Q re temp job, JB & mortgage redundancy protector

I have been receiving JB since Oct 08 and when I spoke to SW this morning they said I have 22 weeks left to receive JB, then I will go onto JA. At the moment I have a mortgage redundancy repayment policy which will pay 70% of our mortgage until Oct 09 if I remain unemployed.

I spoke to someone today regarding a 6 month temp position starting in July, the wages would be roughly the same amount as the JB and the mortgage redundancy payment, also have to consider I have 2 children and would need to pay childcare (which will cost approx €600), if I take up this job.

So I am just wondering if I am better to take the job, sign off JB and the mortgage protector and be down approx € 600 per month until Oct when the mortgage redundancy payment finishes anyway. (It is a part of the policy that they will pay out for 12 months.)
As the proposed job will finish in Dec anyway, I am wondering then if I could sign back on and receive JB again?

Also another question, if I got a part time job and was working on a casual basis and claiming for 2 or 3 days a week would this mean my JB would last longer than 22 weeks?
(Am looking for part time work to fit in around the children, to alleviate the cost of childcare.)

If you don't take the job, under SW rules you are 'refusing suitable employment' and not entitled to claim JB. I appreciate that they would be unlikley to find out, but I would always tell somebody to take a job, even if there are some monetary sacrifices to be made. The positive things include the fact that you are back in the 'land of the living', networking with others who may help with future job prospects. The longer you are on the dole, the harder it is to get off it, and you get demotivated and 'stale' as time goes on. If you take the job, your PRSI will requalify you for JB in the future. Check too that you will have the necessary PRSI in the governing year if you have to sign back on after 6 months.

If you work casually 2-3 days per week you will extend the period of the claim beyond 22 weeks. You get 312 days on JB before is exhausts. You don't say whether you will be entitled to JA after the means test is done, which is another point to consider.

thanks for the quick reply Welfarite, I'm not sure if I would be entitled to JA after the means test as my husband is working full time.To be honest I would love to get back to work and would not like to see myself long term on SW, what I have to consider is that my mortgage redudancy protector will pay a substantial part of our mortgage for next 5 months and the job is a 6 month temp contract. Obviously if I got the job there might be possibilty of another contract after the six months.

From what you say, you should then take into account that you will be on a reduced rate of SW after JB runs out, maybe even nothing payable. With all the rest that I said above, I think you should definitely take the job and take the short-term hit.

I am very conscious that from Oct I may not receive any JA and that my mortgage redundancy protector payment is due to finish. If offered the job I think I will take it and hope it turns into something longer term or might get another job. Feeling a little bit alienated from job market while I am at home.
Thanks for your input Welfarite, i really appreciate it.