jobseekers allowance

signed on december 12 and had means test done 3 weeks ago ,enquired at dole office when i might get payment and was told claim was still being processed.is this the normal waiting time? anyone in similar circumstances ? any ideas

The waiting times for Jobseeker payments vary from 8 - 14 weeks depending on where you signed on. Your wait isn't unusual at the moment, I'm afraid. Any entitlements you have will be backdated to when you signed on.

Hubby was made redundant on the 13th of February and he got his first payment Thursday just gone, here really does seem to be a big difference in the differant offices.

Hope you get it soon.

You can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while your waiting if your really stuck, at your local health board, community welfare officer.

Expect a long wait on the day as I heard there snowed under and some are cracking up themselves with the pressure.

Bear in mind that SWA is also means-tested, and you won't qualify if your parnter/spouse is in full-time employment (if that's applicable in your case).

Many local offices advise persons waiting on JA/JB to go to the CWO, however they sometimes forget to tell them that SWA is means-tested (even if you're waiting on Jobseeker's Benefit which isn't means-tested).

And yes, the queues at CWO offices have also increased in recent months as they also deal with Rent Supplement, Mortgage Supplement and other emergency payments (and medical cards for areas outside Dublin as well).