KELLY JOHN IT PAYS TO WORK A5 3378_Layout 1 12/03/2014 11:52 Page 1
IT DOES PAY TO WORK! SENATOR JOHN KELLY
IT DOES PAY TO WORK! There are a lot of ‘myths’ out there concerning people going off Jobseekers Allowance and taking up full time employment, and that this course of action does not pay!
MYTH NO. 1: If I sign off and get full time work I will lose my medical card. TRUTH: You will retain your medical card for at least 3 years. www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/starting_work_and_changing_ job/training_and_looking_for_work/return_to_work.html
MYTH NO. 2: If I take up part-time work, it would take twelve weeks to get my social welfare payments back. TRUTH: It will take three days to get Social Welfare payments once your part-time work ceases, just ask for your claim to be ‘suspended’, not closed.
MYTH NO. 3: If I take up part-time employment I will lose my rent allowance. TRUTH: You can earn €75 without any impact on your rent allowance, and 25% of the remainder of your earnings is disregarded. If you have already been approved for Rental Assistance Scheme(RAS), you will retain your rent allowance in full. The same applies to mortgage interest support. (Note: part-time work is work under 30 hours.)
KELLY JOHN IT PAYS TO WORK A5 3378_Layout 1 12/03/2014 11:52 Page 2
MYTH NO. 4: The minimum wage is not enough to live on. TRUTH: The Social Welfare rate for a couple is €312.80. The minimum Wage for a 40 hour week is €346.00. This shows that you are better off working by at least €33.20. If you are on the minimum wage and have children, you can avail of Family Income Supplement(FIS) in addition, depending on the number of children: A Couple or parent with: 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children 5 children 6 children
= = = = = =
€96 extra. €153.60 extra. €214.20 extra. €286.80 extra. €362.40 extra. €432.00 extra, and so on.
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/ social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_ payments_to_families_and_children/family_ income_supplement.html Finally, with the introduction of the JobsPlus scheme, an employer can claim 50% of the persons jobseekers payment allowing the employer the scope to enhance an employee’s wage packet.
Senator John Kelly with Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and local area rep Micheál Frain
BOTTOM LINE: IT PAYS TO WORK! Senator John Kelly is available to discuss the above issues or indeed other issues, on 086 8094698.
SENATOR JOHN KELLY Seanad Éireann Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 6183049/3149 Mobile: 086 8094698 Email: john.kelly@oir.ie Labour Senator John Kelly @johnkellylabour
Working with Cllr. Jimmy Cogan Sligo Road, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon Mobile: 086 1071532 Email: cllrjimmycogan@gmail.com Micheál Frain Local Area Rep Kiltobranks, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon Mobile: 087 2250614 Email: michealfrain@gmail.com 0612