welfare jsa

Can someone please explain to me how they ascertain means test, my OH works p/t was doing 80 hrs p.m. earning 1160 p.m. she is now down to 64 hrs p.m. earning 840 p.m. on her 80 hr pay i was getting 200.80 for us both-my own rate is 188. therefore getting only 12.60 for my OH. will her losing 16 hrs and 320 p.m. will i be entitle to a higher rate ? i get no help from CWO. and both of us have long term illinesses but no medical card have applied 3 times. i believe the full jsa rate for both is 312 euro, so im being deducted 112 p.w because she earns 210 p.w x 4 =840 euro can this be correct ?

Means from spouse/partner's employment income is assessed as follows:


To find your spouse's, civil partner's or cohabitant's means from work you must:

• Deduct €20 per day from your spouse's, civil partner's or cohabitant's assessable earnings for each day worked up to a maximum of €60 (including Sunday)
• Next get 60% of the balance. This is assessed as his or her weekly means from work.

Assessable weekly earnings - €20 per day (maximum €60 for 3 days work) = total x 60% = weekly means from work.

The weekly means are deducted from the full rate of 312.80 (2 adults, no children).

Assessable earnings from work

The following items are always deducted from your gross earnings to get your assessable earnings from work:

• PRSI
• Union dues
• Superannuation
• PRSAs (Personal Retirement Savings Accounts)
• AVCs (Additional Voluntary Contributions).

Tax is not deducted from gross pay.

If you have savings, investments or property (apart from your own home), that is means-tested too.

thank you gippiman still confused as i dont understand the sw system, but thank you for your help.

First of all, is that a weekly wage or a monthly wage? You cannot just divide by 4 to get the weekly figure from a monthly one, the Department will multiply a monthly wage by 12 and divide by 52 to get a weekly figure.

Also, is that a gross wage? For Jobseekers Allowance, they take the gross wage, minus PRSI, pension contributions and union dues.

Also, how many days in the week does your partner work? Is one of these days a Sunday?

I know that's all a bit complicated, but all those factors come into play. If you can set out all the above information, someone here would be able to let you know how this should have been assessed. If you are not happy with the assessment, you can always ask the deciding officer to review the decision, and you can also ask to receive the means assessment calculation if you haven't got it already.

As for a medical card, if your income has decreased then yes, you should apply again. If you have significant medical expenses, they can grant you a card even if you are above the limits if refusing you the card would cause you particular hardship.

Organisations like the irish national organisation of the unemployed or Citizens Information can go over the figures with you. The INOU run an information line on 01 8560088 or Citizens Information can be contacted on 1890 777 121

Thank kindly Ildanach yes its 220 p/w = 880 p/m as opposed to 1160 p/m down from 80 hrs p/m to 64 hrs p/m. monthly deductions 67 euro. p/m-- travel allow total 16 hrs ance 80 p/m which was never claimed because wasnt aware it was deductable. she works 5 days-mon-fri 4days@ 3 hrs 1 day 4 hrs = total 16 hrs. will try this tel no u gave also. sincere thanks

oops should have specified the travel allow on transport is 20 euro p/w= 80 p/m never claimed that as was not aware it counted ?

britvic55 said:

Thank kindly Ildanach yes its 220 p/w = 880 p/m as opposed to 1160 p/m down from 80 hrs p/m to 64 hrs p/m. monthly deductions 67 euro. p/m-- travel allow total 16 hrs ance 80 p/m which was never claimed because wasnt aware it was deductable. she works 5 days-mon-fri 4days@ 3 hrs 1 day 4 hrs = total 16 hrs. will try this tel no u gave also. sincere thanks

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Which is it, 220/week or 880/month?? It can't be both! If it is 880/month, then that works out at 203/week. Does he/she get paid weekly or monthly?

Travel expenses are NOT deducted, only PRSI, pension contributions and union dues.

If gross income is 203/week (after PRSI, pension and union dues have been deducted), and over those 5 days, you should only be losing 85.80 from your claim.

If gross income is 220/week, then you would lose 96.00.