Possible social welfare cuts in Ireland?

DidierMc

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

20 euros phone credit gives you free texts for the month on many providers. Clothes are cheap when you look around. Should someone on the dole be able to afford name-brand clothes? Transport can also be taken care of by buying tickets instead of overspending with coins each time.

Define a social life? Pub/Clubs aren't the only social life you can have, you know. There's plenty of stuff to do with your day that doesn't involve spending 50 quid in a pub.

Well what is acceptable spending per week for an uneployed person on things like transport, clothes, food and social activites? Is it acceptable to spend €7 on a dinner?

j4vier

Tora Bora wrote: »

Dead right. He / she, wouldn't have such a poor grip on money if it was earned through hard work, as opposed to handed out by the state. Moral of story, there should be no such thing as dole or unemployment benefit!
Should have to work to get the income. There's lots that need doing. If a person is out working, they cannot be at home using ESB and gas, carelessly.

could you imagine 900k people out of a population of 6 million living on the street..you'd be looking at riots then..even if you had the luck of having an income, anything of value will more than likely be robbed

RichardAnd

DidierMc wrote: »

Alright scrooge what about things like phone credit, clothes, transport and entertainment? Is a person on the dole allowed have a social life?

There is more to life than socialising. I merely offered a man some advice on how to cut his expenditure and you responded rather aggressively I must say.

And besides, if someone is on the dole it is highly likely that a social life will be the last thing on their mind. Despute if you will but I would point you towards the hierarchy of Needs.

Well what is acceptable spending per week for an uneployed person on things like transport, clothes, food and social activites? Is it acceptable to spend €7 on a dinner?

Yes it is acceptable. If you are unemployed you should not be eating out.

DidierMc

RichardAnd wrote: »

There is more to life than socialising. I merely offered a man some advice on how to cut his expenditure and you responded rather aggressively I must say.

And besides, if someone is on the dole it is highly likely that a social life will be the last thing on their mind. Despute if you will but I would point you towards the hierarchy of Needs.



Yes it is acceptable. If you are unemployed you should not be eating out.

Maybe give him some advice on how to spend his time. What is he allowed do when he's not looking for jobs?

ntlbell

DidierMc wrote: »

Is a person on the dole allowed have a social life?

absolutely, socialising doesn't have to mean spending money.

Your mentality is a perfect example of what needs to change.

People on the dole or not.

Live within your means.

ntlbell

DidierMc wrote: »

Maybe give him some advice on how to spend his time. What is he allowed do when he's not looking for jobs?

Invest some time in himself?

make himself more employable?

learn a language?

learn a new skill?

volunteer work?

read a book on how to manage a budget?

DidierMc

ntlbell wrote: »

absolutely, socialising doesn't have to mean spending money.

Your mentality is a perfect example of what needs to change.

People on the dole or not.

Live within your means.

Yes but do you support cutting peoples means even more?

ntlbell

DidierMc wrote: »

Yes but do you support cutting peoples means even more?

I support giving people enough money to live until they can support a level of lifestyle they wish through their own means.

That doesn't involve buying them pints or entry to night clubs to "socialise"

Paying for TV packages.

Servicing debt.

etc etc

The current levels of social welfare are too high and unsustainable.

with the levels of deflation seen over the last while, if anything people on the social have had the equivalent of an increase in their weekly disposable income.

DidierMc

ntlbell wrote: »

I support giving people enough money to live until they can support a level of lifestyle they wish through their own means.

That doesn't involve buying them pints or entry to night clubs to "socialise"

Paying for TV packages.

Servicing debt.

etc etc

The current levels of social welfare are too high and unsustainable.

with the levels of deflation seen over the last while, if anything people on the social have had the equivalent of an increase in their weekly disposable income.

I've yet to see this deflation in action regarding bills. Just because you can buy 2 lion bars for €1 doesn't mean there is deflation.

ntlbell

DidierMc wrote: »

I've yet to see this deflation in action regarding bills. Just because you can buy 2 lion bars for €1 doesn't mean there is deflation.

What bills are you referring to?

If you haven't noticed the price of _real_ food dropping in the shopping markets around the country over the last two years, I'm not sure anything I tell you will help?

Maybe you keep your shopping receipts for your weekly/monthly shops

have a look at them and see, if you still can't figure it out, scan them in and post them here, I'm sure many posters will show you were your going wrong.

even before you talk about actuall deflation, companies like airtricity and board gais are offering up to 13% discounts moving from ESB?

Interest rates are at an all time low for the vast majority of mortgage holders.

What bills do you not see a difference in?

post who you're with and the costs and I'm sure people will find you a better deal.

DidierMc

DidierMc wrote: »

I've yet to see this deflation in action regarding bills. Just because you can buy 2 lion bars for €1 doesn't mean there is deflation.

Define 'bills'. Most people will only have an electricity/gas bill and there are already people in the market offering lower electricity prices.

Are you on the dole? Do you want to share your average outgoings with us?


One thing I've done is joined a gym, it's 275 euros in my local gym for 6 months. I've gained lots of muscle and am feeling a million times more energetic. I guarantee in my next interview (whenever that comes ) I will give off the impression of someone who takes their health seriously, who works hard, and who is full of energy.

I took an access course in History and Politics last year to improve my education. I'm reading more.

What is someone who spends all their money on TV packages/expensive food/pubs (or "socialising" as it's being called here) going to say they've been doing with their lives for the last few months/years?

unamused

honestly not making this s**t up im paying for two people on 196 per week as social wont give partner JSA due to not enough credits paid (who was self employed but never made much i was main bread winner) we have appealed
so glad its getting warmer so gas bill yeah have cut the tv channels but yet again there are numerous charges for doing that but im not cutting it completely or my broadband as what else do you do when on dole and no prospect of a job i might as well get the razor blades out now
and can i just say im loving the lack of compassion thats so prominent in irish society today really and truly gone are the days when we as a people stuck together and helped each other out no wonder the country is in the **** it is with everyone just concerned about themselves

ntlbell

unamused wrote: »

honestly not making this s**t up im paying for two people on 196 per week as social wont give partner JSA due to not enough credits paid (who was self employed but never made much i was main bread winner) we have appealed
so glad its getting warmer so gas bill yeah have cut the tv channels but yet again there are numerous charges for doing that but im not cutting it completely or my broadband as what else do you do when on dole and no prospect of a job i might as well get the razor blades out now
and can i just say im loving the lack of compassion thats so prominent in irish society today really and truly gone are the days when we as a people stuck together and helped each other out no wonder the country is in the **** it is with everyone just concerned about themselves

Nonsense, People are giving you advice on reducing your outgoings, why would they bother if they didn't care?

Your saying you won't cut the TV or broadband because you will have nothing to do, you have been given more advice on what to do.

Get out and learn some skills, volunteer, offer to do something you have never done before.

Invest more time in yourself and less time in corrination street and people might have a bit more compassion.

christ all mighty.

RichardAnd

DidierMc wrote: »

Maybe give him some advice on how to spend his time. What is he allowed do when he's not looking for jobs?

I honestly think you're just looking for a fight but seeing as you asked.

HE could turn of the TV and read a book. There are thousands of wonderful classics in Libraries that no one reads simply because they have so much junk on TV to distract them. To be honest, if people read real books instead of some saucy pile of garbage and listened to real music instead of Jedward there might not have even been a recession.

But that's another thing altogether. As someone else has states, you have a mind set that to have fun, one needs to spend money and you also seem to think that that is some sort of entitlement.

unamused

ntlbell wrote: »

Nonsense, People are giving you advice on reducing your outgoings, why would they bother if they didn't care?

Your saying you won't cut the TV or broadband because you will have nothing to do, you have been given more advice on what to do.

Get out and learn some skills, volunteer, offer to do something you have never done before.

Invest more time in yourself and less time in corrination street and people might have a bit more compassion.

christ all mighty.

oh thats right people are going to employ a seven month pregnant woman and i am qualified an accountant to be exact and i do not intend to be in this position very long oh and btw if you volunteer while on jsa you get cut off and if you can read i did cut my tv and have more charges incurred due to this

dan_d

unamused wrote: »

honestly not making this s**t up im paying for two people on 196 per week as social wont give partner JSA due to not enough credits paid (who was self employed but never made much i was main bread winner) we have appealed
so glad its getting warmer so gas bill yeah have cut the tv channels but yet again there are numerous charges for doing that but im not cutting it completely or my broadband as what else do you do when on dole and no prospect of a job i might as well get the razor blades out now
and can i just say im loving the lack of compassion thats so prominent in irish society today really and truly gone are the days when we as a people stuck together and helped each other out no wonder the country is in the **** it is with everyone just concerned about themselves

Unamused I don't understand what's costing you so much.
I live in a 4 bed house with my partner. ESB and GAS are 100eur each for 2 months. The highest they rose to in the winter was about 160eur each - for 2 months.That's 40eur each a month, at most. We pay about 110-115eur a week in groceries....and I know that we are buying stuff we don't need and a few luxury items-extra biscuits and stuff. I did a shop last week however, for 80eur, and it's doing both of us for the week and if we aren't buying little extras it usually comes out about 85eur a week. Sky costs 25eur a month. Broadband and phone is 40eur a month......and that's the total bill, that's not per person.
I'm a bit confused about what you're doing. I've posted before that I'm losing my job shortly, and to be honest, my biggest worry is maintaining insurance payments every month for house insurance/life insurance etc. I'm less worried about the bills mentioned above, as I'm fairly confident I'll be able to afford them.
Odd.

ntlbell

unamused wrote: »

oh thats right people are going to employ a seven month pregnant woman and i am qualified an accountant to be exact and i do not intend to be in this position very long oh and btw if you volunteer while on jsa you get cut off and if you can read i did cut my tv and have more charges incurred due to this

No, they probably wouldn't hire a 7 month pregnant woman :rolleyes: but AFAIK pregnancy only last 9 months :rolleyes:

Contact your social welfare office on the volunteering, my understanding is if your available and activley looking for work you will get your JSA how they could cut the JSA for volunteering a few hours on a Sunday is beyond me, as the JSA doesn't include Sunday.

rightwingdub

McCruiskeen wrote: »

I really hope you are joking because if you are not this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard on boards.

and there are a lot of nutjobs around here.

I'm not, its a question of basic morality when able bodied couples have never worked and they decide to breed more kids knowing that the tax payer has to cough off for their years of permanently sponging off the state.

Welease

DidierMc wrote: »

Yes but do you support cutting peoples means even more?

If memory serves, you are against the CP agreement and the attempted reforms of the public sector.. correct? In fact, I believe you wanted the PS expanded, and to keep their premium pay and benefits.

If so, then how do you suggest we continue to keep up the Social Welfare payments, when we have an evaporting tax base, and we haven't delivered the savings available in the PS that could save billions (which could fund social etc.)?

The_Honeybadger

rightwingdub wrote: »

-Any unemployed couple who have seldom or never worked and the female becomes pregnant should have their kids taken off them and placed in foster care (I'm not referring to couples who have lost their jobs in the last 2 years)

Holy s**t, do you really believe this? is this not a bit severe, it's not the kids fault if their parents don't work. Perhaps sterilisation, along the same lines as China would be a more appropriate course of action for the long term unemployed, then we'd eliminate the cost of fostering their unwanted kids also

Scram

you know what, ive been on the dole i hated ever ****ing minute of it. Theres nothing like having your own job, getting up in the morning and earning every bit of that wage.

Ive had a **** time over the last few years, depression,suicidal thoughts until i got myselft a doctor who got me to counceslling, you can laugh but the dole can save your life when you think things are bad.

im not saying people dont abuse the system, heck in every country people do.

Executive Steve

dan_d wrote: »

I've already volunteered to help a friend out in her business for free, so I'll have something to do.

You should keep that very quiet as the Social Welfare consider volunteering to be a negation of your availability to work - any friends, neighbours, family or even future colleagues at your friend's business would be well within their rights to report you.

Ridiculous, but true.

Demonon

Some of these suggestions cannot be serious, if they are I'm getting a great laugh out of them so keep them coming! Who says €20/month on internet can't provide all the entertainment you need. Anyway here we go:

RichardAnd wrote: »

As a master of saving money, here's what I would do in your situation:

30 euro on esb bill per week: Not sure how to advise here. Lights are not the big users of power, TVs, computers and fridges are. One trick I've seen people use, and this will sound almost from the scourge school of saving, is to not use a fridge in winter. Instead, they keep perishables outside in a box. Sounds laughable but no fridge will cut the bill.

Yeah, this will also have the added advantage of giving the dole scum several pet rats, crows and feral cats for free. Cool.

30 euro on gas bill per week: Granted, alot of this could be from cooking but when winter rolls back, don't turn your heating on unless you REALLY have to. If you feel cold, go for a walk or a run and you will feel warmer. OVer time, you'll develop a tolerance for cold which will actually benefit your health as you'll be less susceptible to colds.

Ah brilliant. You should become a doctor with that calibre of advice. Living in freezing conditions (such as the winter we just had) doesn't turn you into some sort of super-hero who can withstand the elements, it causes people to become very sick, hypothermia and death. A little about hypothermia:

Pulse and respiration rates decrease significantly, but fast heart rates (ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation) can occur. Major organs fail. Clinical death occurs. Because of decreased cellular activity in stage 3 hypothermia, the body will actually take longer to undergo brain death.

Actually that would have the added effect of killing off more of the dole scum, and providing the government with those all essential savings in times of budgetary deficit. Fantastic.

30 euro towards rent per week: This sounds about right to be honest for a simple room in a shared house. Not much I could say here.

Really. Hmm. Couldn't they just live in a field with their box of food? Sure the temperature would be around the same as the house with no heating. Win win.

50 euro on food shopping per week: I don't know if you are on your own but if you are, this I can offer advice on. If you ditch variety you can save money. A bag of spuds can last two weeks and is very good food. Add to this, cans of tuna (protien) and cheap Tesco fruit and you will get alot of what you need. It will be boring but it will trim that 50 euro down nicely. Also consider cooking in bulk to save on gas.

Ah the last piece of the jigsaw. Nice cheap food to weaken their immune system further, so they won't have to live for too long in freezing conditions with their box of food. Because they will be dead quicker! You have really covered this plan from all angles and for that I commend you.

dan_d

Executive Steve wrote: »

You should keep that very quiet as the Social Welfare consider volunteering to be a negation of your availability to work - any friends, neighbours, family or even future colleagues at your friend's business would be well within their rights to report you.

Ridiculous, but true.

Thanks for the tip. It's only walking a couple of dogs when she needs a hand though...kind of hard to prove it's anything other than me taking a dog for a walk!!!But thanks.

Demonon

Demonon wrote: »

Some of these suggestions cannot be serious, if they are I'm getting a great laugh out of them so keep them coming! Who says €20/month on internet can't provide all the entertainment you need. Anyway here we go:



Yeah, this will also have the added advantage of giving the dole scum several pet rats, crows and feral cats for free. Cool.



Ah brilliant. You should become a doctor with that calibre of advice. Living in freezing conditions (such as the winter we just had) doesn't turn you into some sort of super-hero who can withstand the elements, it causes people to become very sick, hypothermia and death. A little about hypothermia:



Actually that would have the added effect of killing off more of the dole scum, and providing the government with those all essential savings in times of budgetary deficit. Fantastic.



Really. Hmm. Couldn't they just live in a field with their box of food? Sure the temperature would be around the same as the house with no heating. Win win.



Ah the last piece of the jigsaw. Nice cheap food to weaken their immune system further, so they won't have to live for too long in freezing conditions with their box of food. Because they will be dead quicker! You have really covered this plan from all angles and for that I commend you.

This post had me in stitches this morning. I commend you sir!

I think Richard was being a wee bit OTT with his suggestions. The basic facts though are that the person in question was spending WAY too much on their bills and was possibly lying about them. I cant see why he's spending that much unless he's literally got the heating/is using lots of electricity 24/7. I think it's more a case of him exaggerating his outgoings to hide his wasted expenditure.

In one part he talked about how he would incur charges if he got rid of the TV package. Then a post or two later he says "I got rid of most of the channels and have incurred charges".

Anyway, thanks for putting a smile on my face all the same!

thebman

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

This post had me in stitches this morning. I commend you sir!

I think Richard was being a wee bit OTT with his suggestions. The basic facts though are that the person in question was spending WAY too much on their bills and was possibly lying about them. I cant see why he's spending that much unless he's literally got the heating/is using lots of electricity 24/7. I think it's more a case of him exaggerating his outgoings to hide his wasted expenditure.

In one part he talked about how he would incur charges if he got rid of the TV package. Then a post or two later he says "I got rid of most of the channels and have incurred charges".

Anyway, thanks for putting a smile on my face all the same!

Of course they were lying about the bills.

ESB 30 euro a week! 30 * 4 = 120 per month * 2 = 240 for two months. I don't have that high an ESB bill I run 3 games consoles, a gaming pc and a laptop and that is just me in the house and our bill is about 120-150 for 2 months. They would have to leave everything on all the time to get a bill that high and not make any attempt to do washing at night when rates are lower.

And UPC 30 Euro per week.
http://www.upc.ie/deals/new_customers/fibreultimatehd/

That is the ultimate pack from UPC and it isn't even a 100 euro a month.

rightwingdub

mickeyk wrote: »

Holy s**t, do you really believe this? is this not a bit severe, it's not the kids fault if their parents don't work. Perhaps sterilisation, along the same lines as China would be a more appropriate course of action for the long term unemployed, then we'd eliminate the cost of fostering their unwanted kids also

I'm opposed to sterilisation, on the other hand it would end the cycle of permanent generational welfare dependency if the kids were taken off their permanently unemployed parents and placed into foster care.

OMD

thebman wrote: »

Of course they were lying about the bills.

ESB 30 euro a week! 30 * 4 = 120 per month * 2 = 240 for two months. I don't have that high an ESB bill I run 3 games consoles, a gaming pc and a laptop and that is just me in the house and our bill is about 120-150 for 2 months. They would have to leave everything on all the time to get a bill that high and not make any attempt to do washing at night when rates are lower.
.

Ah but do you have a fridge?:D

RichardAnd

rightwingdub wrote: »

I'm opposed to sterilisation, on the other hand it would end the cycle of permanent generational welfare dependency if the kids were taken off their permanently unemployed parents and placed into foster care.

I would support sterilisation for the scumbags you would see dealing outside Tara street station in the morning.

rightwingdub

RichardAnd wrote: »

I would support sterilisation for the scumbags you would see dealing outside Tara street station in the morning.

They may be sumbags but all there doing is providing a product to very gullible people and making a profit from it:D

crossmolinalad

U all can say what u want but have no left overs of my jsa of 282.-
Hope they never cut it

120 e mortgage
12 e esb
25 e heating oil
31 e phone
20 e broadband
30 e diesel for my car
30 e div insurances (home.life.car.pet)
268 e total weekly

Have a creditcard of 10.000 eu (not in bad depts)
Put my full sw on this card every week and pay my bills with the card
my left over = 12 eu for food
Spent on food 35 eu a week include pet food

So u see nothing stupid doing here but just spend on things i really need
Im on sw for 2 years now and hope to get a job s.a.p
Im willing to work for less than min wages see my ads
Been sick of sitting on my arse the whole day

Spudmonkey

crossmolinalad wrote: »

U all can say what u want but have no left overs of my jsa of 282.-
Hope they never cut it

120 e mortgage
12 e esb
25 e heating oil
31 e phone
20 e broadband
30 e diesel for my car
30 e div insurances (home.life.car.pet)
268 e total weekly

Have a creditcard of 10.000 eu (not in bad depts)
Put my full sw on this card every week and pay my bills with the card
my left over = 12 eu for food
Spent on food 35 eu a week include pet food

So u see nothing stupid doing here but just spend on things i really need
Im on sw for 2 years now and hope to get a job s.a.p
Im willing to work for less than min wages see my ads
Been sick of sitting on my arse the whole day

I wasn't aware job seekers allowance was supposed to cover mortgages as well?

Gurgle

crossmolinalad wrote: »

31 e phone
20 e broadband

my left over = 12 eu for food
Spent on food 35 eu a week include pet food

€200 per month on phone & broadband.
What package are you on?

You might want to re-prioritize.

Kess73

OMD wrote: »

Of course the unemployed receive more than just the dole. This pushes the figure well above 5 billion. Also this is a yearly cost so over next 10 years at current figures will cost closer 5 times the cost of Anglo.

I have no problem with the idea that "These aren't the people who should be targeted" however the reality of the situation is they will have to be targeted along with everyone else. Expect a small reduction in benefit (2-4%) plus loss of some allowances, eg clothing allowance, dietary supplement, rent allowance, special circumstances allowances. Abolition of some allowances will be used to reduce civil service staff.

Rubbish statement. I am unemployed at present and I don't receive "more than just the dole"


I was means tested earlier this year after being out of work since where I worked went belly up last year, and am receiving a partial dole payment, not the full €196.

I receive no rent allowance, no fuel allowance or no other type of allowance.

So your comment of people on the dole receiving more than just the dole is wrong with regards to me and no doubt with regards to thousands of others across the country.

Yes there are a number of people receiving other allowances other than the dole, but there are plenty of us who are not.

I don't like being on the dole, and I am still embarrassed at signing on every month even at this stage because I still find it bloody hard not to be going to work each day, but I am not going to take someone saying that all unemployed people get more than just the dole and just paint everyone with the one brush with the statement.

ei.sdraob

Spudmonkey wrote: »

I wasn't aware job seekers allowance was supposed to cover mortgages as well?

we are now

crossmolinalad

Spudmonkey wrote: »

I wasn't aware job seekers allowance was supposed to cover mortgages as well?

mortgage interest supplement from sw
+mortgage interest relief from tax office

crossmolinalad

Gurgle wrote: »

€200 per month on phone & broadband.
What package are you on?

You might want to re-prioritize.

Sorry my fault phone = 70 eu a month bill pay for another 2 years
Broatband = 20 eu a month

ntlbell

crossmolinalad wrote: »

U all can say what u want but have no left overs of my jsa of 282.-
Hope they never cut it

120 e mortgage
12 e esb
25 e heating oil
31 e phone
20 e broadband
30 e diesel for my car
30 e div insurances (home.life.car.pet)
268 e total weekly

Have a creditcard of 10.000 eu (not in bad depts)
Put my full sw on this card every week and pay my bills with the card
my left over = 12 eu for food
Spent on food 35 eu a week include pet food

So u see nothing stupid doing here but just spend on things i really need
Im on sw for 2 years now and hope to get a job s.a.p
Im willing to work for less than min wages see my ads
Been sick of sitting on my arse the whole day

Social welfare is not designed to service debt/mortgages

120e a month for a phone?

20e a month top up = free texts, use to call in an emergencies = 5e a week

you don't need broadband if you have a local library you can use it for nothing

120e a month on broadband sounds bizzare,if you must get a cheaper package

why are you spending 30e a week on diesel?

again, it's not for servicing credit cards

can you not use public transport?

sell car = cash = no road tax/insurance/maintence/diesel?

Scram

Tora Bora wrote: »

Dead right. He / she, wouldn't have such a poor grip on money if it was earned through hard work, as opposed to handed out by the state. Moral of story, there should be no such thing as dole or unemployment benefit!
Should have to work to get the income. There's lots that need doing. If a person is out working, they cannot be at home using ESB and gas, carelessly.

i hope you know what your talking about m8, and have tried to make ends meet as the person who posted his cost has. Enjoy your job..

ghost_ie

zootroid wrote: »

You must take responsibility for your own choices though. Even though you are in debt, you weren't forced into debt. You can't expect to earn at least 2500 a month forever, you have to live within your means and save for a rainy day. You are getting a hell of a lot more money on the dole than most other EU countries, and yet you complain about being made responsible for the governments mistakes. I am thankful that I'm not unemployed in the UK, as I would find it a lot harder to survive there than I do here.

The government has made mistakes, which are having an effect on everyone. And we are now borrowing 20 billion a year, which is just madness. So cuts have to be made everywhere, social welfare, the public sector wage bill, the only place I wouldn't cut is capital expenditure. The alternative to not cutting anything is not being able to borrow money in the future, and having such a large percentage of our tax revenues going to simply pay the interest on what we borrow today.

By the way, I'm on the dole myself. But I'm probably lucky in the sense that I have no debts and I have nobody relying on me.

This advice would be a lot more palatable if the banks were made responsible for their irresponsible lending instead of being bailed out by this country's taxpayers.

crossmolinalad

Social welfare is not designed to service debt/mortgages

Whats the problem here just put my sw on it to keep ccc happy and i have reserves in wintertime to fill up heating oil and other expenses

120e a month for a phone?
Where do u read i pay that for a mob phone its 71 a month


And what the mortgage its an option that comes from the social comm officer so everyone with a mortgage can get a mortgage interest supplement like a rent allowance

20e a month top up = free texts, use to call in an emergencies = 5e a week

Nice if i didnt had a contract with my phone provider

you don't need broadband if you have a local library you can use it for nothing

Ur right if the library is next door but mine is a half hour drive awai from my house

120e a month on broadband sounds bizzare,if you must get a cheaper package

In my later post i told my mistake its 20 eu a month

why are you spending 30e a week on diesel?

Looking for work,going to the post office,shops,once a month to the soc welfare office to sign

again, it's not for servicing credit cards

Your opinion but i was in my case a way to keep myself out of depts and dont see the problem here put sw in and take out again what i need during the week

can you not use public transport?

No is no public transport here
nearest busstop is 15 mins driving away

sell car = cash = no road tax/insurance/maintence/diesel?

For me no option
How to go to post office looking for jobs singing on and go to shop ???

ntlbell

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Social welfare is not designed to service debt/mortgages

Whats the problem here just put my sw on it to keep ccc happy and i have reserves in wintertime to fill up heating oil and other expenses

120e a month for a phone?
Where do u read i pay that for a mob phone its 71 a month


And what the mortgage its an option that comes from the social comm officer so everyone with a mortgage can get a mortgage interest supplement like a rent allowance

20e a month top up = free texts, use to call in an emergencies = 5e a week

Nice if i didnt had a contract with my phone provider

you don't need broadband if you have a local library you can use it for nothing

Ur right if the library is next door but mine is a half hour drive awai from my house

120e a month on broadband sounds bizzare,if you must get a cheaper package

In my later post i told my mistake its 20 eu a month

why are you spending 30e a week on diesel?

Looking for work,going to the post office,shops,once a month to the soc welfare office to sign

again, it's not for servicing credit cards

Your opinion but i was in my case a way to keep myself out of depts and dont see the problem here put sw in and take out again what i need during the week

can you not use public transport?

No is no public transport here
nearest busstop is 15 mins driving away

sell car = cash = no road tax/insurance/maintence/diesel?

For me no option
How to go to post office looking for jobs singing on and go to shop ???

The point is if your using your SW for things it's not designed for, then you have no right to complain about the amount given.

the librabry is a half an hour drive? great, walk to it, exercise and get you of the house all in one.

as for getting to the post office etc, walk!

Christ all mighty

how did people survive before the celtic tiger is beyond me!

crossmolinalad

Where do u all get the information from that we have one of the highest sw rates??
Ireland is almost on the bottom of the benefits list in europe
My brother lives in holland and jsa is over-there around 1100 euro ex rent ,govt tax or fuel allowences
And if theyr washing machine or computer is broken they can get an allowance to get it replaced
And they want to rise it because to many people are going into poverty have to go to food banks

ntlbell

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Where do u all get the information from that we have one of the highest sw rates??
Ireland is almost on the bottom of the benefits list in europe
My brother lives in holland and jsa is over-there around 1100 euro ex rent ,govt tax or fuel allowences
And if theyr washing machine or computer is broken they can get an allowance to get it replaced
And they want to rise it because to many people are going into poverty have to go to food banks

If you closer at the rates.

Take France for example, you get a % of what you earned previously, so in the first year the rate looks higher but this drops after the first 12 months.

Think about it.

with your SW you can service a mortgage and credit cards a car and still live

if that doesn't show you we are paying too much i dont know what will :rolleyes:

ei.sdraob

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Where do u all get the information from that we have one of the highest sw rates??
Ireland is almost on the bottom of the benefits list in europe
My brother lives in holland and jsa is over-there around 1100 euro ex rent ,govt tax or fuel allowences
And if theyr washing machine or computer is broken they can get an allowance to get it replaced
And they want to rise it because to many people are going into poverty have to go to food banks

your forgetting that in all these countries the rate goes down sharply over time in order to encourage you not to stay on it

murphaph

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Where do u all get the information from that we have one of the highest sw rates??
Ireland is almost on the bottom of the benefits list in europe
My brother lives in holland and jsa is over-there around 1100 euro ex rent ,govt tax or fuel allowences
And if theyr washing machine or computer is broken they can get an allowance to get it replaced
And they want to rise it because to many people are going into poverty have to go to food banks

I can only speak for Germany which appears higher on your (very basic) chart:
In Germany it's a percentage of your last salary for 12 months (18 if you are over 58 I believe) and then it plummets to the princely sum of €354 A MONTH! (plus medical card and rent paid on a flat less than 45 sq metres and not in a swanky part of town). You will also receive nothing after year one if you have any cash assets and if you own your own home and the authorities deem it to be more than what a person needs to live in, see above, then you have to sell it to get any money!! It is clearly designed as a subsistence existance, NOT to be spent on Broadband, mobile phones, cars (you are allowed a car up to 7k in value here however, anything over must be sold or you get reduced benefits).

I think you need to get your CWO to write to your mobile provider to cancel your contract and return your phone!! Broadband? Use the library if you insist on keeping the car!

Spudmonkey

crossmolinalad wrote: »

mortgage interest supplement from sw
+mortgage interest relief from tax office

Of the 268 you spend each week, a whopping 120 of that goes on servicing a mortgage.

Considering welfare is to provide for the basics, I don't understand why you are complaining over having so little to spend on food when you are spending a large chunk of your income on something its not intended for!

danbohan

ntlbell wrote: »

If you closer at the rates.

Take France for example, you get a % of what you earned previously, so in the first year the rate looks higher but this drops after the first 12 months.

Think about it.

with your SW you can service a mortgage and credit cards a car and still live

if that doesn't show you we are paying too much i dont know what will :rolleyes:

in another forum today a guy wanted to know would he get his sw while he was in thailand for 4 weeks , :@'#'[;#'o;;, now you know WE ARE PAYING TOO MUCH !

danbohan

danbohan wrote: »

in another forum today a guy wanted to know would he get his sw while he was in thailand for 4 weeks , :@'#'[;#'o;;, now you know WE ARE PAYING TOO MUCH !

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64837476&postcount=8


loool. Jesus, whats the bets this guy will be at the top of the queue complaining if there's a cut..

irishh_bob

murphaph wrote: »

I can only speak for Germany which appears higher on your (very basic) chart:
In Germany it's a percentage of your last salary for 12 months (18 if you are over 58 I believe) and then it plummets to the princely sum of €354 A MONTH! (plus medical card and rent paid on a flat less than 45 sq metres and not in a swanky part of town). You will also receive nothing after year one if you have any cash assets and if you own your own home and the authorities deem it to be more than what a person needs to live in, see above, then you have to sell it to get any money!! It is clearly designed as a subsistence existance, NOT to be spent on Broadband, mobile phones, cars (you are allowed a car up to 7k in value here however, anything over must be sold or you get reduced benefits).

I think you need to get your CWO to write to your mobile provider to cancel your contract and return your phone!! Broadband? Use the library if you insist on keeping the car!

i imagine thier are very few wellfare lifer,s in germany