Midland 103 Radio Interview
Co Offaly CIS talk with Will Faulkner every second thursday at 11.30. Here are this weeks questions. Thanks for listening.
RADIO QUESTIONS ON THURSDAY 12TH AUGUST 2010
- Hi my husband is in receipt of Illness benefit on a monthly cert and I am in receipt of Invalidity pension. Are we entitled to the free fuel scheme as when he was on weekly Certificates we were refused as they were not classed as long term illness?
The Fuel Allowance scheme is not paid to people on Illness Benefit. People on Invalidity Pension may apply for the payment, as this lady is on Invalidity Pension she should apply for the fuel Allowance in her own name. Fuel Allowance is only paid once per household.
- Ann in Mullingar her daughter is going into 6th year and is 18, will Ann still be able to get children’s allowance for her?
Budget 2009 made changes to the age criteria for Child Benefit. From January 2010, children aged 18 will no longer get Child Benefit.
In 2010, you will get a compensatory payment of €15 per week if your child aged 18 is getting Disability Allowance or if you are getting:
- A social welfare payment and getting an increase in your payment for the child aged 18
- A Family Income Supplement payment which includes the child aged 18.
You do not apply for this compensatory payment, it is paid automatically on the 3rd Monday of each month.
- Mary is wondering if she would be entitled to the dole or something because she is finished school, and is going on 19 and she hopes to go to college.
If Mary has just left school she cannot get Jobseeker's Allowance. To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be out of school for three months and you must be at least 18 years of age.
- James’ wife was on job seekers benefit and she was told she would have to change to Job seekers Allowance which is means tested but she was turned down as he is earning too much. It states in the letter she can’t get credits and he is wondering is that right. She left work after their 2nd child was born 4 years ago.
James does not say how long ago his wife attempted to sign for credits. To qualify for a credit you must have worked and paid at least one PRSI contribution at PRSI Class A, B, C, D, E, or H and have paid or credited contributions in either of the last two completed tax years. For example, if you are applying for credits in 2010 you must have paid or credited contributions in either 2009 or 2008. If there is a gap of more than two completed tax years you must work and pay contributions for a further 26 weeks before you qualify for credited contributions.
- I am wondering would I be entitled to a medical card as I am on the dole and my wife is working she is getting €700 per week. We have just bought a house. Would I be entitled to anything?
This gentleman would not be automatically entitled to a Medical Card because he is on Jobseekers Allowance. Entitlement to a medical card is based on income and family size. He does not say if they have any children or childcare expenses or what their mortgage is and what expenses are incurred in his wife commuting to work. All of these expenses are taken into consideration when assessing someone for a medical card.
- Tom is wondering would he be entitled to get a grant to get censor lights and an alarm in his house, as he is a pensioner?
Tom may be eligible for a personal alarm and the instillation of censor lights though social services. However he would need to get his application in as soon as possible to avail of funding.
7) Joan is getting deserted wives allowance and works 30 hours a week and she is wondering if she gives up work, would she get carer’s allowance for looking after her 83 year old mother who lives alone?
Joan is entitled to apply for half rate carers allowance and keep her full deserted wives allowance and in addition apply for the household benefits package and free travel. It is important to remember that these extra benefits are subject to a means test.
8) Ann is a widow and she is living in her own house for the last 29 years and she is wondering is there a grant available for her to do up the house?
Ann as the homeowner may apply for the SEAI Grant (Sustainable Energy Authority of
9) Lisa works full time and her partner is not working, they have two children aged 3years and a 1 year old. Can she get tax credits for the children?
There are no Tax Credits for Child Dependants. Also unlike The Dept. of Social Protection, Revenue does not access unmarried partners for tax purposes.
10) Are you entitled to any other benefits if you are receiving domiciliary allowance?
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment made to the carer of a child with a disability who lives at home. They can also apply for Carer’s Allowance, (Household Benefits Package and Free Travel if Carer’s Allowance is granted) plus Medical Card, all of which are means tested payments.
11. If somebody has part-time work its at unusual hours and is irregular - for example, a hal-day twice a week or three times another week or none the week after – how difficult is it to sign on and off ? Does it raise too many complications and is it not worth doing?
To be eligible for Jobseeker Benefit you must have lost at least one day's employment and as a result of this loss be unemployed for at least 3 days out of 6 days. Your earnings must also have been reduced because of the loss of employment. If you work at all in a day even for one hour you can not claim Jobseekers Benefit for that day If you are a part-time or systematic short-time worker Dept of Social protection will look at your pattern of employment over the last 13 weeks period to find out whether you have suffered a substantial loss of employment. So it would be worth your while to contact your local office. It is not difficult to sign on you would need to take a letter from your employer indicating that you have suffered a loss of employment resulting in financial loss along with photo id and proof of address. You may be sent casual dockets in the mail each week where you indicate when you were working and return them to the Dept of Social Protection. For further information you would need to contact your local DSP office
