On Jobseekers and In Debt .

M

Madiba Deno

Registered User
Messages
10
Good day,

I have been receiving Jobseekers for over Eight years now.
I currently owe Debts in the region of 12,000 Euros.
Married, with 2 children under 8.
Both My Wife and I are unemployed and what we receive on Social Welfare is very Little for a Family of Four.
We made an agreement with a Company about Two years ago to help us pay off our Debts. They contacted our Creditors and we now pay them around 50 Euros a week to pay of Different Creditors, some are paid more out of the 50,Some less.
We are in a Councle dwelling, paying 60 Euros a Week Rent.
We own One dodgy car,the Family Car.

What I wish to know is, at this stage, or what can I/We do,because
paying back this Debt every week leaves us with very little.
We don't Socialize, we don't get out and can not afford to take our Kids anywhere.
I used to work in Construction, I have forgotten what its like to earn an honest days pay.
At this Stage, I feel as If We can no longer keep paying our Creditors.
The Kids and Us, have no life. We feel smothered and unable to see any way out of our situation. If we could we would emigrate, but its the debt that is holding us back and down.
12,000 Euros is not a lot in the Grand Scheme of things but to us, its a Lot!
What can we do to get this Debt of our Backs?
Please Help!

Many Thanks :)

Madiba Deno
 
Last edited:
€50 per week is too much for a family whose sole income is social welfare.

Contact MABS and ask about getting. Debt Relief Notice when they become available.
 
Thank You.

I was just wondering, would a person be able to emigrate for Work, if they got Debt Relief ?
 
You need to provide more detail on your income and expenditure to get meaningful advice.
 
Thank You to all,

Income is 378 per week

Out going :

Rent 60
Petrol 60
Food and Household 180
Debt Repayment 50

Anything extra, in honesty, my pensioner Parents try and help us out.
It is, very Depressing, to say the least.
180 per week on food and household stuff(toilet rolls, toothpaste, etc) is not an awful lot, with 2 growing little boys
 
Please make contact with your local St Vincent de Paul conference, they may be able to help you. They do help lots of people in situations like yours and the service is confidential.
 
Again Thank You,
I am seeking help in regards to my Debt Situation, If I can no longer continue to make repayments, what will happen next, would I go to court,Jail, what can I do to tell them," Look, I would pay you back if I could, but I honestly can not afford to do so in my present situation".
 
You don't go to jail for non payment of debt.

A creditor can go to court and get a judgement but options for enforcement are very limited where the debtors sole income is social welfare and there are no assets.

To enforce a judgement the creditor can get an installment order based on your means or a bailiff can be sent but given the circumstances neither would seem likely.
 
Madiba Deno said:
Thank You to all,

Income is 378 per week

Out going :

Rent 60
Petrol 60
Food and Household 180
Debt Repayment 50

Anything extra, in honesty, my pensioner Parents try and help us out.
It is, very Depressing, to say the least.
180 per week on food and household stuff(toilet rolls, toothpaste, etc) is not an awful lot, with 2 growing little boys
Click to expand...

€60 a week on petrol seems to be way over the top but what do I know ?
As I see it on your income you cannot afford to run a car at all and should look at getting rid of it.
 
Hi Billo,

The car drinks petrol, its a 00 model. Living out in the sticks, trying to get kids to and from School every day. One going to Montessori at a different time of day, it all adds up. Trust me we need transport.
 
A fair whack of that €50 you are paying to the company is going on their fees.

MABS, www.mabs.ie is a Government agency that will not charge fees, and will give you impartial advice and negotiate with the people you owe money to as well as advising you of your options under the new legislation.

Your very first port of call should be to call them and make an appointment.
 
I am wondering are you receiving all the social welfare income you are entitled to. Do you receive child benefit, is that included in the income figure you give.

On the spending side. Is the Montessori a luxury, can you afford it.
 
The figure I provided is a Weekly payment. Yes, we do receive child benefit. The Montessori is paid from that and we also get help from my Parents. A child must be prepared for school and in the new term in Sept, we will be eligible for some kind of schooling paid by the Gov for a child starting Montessori Full-Time. At the moment the child is only going 3 mornings a week.
 
Have you looked into community creches and playgroups. You would have to pay very very little as your place would be subsidised. Contact your local County Childcare Committee to get a list of funded projects.

Montessori is a luxury many working families cannot afford, and I am not at all convinced of it's benefits over mainstream pre school education.
 
You sound like a perfect candidate for a Debt Relief Notice under the new Insolvency act.

This would facilitate you in getting the debt written off. Contact MABS for further details
 
There is absolutely no reason why you should be spending extra money on montessori when both you are at home. Is there a bus service for your child to go to school? I know some rural places have a bus service that picks kids up close to their home.
€60 on fuel is way too much. You should really limit your driving by changing your lifestyle.

Sell your car and get something like this.
cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/peugeot-406-hdi-01-with-nct/5146336
 
It doesn't really matter if the OP choses to spend her money on Montessori or a car. Providing her children are clothed and fed she can make her own choices.

On the assumption the car is of low value and she meets all the other conditions the income is low enough for a Debt Relief Notice.
 
ClaireM said:
It doesn't really matter if the OP choses to spend her money on Montessori or a car. Providing her children are clothed and fed she can make her own choices.

On the assumption the car is of low value and she meets all the other conditions the income is low enough for a Debt Relief Notice.
Click to expand...

Of course it matters. It would free up lots of income to pay back their debt and give themselves some breathing space.

If I was in that position I would look to move into a village or town and drop the car. Cars are very expensive to try and run on welfare.
 
Your income is too low. It should be as follows

Jobseekers for two adults and children - 372.4
Childrens allowance for two - 60
Winter Fuel allowance -10
Back to school - 2

Total weekly income is €444

So your food and housing spend is €240

So you have €200 to cover other expenses and you have plenty of leeway to save money. With a medical card, medical expenses should be minimal.
 
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