Social Welfare entitlement

Hi... I am new to this site. Can someone advise me please. I use to spend a few months abroad (european country) and a few months at home(southern ireland) and have been doing that for approx 8 years. Now, I will be spending all my time at home. My son has helped to support me but now he is getting married and can no longer afford to help me(understandably). I have been applying for jobs for almost 2 months (in Dublin), but it seems to me I am going to have a hard time getting employment. Can anyone advise me on how or what Social Welfare schemes are available to me? I hate having to apply for help, but I have to. I am mortified to have to ask. I have avoided it for so long, but now I can no longer avoid it. Thank you in advance for any advice. A.

You will get a much better response to your question if you the title of your post in line with the Posting Guidelines.

Please read the before posting again on Askaboutmoney.

Any responses to posts with meaningless titles will be removed.

If the title is not edited within a reasonable time, the post will be deleted.

Brendan
Administrator

ah........ok......... what should I call it?.... sorry.

Perhaps I'm reading your post wrong but it seems that you have not worked in some time, is that correct?

If so, then you may only be entitled to Job Seeker's Allowance
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/JobseekerSupports/JobseekersAllowance/Pages/ja.aspx

You must be actively seeking employment to obtain this and you may have issues satisfying the habitual residence test. Have you been applying for jobs? If you have, you should provide copies of these applications or proof of applying when you go to the nearest social welfare office.

Thank you for your reply. No, I havent worked in a long time. My house is here, in my name only. Why would I have to satisfy the habitual residence test? what is this test?... sorry, excuse my ignorance. Yes, Ive applied for at least 60 jobs, most of which are by email through agencies, and I have all of those on email. Does that help you? A.

The link that I included makes reference to the habitual residence test, you mentioned you'd been living between here and abroad so that could cause you problems, i'm just flagging it as a possibility.

I don't know enough about the test to give a definitive view.

Your first step should be to call into your local Department of Social Protection office and discuss matters there.

For some SW payments, you must show that you have a proven link to Ireland, and that you intend to remain here for the foreseeable future - this is Habitual Residence.

You can find more information on Habitual Residence and the factors taken into account on this page:

Habitual Residence: Citizens Information Site