim.

The HSE Domciliary Care Allowance € 310 per month and an annual respite grant of € 1,700 up to their 18th birthday for children with a disability who require considerable extra care. A payment of € 35 per week is payable to persons resident in institutional settings who do not have Disability Allowance.

Part Time Working

A person on Jobseekers Benefit loses one sixth of their payment for each day they work. A person on Jobseekers Assistance will have 60% of their daily earnings over € 20 deducted from their total weekly payment. In both cases you will receive no payment if you work more than three days.

A person seeking Jobseekers Assistance whose spouse is working will be paid the rate a claimant and an adult dependent less 60% of their spouse’s earnings after the relevant deductions with regard to tax, PRSI, in excess of € 60 per week.

Workers must now record 104 paid contributions (up from 52) before establishing eligibility for Jobseekers and illness Benefit. Jobseekers claims are now restricted to 12 months (9 months if under 260 paid contributions) and illness claims to 2 years.

Family Income Supplement

A couple or a single parent on low pay, who work for at least 19 hours per week combined (including job sharers) can get a supplement for their children ( including those 18-22 in full time education).The payment is calculated at 60c for each €1 by which your take home pay falls below the following income :

• € 500.00 for a family with one child plus
• € 90 for second, € 95 for third,€ 115 for fourth, and € 120 for each other child

If you qualify the payment will last at least 52 weeks it will be a minimum € 20 per week and also entitles you to back to school payment from the HSE, the smokeless fuel allowance and will not affect your eligibility for a medical card. A person on One Parent Family Allowance may apply but Family income Supplement will be treated as income in your means test.

Back to Work Allowance can be claimed by a person who has been unemployed or on sickness benefit for at least 2 years, when you return to work or set up as unemployed. It allows you to retain part of your Social Welfare payments, tax free, for three years ( 75%, 50%,25%) in an ordinary job and 4 years (100%,75%,50%,25%) self employed.

Back to Education Allowance

If you have been in Social Welfare you can get Back to Education Allowance (from the Department of Social Family Affairs or a VTOS Allowance (VEC), if you are undertaking a full time course leading to a recognized certificate at second, third or further education and are:

• At least 21 years of age (18 if on a long term disability payment, or if out of education for at least two years) and
• On Social Welfare for 6 months or more (for Second Level), 12 months or more (for Third Level), reduced to 9 if an Employment Action plan. To pass this test, periods of claim may be linked if there is no more than a 52 gap in between.

If you qualify you get a welfare payment plus € 500 at the start of the year (BTEA) or a weekly training allowance € 31.80 (VTOS).

The Partnership Committee also offer some support with bus fares, books etc., to students living within their catchment, whose parents are on Social Welfare. The colleges also have access to a Student Assistance Fund for students in need of supports and students with disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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