The dole is too much!!

thelordofcheese

Degsy wrote: »

I touched on the subject of professional dole bums in another thread and was bombarded by the dopey lift-wingers demanding stats.
Why arent they demanding proof in this thread?
Maybe they know they're not living in the real world...

Where's your stats on people not asking for stats, hmnmm?

Berty

21% of all statistics are made up or didnt you know?

Mary D

As things stand at the moment, so many people are loosing their jobs, people are taking pay cuts/freezes and people are working short weeks. This means less money being paid in taxes. If employed people are taking a hit so should the unemployed, there's not enough money in the Country to keep paying welfare at the high rates we've been paying them at particularly now as the dole queues are getting longer, the money needs to be stretched further. We have to have one of the highest paid welfare systems in europe (btw I don't have any stats on that)!

GarretWilliams

Mary D wrote: »

As things stand at the moment, so many people are loosing their jobs, people are taking pay cuts/freezes and people are working short weeks. This means less money being paid in taxes. If employed people are taking a hit so should the unemployed, there's not enough money in the Country to keep paying welfare at the high rates we've been paying them at particularly now as the dole queues are getting longer, the money needs to be stretched further. We have to have one of the highest paid welfare systems in europe (btw I don't have any stats on that)!

Again, think before you type. You see every action has consequences.

You know nothing. About 5% of every tax euro goes on welfare. In the UK 72% of every pound is spent on the military.

Did they not just give 20 billion to a few banks in the biggest hold up job in history. But, the smug irish. Always attack those who cannot defend themselves.

Mary, how about you go and picket your local AIB, or would you be afraid of the neighbours seeing you?

Mary D

Garrett, trust me I have a major problem with how the government have handled the banking situation, in fact I really think it was criminal. I'm not out to attack anymore. I don't understand how you can compare the precentage we spend on welfare to the precentage the English pay on millitary, I think you should be one to be thinking here as your reasoning makes absolutely no sense. Also I think the bank you mean me to picket is Anglo Irish Bank rather than Allied Irish Bank. No-one is the subject of any attack, but this Country as a whole needs major change and reform right from dole payments to CEO salaries in banks.

ongarite

GarretWilliams wrote: »

Again, think before you type. You see every action has consequences.

You know nothing. About 5% of every tax euro goes on welfare. In the UK 72% of every pound is spent on the military.

Any links to that those figures you just pulled from thin air? I find that hard to believe.

Berty

I took a hit on commission of around 8K so far in the recession, took a demotion, pay decrease in November and 5% pay decrease last week. My accomodation allowance has been reduced, my lunch allowance reduced and the tracking system monitoring my vehicles movements has been watched closer.

Yet I still have a job. Im now earning a low wage and the governement have increased my Benefit in kind payments on the company vehicle.

I sit listening to guys on the radio on strike yesterday and one guy in Dublin had the cheek to claim he was on a low wage of €26,000. How the feck is that a low wage?

I was sent a letter from the EBS saying I have to pay more mortage protection insurance because they have to pay more and more claims.

Last week I watched 19% of my colleagues lose their jobs at work.

I watch the queues on the unemployment line growing and growing, I see the jobs on Jobs.ie, Irishjobs etc steadily declining. I count my lucky stars I can just about squeeze through on my wages and would hate to be on the bread line or social welfare assistance.

I feel pain for the people having to do so. I once though like most that most people claiming unemployment assistance are scroungers and too lazy to work because jobs were abundant. My opinion changed overnight months ago when people who actually want to work cannot work.

The unemployment assistance is not too low and not too high. Its just unfortunate that there are so many people on it that have exceedinly higher outgoings than the amount paid by the government.

Do I want to contribute more to support them earning more on social welfare? Personally, no because I felt I have given up so much because of the recession already. Around €20k down I am on my earnings last year- potentially and could be worse.

starflake

I work full time. Don't drink, dont smoke, travel to work every day by train. buy about 40 euro of shopping every week. I easily live on about 150 euro a week. easily. OK if I go clothes shopping or eat out or whatever I will have far more over heads. I really think 200 euro a week is plenty. train costs 26euro a week, rent 70 a week, shopping 40. Is it cars and mortgages that are the main expenses for people?

Berty

starflake wrote: »

I work full time. Don't drink, dont smoke, travel to work every day by train. buy about 40 euro of shopping every week. I easily live on about 150 euro a week. easily. OK if I go clothes shopping or eat out or whatever I will have far more over heads. I really think 200 euro a week is plenty. train costs 26euro a week, rent 70 a week, shopping 40. Is it cars and mortgages that are the main expenses for people?

And by working your P60 you can claim back your tax rate on your train tickets and rent relief including pension contributions, trade union subscriptions, bin tags, refuse collection..........

GarretWilliams

Mary D wrote: »

Garrett, trust me I have a major problem with how the government have handled the banking situation, in fact I really think it was criminal. I'm not out to attack anymore. I don't understand how you can compare the precentage we spend on welfare to the precentage the English pay on millitary, I think you should be one to be thinking here as your reasoning makes absolutely no sense. Also I think the bank you mean me to picket is Anglo Irish Bank rather than Allied Irish Bank. No-one is the subject of any attack, but this Country as a whole needs major change and reform right from dole payments to CEO salaries in banks.

I meant the AIB alright.

Wait are you one of this new breed of Irish people. The "bring in the IMF, let Europe take over" crew. (all generated from one Irish Times article a few weeks ago).

Our politicians are acting with a gun to their heads. Globalization?? A race to the bottom.

Problems are created, so that society can then be thrown into confusion. Then a "new way" must be found. Age old tricks, ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.


All I am saying, don't attack the ordinary people, they were not "all in this togeather" when the banks were making millions, but now they must share the burden??????????????????????????????????????

Mary D

Berty wrote: »

Do I want to contribute more to support them earning more on social welfare? Personally, no because I felt I have given up so much because of the recession already. Around €20k down I am on my earnings last year- potentially and could be worse.

This what I'm trying to say, everyone is taking a hit, no one is safe and things are tight for everyone. Cuts will have to be made to welfare payments as there is not enough people working anymore to support the payments being made.

Mary D

Garret, again I'm not attacking any one personally we're all "oridinary people" and yes we all were in it together, we all benefited in some way from the celtic tiger be it, we had better jobs, higher salaries, nicer cars, bigger houses all our lives benefited in some form or other, now that is being rectified in the downturn, we're all taking pay cuts, loosing jobs, loosing houses, no more nice holidays etc etc. Welfare payments were also increased in the good years now they also have to be rectified, we are billions of euro in debt and we can't afford to pay these high amounts anymore. I would love the government to do their job and actually lead this country and come down like a tone of bricks on the builders and bankers that have the country in such state.. who wouldn't. The fact still remains that we are in this state and something has to give.

starflake

Berty wrote: »

And by working your P60 you can claim back your tax rate on your train tickets and rent relief including pension contributions, trade union subscriptions, bin tags, refuse collection..........

I can? I didnt know that. have p60 in front of me here.. I am totally clueless about tax and such

GarretWilliams

Mary D wrote: »

Garret, again I'm not attacking any one personally we're all "oridinary people" and yes we all were in it together, we all benefited in some way from the celtic tiger be it, we had better jobs, higher salaries, nicer cars, bigger houses all our lives benefited in some form or other, now that is being rectified in the downturn, we're all taking pay cuts, loosing jobs, loosing houses, no more nice holidays etc etc. Welfare payments were also increased in the good years now they also have to be rectified, we are billions of euro in debt and we can't afford to pay these high amounts anymore. I would love the government to do their job and actually lead this country and come down like a tone of bricks on the builders and bankers that have the country in such state.. who wouldn't. The fact still remains that we are in this state and something has to give.

I don't doubt you sincerity. Just realise that you are going down a route that has been set out for you.

And no, the poor were not "all in this togeather" in the past. It was "dog eat dog". I am yet to encounter anyone from inner city Dublin who was picking up dividend cheques over the last 15 years.

GarretWilliams

starflake wrote: »

I can? I didnt know that. have p60 in front of me here.. I am totally clueless about tax and such

Go to revenue.ie you can claim back for the last 5 years. Got a neighbour of mine €5500 there a few weeks ago.

Mena

starflake wrote: »

I can? I didnt know that. have p60 in front of me here.. I am totally clueless about tax and such

Have a read of this.

starflake

Brilliant thanks a mill

Mary D

I didn't pick up any dividend cheques myself (and I don't live too far from Inner City Dublin and I doubt very much you even know anyone from there) but I can't deny that the Celtic Tiger brought with it opportunities for me (through a lot of hard work) that I wouldn't have got in a million years otherwise. There Celtic years were not the doom and gloom years as you seem to be suggesting, all kinds of people benefited whether you like to beleive it or not.

Mena

starflake wrote: »

Brilliant thanks a mill

Actually, read this thread as well, it will prove very useful.

Berty

starflake wrote: »

Brilliant thanks a mill

* Ahem. Finders fee please. 5%

GarretWilliams

Mary D wrote: »

I didn't pick up any dividend cheques myself (and I don't live too far from Inner City Dublin and I doubt very much you even know anyone from there) but I can't deny that the Celtic Tiger brought with it opportunities for me (through a lot of hard work) that I wouldn't have got in a million years otherwise. There Celtic years were not the doom and gloom years as you seem to be suggesting, all kinds of people benefited whether you like to beleive it or not.

Met a few broads from that area actually.

You are chasing and attacking the little man, while you respect those in suits and ties, even though they are robbing you blind.

drunkdaz

stepbar wrote: »

The UK rate is 84.50 pounds p.w. I would challenge anyone to live on that for a week and have to contribute to rent (actually do the gov in the UK have a rent allowance scheme?).

No it is not. Its currently £60.50pw, so long as you have savings of less then £6000.
You can get rent assistance from your local government, again as long as you have savings of less then £6000.

If you, like me and many of my friends at this stage, had the sense to save while you are working you get punished and told to spend your savings to subsidise the chavs...

Its come up a few times in this thread how the Irish dole isn't that much, how people have come accustomed to certain living standards, how Ireland is so expensive etc, but that cannot account for a difference in the dole of 2 and a half times that in the UK. I challenge anyone to join me in London and say Ireland is more expensive lol.
To show you my situation, which I would say is pretty average, before I can even eat during the week my outgoings are rent £200 (share in a 4 bed house), travelcard £30, Loan £90 (to pay for college fees and expenses in Ireland), Council Tax £10, Utilites £30. So £350 before food....

The point I am making is that me and my unemployed mates have to sit around and make a case for NOT coming home to draw the dole in Dublin where we would be much better off. Ireland is leaving itself open to this, its just too much.

Berty

Mary D wrote: »

all kinds of people benefited whether you like to beleive it or not.

People in social housing benefited by getting gas boilers, new radiators, attic insulation installed in their houses for free.

I use this small example because there are a tiny percent in this situation who have never contributed to society but benefits nonetheless.

Mary D

GarretWilliams wrote: »

Met a few broads from "that area" actually.

You are chasing and attacking the little man, while you respect those in suits and ties, even though they are robbing you blind.

It's interesting how you refer to the Inner City as "that area"!!!

I am chasing and attacking nobody, and I would respect a fair and equal society.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Berty wrote: »

People in social housing benefited by getting gas boilers, new radiators, attic insulation installed in their houses for free.

I use this small example because there are a tiny percent in this situation who have never contributed to society but benefits nonetheless.

Never? Oh? Well, how exactly can you prove this? Not everyone in social housing falls into this category. Keep the generalisations out of here, yea?

GarretWilliams

Mary D wrote: »

It's interesting how you refer to the Inner City as "that area"!!! .

Oh! Don't reflect your prejudices on me.

Mary D wrote: »

I am chasing and attacking nobody, and I would respect a fair and equal society.

Equality? We are not all equal. I can't strike a golf ball like Tiger, does that mean that I should attack him and drag him down to my level? (a solid 4 handicap, incase you care).

Berty

Addisyn Obnoxious Ice-skate wrote: »

Never? Oh? Well, how exactly can you prove this? Not everyone in social housing falls into this category. Keep the generalisations out of here, yea?

Yes I can prove there are a tiny percentage doing this. Even one family unit is a tiny percentage and I am related to a family who are a prime example.

Hardly a generalisation, rather fact.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Berty wrote: »

Yes I can prove there are a tiny percentage doing this. Even one family unit is a tiny percentage and I am related to a family who are a prime example.

Hardly a generalisation, rather fact.

Ah, sorry I misread your post. You are right with the tiny percentage. I know people like this, they refer to themselves as a "social welfare family". Working every so often to build up credits, then back on the dole...

Why do we provide for people for life like this? Perfectly able, healthy people, just too lazy to do anything about it. Is it that they are just used to this way of living?

Lockstep

Mena wrote: »

Have a read of this.

You my friend, are a legend.
I never knew about the Trade Union subscription allowance.

Berty

Addisyn Obnoxious Ice-skate wrote: »

Why do we provide for people for life like this? Perfectly able, healthy people, just too lazy to do anything about it. Is it that they are just used to this way of living?

As Ned Flanders said

"then there are the people who........well........god bless them just dont want to work"

We provide for them because society provides this benefit to the people who need it but there are always a small percentage who will want it and make their lives emulate the conditions of the benefit in order to keep receiving the benefit.

Mary D

I could have nearly guessed your handicap!

As I said I'm not too far from the Inner City (in fact my mother is is from Dominic Street originally and I still have cousins there) so I think I can safely say I have no prejudices to reflect.

I think you should go back to the golfcourse (where you'll find most of the "suits" socailise and make your ridiculous comparsions to welfare expenditure here to military expenditure in the UK, perhaps you'll be better understood on the green.

Lockstep

Mary D wrote: »

As I said I'm not too far from the Inner City (in fact my mother is is from Dominic Street originally and I still have cousins there) so I think I can safely say I have no prejudices to reflect.

My face when I read the above:


............................................________
....................................,.-‘”...................``~.,
.............................,.-”...................................“-.,
.........................,/...............................................”:,
.....................,?......................................................\,
.................../...........................................................,}
................./......................................................,:`^`..}
.............../...................................................,:”........./
..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../
............./__.(.....“~-,_..............................,:`........../
.........../(_....”~,_........“~,_....................,:`........_/
..........{.._$;_......”=,_.......“-,_.......,.-~-,},.~”;/....}
...........((.....*~_.......”=-._......“;,,./`..../”............../
...,,,___.\`~,......“~.,....................`.....}............../
............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-”
............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\
.............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__
,,_..........}.>-._\...................................|..............`=~-,
.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\
...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\
................................`:,,...........................`\..............__
.....................................`=-,...................,%`>--==``
........................................_\..........._,-%.......`\
...................................,<`.._|_,-&``................`\

starflake

Berty wrote: »

* Ahem. Finders fee please. 5%

If I'm owed anything I'll buy you a pint :D thanks a mill lads for all the help!

Irishcrx

Wow, thought this thread would have died.

Can I just clarify once again as I have before if people would read it. I am not sayING everyone on the dole is like him or a scrounger, I am simply saying the percentage that are wasters really shouldn't be paid as much and there money should be dropped in order to HELP the hard working people who have been paying for them all these years when they need it.

IE the people who cannot afford to keep their homes at the min, I have a house myself , work full time and even i've got bills and rising prices on top of my and the threat of loosing my own job so I understand.

CDfm

Irishcrx wrote: »

Wow, thought this thread would have died.

Can I just clarify once again as I have before if people would read it. I am not sayING everyone on the dole is like him or a scrounger, I am simply saying the percentage that are wasters really shouldn't be paid as much and there money should be dropped in order to HELP the hard working people who have been paying for them all these years when they need it.

IE the people who cannot afford to keep their homes at the min, I have a house myself , work full time and even i've got bills and rising prices on top of my and the threat of loosing my own job so I understand.

There are several issues - there are people who are long term unemployed who are unemployed by choice.

There are others who wont take a job because the benefit system is a disincentive to work

People like unmarried mothers have an incentive to morph into long term unemployed and an underclass because of the nature of the system encourages it. This is really grossly unfair to them.

Others are unemployable or disabled and this is another sector.

The problem that arises is that when the system makes it uneconomic to work.

THen you have the whole cost of social welfare payments -like it or not the real value of our unemployment benefit will have to drop big time as the cost to ordinary people in their taxes makes it too high to sustain.

This is not a dig at the unemployed but it is reckoned that our labour costs need to drop 20% so we can become competitive again and that will mean benefits and tax revenue will also need to fall in real terms.

97i9y3941

CDfm wrote: »

but our welfare system pays children allowance for children not resident in the state :mad:

Do we also give married and dependants allowances on the dole for wives and families not living in Ireland.

thats because we are too quiet of a nation,because of this "they are european citizens and are entilted to it" rubbish ,although i heard mary hanifan changed it to make sure that those who are drawing it are actually living in the country

CDfm

Fred83 wrote: »

thats because we are too quiet of a nation,because of this "they are european citizens and are entilted to it" rubbish ,although i heard mary hanifan changed it to make sure that those who are drawing it are actually living in the country

if you went to france or spain you would see different rules

a friend of mine working in spain moved to holland for work and unless he makes voluntary contributions over asnd above his duch social security in spain his kids will not be entitled to attend school or recieve medical care

howzat for europe

xOxSinéadxOx

the dole is definitely too high, I know people thinking the dole is looking more attractive than their job and if people are thinking that it has to be too high

Tar.Aldarion

How is it too high, you get no money to spend really. Rent, ESB, heating, food. That's it gone.

Breaktown

I think in an ideal world a lot of problems could be solved by actually doing a proper individual means test for everyone and also by improving the signing on system.

By a proper means test I mean that I am on welfare but I only get €85.90 a week because I live with my boyfriend. Welfare "means tested" me and have a standard thing where they claim he gives me 60% of his income. I don't know what right they have to say that or where they get that figure from. While I was working, we split everything 50:50. Yet welfare refused to see that. Now he is forced to support me, which I find humiliating as I am very independant. Believe me, I would rather be working. We can survive but can't save any money. I have also never been entitled to rent allowance, even before we were living together, as most landlords won't accept it.

I sign on once a month to prove that I am looking for work. Yet that doesn't prove anything. I could quite easily show them rejection letters and emails I have been getting. Those people who want to be unemployed wouldn't be able to do as easily. If welfare actually followed up on this, maybe they could reduce the money of people who are on welfare soley to sponge of the system while still allowing a fair amount of money who are only on it because they have no choice.

But like I said, that would only happen in an ideal world.

CDfm

Breaktown wrote: »

I think in an ideal world a lot of problems could be solved by actually doing a proper individual means test for everyone and also by improving the signing on system.

By a proper means test I mean that I am on welfare but I only get €85.90 a week because I live with my boyfriend. Welfare "means tested" me and have a standard thing where they claim he gives me 60% of his income. I don't know what right they have to say that or where they get that figure from. While I was working, we split everything 50:50. Yet welfare refused to see that.

But like I said, that would only happen in an ideal world.

But you live together and if you were married you would do a lot worse.

i wonder if others believe you should recieve any benefits at all -i have doubts

Call it the cost of sex and that 2 can live cheaper than 1 so your needs are less

Tar.Aldarion

And what about people that live with housemates and are not couples, why is it fair that they get more with the same costs?

CDfm

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

And what about people that live with housemates and are not couples, why is it fair that they get more with the same costs?

they are not on the same benefits:D

Tar.Aldarion

Yeah, it's haard to convince them to be friends with benefits.:mad:

97i9y3941

Breaktown wrote: »

I think in an ideal world a lot of problems could be solved by actually doing a proper individual means test for everyone and also by improving the signing on system.

By a proper means test I mean that I am on welfare but I only get €85.90 a week because I live with my boyfriend. Welfare "means tested" me and have a standard thing where they claim he gives me 60% of his income. I don't know what right they have to say that or where they get that figure from. While I was working, we split everything 50:50. Yet welfare refused to see that. Now he is forced to support me, which I find humiliating as I am very independant. Believe me, I would rather be working. We can survive but can't save any money. I have also never been entitled to rent allowance, even before we were living together, as most landlords won't accept it.

I sign on once a month to prove that I am looking for work. Yet that doesn't prove anything. I could quite easily show them rejection letters and emails I have been getting. Those people who want to be unemployed wouldn't be able to do as easily. If welfare actually followed up on this, maybe they could reduce the money of people who are on welfare soley to sponge of the system while still allowing a fair amount of money who are only on it because they have no choice.

But like I said, that would only happen in an ideal world.

unfortantly the system is not 100% either,if you are 24 and under living at home,you are asscessed on your parents income,so if your parents work and pay tax and stuff,you might not be entilted to anything,so basically the gov is calling you an ejit for paying tax or your parents should leave their jobs and go on the dole queue so their sons/daughters who are 24 and under could get the dole

carrieb

It is far too much!! 800 euro a month for doing FA.
I am living in Italy at the moment and 800-1000 euro per month is considered good money.
I was in a language class one day, full of people from all over the world, inc a lot of Europeans and the whole class sat with their mouths open when I explained how it works. None of them could believe it, there were ppl from Switzerland, Holland, Sweeden, Central America, the US, none had ever heard of such a concept.
I know a girl who was on the dole for over a year recently, shes lives at home and has no car so was loaded with the 200 per month. Had more the enough to live and save!!
She has a degree though and was finally made go to some interviews by FAS and got a job in a week. People like that drive me mad.
It should def be tested, a 20 yr old living at home who is just lazy does not deserve for 1 second to get what a 55 yr old father of 3 who has just lost his job is entitled to.
Makes my blood boil!

Stheno

alrilad wrote: »

Ive heard alot of people latey complaining that as they were self employed they cant claim any benifits. I know the dole is off limits but surly they can claim something. I am self employed and I am luck I still have work, but if this was to change am I on my own with no money and a morgage to pay. Is there anything for them?

This is because if you are self employed and a company director as a result of being self employed, you only pay total PRSI of 5% so you are exempt from certain benefits, I had this when I contracted in IT

As your social insurance benefits are averaged out over five years, with year two of the five being the most crucial in the current tax year, it can really affect what you are entitled to.

I e.g. lost dental and optical benefit, even though apart from one year out of the five I was a PAYE worker

pandas wrote: »

its not 'free money'!!!

you only get it if you paid your social INSURANCE two years ago, i.e. if you were working. you are not entitled to it if you didn't and plus you can only stay claiming it for a certain amount of months after which you are cut off!!

i think with the amount of PRSI we pay each year, if and when i will need the dole, i sure as hell hope all of the measly €200 it is there for me without any qualms.

Incorrect, see above.

Fred83 wrote: »

there is fierce mumbleing about the gov cutting payment on the dole,i would support that,aslong as people that have family/kids arent cut in the meagre payment

Personally I'm all for it, I'm willing to take a 10% increase in pay in the form of increased tax, why not do the same on the dole?

MIN2511 wrote: »

The families/Kids and old people are the first ones to be targeted in our economy....

Not true, for most of the political parties, the grey vote is too powerful, as evinced by the medical card changes for the over seventies that were revoked for a large majority following the last budget.

Mena wrote: »

If you've paid your PRSI it's YOUR money. Now what I would agree with is limiting the duration of the payments. If you worked for 10 years and paid 20k* in PRSI, then you get that 20k back, over say a one or two year period. After that, sort yourself out.


*not actual figures

No it's not your money, it's not a ****ing savings scheme ffs.

It's YOUR contribution to the social infrastructure that we need in this country such as health, education, unemployment etc etc etc, not YOUR savings for when times are bad.

CDfm wrote: »

I had the same thing.

You dont get it now with levies etc

People are loosing their jobs as our labour costs are 20% too high

Less wages leess taxes

So will you be happy with a 10-20% pay cut/increase in taxes?

starflake wrote: »

I can? I didnt know that. have p60 in front of me here.. I am totally clueless about tax and such

Educate yourself, I think something like 3 million (small change in these times) is saved by the government every year due to people not knowing what they are entitled to, and it's not exactly rocket science.

CDfm wrote: »

But you live together and if you were married you would do a lot worse.

i wonder if others believe you should recieve any benefits at all -i have doubts

Call it the cost of sex and that 2 can live cheaper than 1 so your needs are less

Bollox, complete and utter bollox, even under joint assessment, when it comes to unemployment benefit, if you as an individual are married, you are entitled to full payments once your PRSI contributions as an individual are in order, regardless of what your spouse is earning.

Unemployment assistance is different and is means tested.

Personally, with an apparent Dail consensus that we need an interim budget I can see the higher rate of tax going up to at least 45%, incentives for employers to create jobs, and no reduction in social welfare so as not to affect the least well off in society.

I've no real problem with it, it's tough times we live in and everyone needs to contribute.

If however, such measures come in, and there is no tightening on those who make maximising the dole to swan off on holidays done I shall be infuriated.

CDfm

nouggatti wrote: »

Bollox, complete and utter bollox, even under joint assessment, when it comes to unemployment benefit, if you as an individual are married, you are entitled to full payments once your PRSI contributions as an individual are in order, regardless of what your spouse is earning.

Unemployment assistance is different and is means tested.

Does this mean Breakdown getting unemployment assistance is getting a better shake to a married couple in the same cirtcumstances with the same income.

If so it is not fair.

Stheno

CDfm wrote: »

Does this mean Breakdown getting unemployment assistance is getting a better shake to a married couple in the same cirtcumstances with the same income.

If so it is not fair.

No I am talking about unemployment benefit which is not means tested, but is based on PRSI contributions.

Regardless of what one spouse earns, if the other spouse becomes unemployed, then the unemployed spouse is entitled to full unemployment benefit of 204 euro per week, once they have the relevant PRSI contributions.

I know of one couple where spouse a. earned 75k per year, and spouse b. was unemployed and collected the full UB of approx 194 per week
(2007/2008) for approx eighteen months, after working sporadically for five years. AND, when their PRSI ran out, even with means testing they were entitled to 66 euro per week, whilst spouse a continued to take home a basic of +4000 euro, not including bonuses, which were regular enough at the time.

Spouse b complained to their friends that they were not entitled to help with their mortgage lolol:D

This is the sort of stuff that imo needs to be stamped out, kinda like means testing childrens allowance.

CDfm

nouggatti wrote: »

No I am talking about unemployment benefit which is not means tested, but is based on PRSI contributions.

This is the sort of stuff that imo needs to be stamped out, kinda like means testing childrens allowance.

Would you disallow Breakdowns claim that she should be allowed full unemployment assistance then