Company relocating - can I claim benefit?

My company is going to be relocating but the new location is too far away from where I currently live to continue commuting. There will be no redunancies so I will need to resign - will I be able to sign on and get unemployment benefit? I've been working in Ireland for 9 years so have more than enough stamps.

You are not resigning -assuming that it is genuinely too inconvenient to follow the business then you have been constructively dismissed (unless your contract of employment stipulates that your job means that you may have to move around the country). Depending on the length of service with the company you may be entitled to redundancy.

If your length of service is too brief to claim redundancy there may still be a compensation issue, but this does need lawyers advice.

In any event your problem in claiming benefit is getting social welfare to accept that you have lost your job because your company has relocated. They need proof. Will your bosses sign the necessary paperwork ? A written statement ?The various UP forms ?

Go to your social welfare office immediately and ask them exactly what they need.
Whatever they need your bosses must provide.
It would seem odd for any company not to help the employee in this matter.
Any reluctance to help means an immediate visit to the lawyer -assuming you're not in a union.

Thanks oldnick. The reason I need to resign is that I already commute 1hr 15mins and although the company isn't relocating far, because of where we are moving to traffic jams will add another 45mins commute time each way, which means I won't be able to work my 8 hours a day and still be able to drop and collect my daughter from the creche during the creche opening hours.
I'll talk to the social welfare and see what can be done.