Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Wednesday 7 June 2023 Dublin: 12°C

# Benefits

Last year
2022
# CSO
Live register figures increase in every county but Tipperary over 12 months
The seasonally adjusted live register for September was 184,100 people – a decrease of 1,900 from the previous month.
All time
# Unemployment Supports
Employees face income support 'cliff edge' unless supplementary payments extended, says Sinn Féin TD
The Short Term Work Support benefit is coming to a close for many in receipt of it, which will affect workers in industries impacted by Covid-19, particularly aviation.
# Financial Support
More than 850,000 people now claiming Covid-19 unemployment benefits
Tánaiste Simon Coveney also confirmed the Department of Foreign Affairs has helped some 4,600 Irish citizens return home.
# Fraud
Grenfell Tower fraud who claimed £86,000 worth of funds set aside for fire victims jailed for six years
Yonatan Eyob claimed £500 after complaining his hotel food caused him to put on weight and outgrow his clothes.
# scale and polish
Minister says it's 'absolutely deadly' that more people have availed of free dental and eye exams
Regina Doherty said there’d been a fourfold increase in the number of claims for free treatment benefits.
# Long Time Coming
Much-delayed IT system to see Affordable Childcare Scheme launch pushed back to 2019 - at least
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) has declined to provide an estimate as to when the ACS, originally slated for September 2017, will be able to officially launch.
# Benefits
'Snot-nosed, hostile, passive aggressive': Complaints about staff at Dublin welfare offices
Details of complaints were released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act.
# Your Say
Poll: Would you inform on your neighbours if you suspected they were welfare cheats?
Nearly 20,000 people reported suspicious behaviour last year.
# looking into it
Self-employed would 'pay more tax if they got extra benefits in return'
Leo Varadkar said that the results of the survey carried out by his department would inform Budget 2018.
# Fraud
Jump in reports of people allegedly working and claiming social welfare
The Department of Social Protection received over 20,000 reports of welfare fraud from members of the public up to the end of November.
# Free Movement
The EU wants to tighten rules on claiming benefits in a different country
Critics say the current rules are an incentive for so-called benefits tourism.
# Unemployment
Ireland has the highest rate of young people receiving benefits across 35 countries
A recent report compared and measured the experience of youth across OECD member states.
# Benefits
Self-employed workers' rights were on the back burner for years, so why the change of heart now?
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar wants to know what benefits self-employed workers want.
# Benefits
Unemployment benefits are top of the wish list for the self-employed
However, the head of ISME says the government needs to show some leadership on the issue.
# crisis point
Primary teacher describes finding herself in cold house with no money for baby formula
“Without St. Vincent de Paul I would still be living in a cold house and be going without food.”
# crowdfunding
A woman fined for stealing a Mars bar has been given nearly €20,000 to pay it
The internet can be nice. Sometimes.
# signing off
New report finds that only 3% of jobseekers better off on the dole
The ESRI research found that eight out of 10 jobseekers would earn 40% more by finding work than staying on benefits.
# no jab no pay
If Australian parents don't vaccinate their kids, they could miss out on €10k in benefits
Under current Australian laws, parents who have “conscientious objections” about jabs can still claim payments.
# United Kingdom
David Cameron is planning to cut benefits for obese people
Doctors have said the plan may actually cost money, not save it.
# shovel ready
The Viewing: Your vital round-up of property news from the week
Everything you need to know in one quick guided tour.
# card controversy
Company withdraws greeting card poking fun at people on benefits
Scribblers Cards has done some hasty backtracking.
# Your Say
Poll: Should the top rate of income tax or the USC be cut in the next Budget?
Which cut would be more beneficial for you?
# fyi
What are supersets and why are they so damn good?
One of the reasons for their popularity amongst weightlifters is because it helps you overcome the dreaded plateau in your training.
# Benefits
A European court has ruled against "welfare tourism"
The European Court of Justice said that Germany did not have to give a Romanian man benefits.
# Challenge
This diet will make you feel less tired, more energetic
Warning: there is absolutely no coffee in this diet.
# the good fat guide
Smart Training: Here's the skinny on good fats
You can’t lose weight and stay fit simply by removing fat from your diet. But you can give your body fats that are more beneficial to your health.
# developed countries
No difference in mortality rate between boys and girls relating to last vaccine offered
The mortality rate was higher for boys than for girls, irrespective of the type of vaccine last offered.
# Social Welfare
Over 141,000 social welfare applications rejected in 2013
Figures from the Department of Social Protection revealed more than 23,000 appeals were lodged in the first ten months of this year.
# OAP A-OK
Why getting older is secretly the greatest thing ever
There are SO many benefits to advancing years. But, sssh, don’t tell the whipper snappers.
# Britain
Rich pensioners 'should give back any handouts they don't need'
Free bus travel, free television licences, heating bill payments – one Conservative minister in Britain has suggested rich pensioners may not need them all.
# Money Money Money
Rip-off pension charges make a 'huge difference' to your pension pot, says OECD expert
John Martin, who was behind the major OECD study published into Ireland’s pensions timebomb, says private pensions need to start sending regular letters out to people. Here’s why.
# Marriage equality
US Supreme Court tackles law on benefits for same-sex marriage couples
83-year-old Edith Windsor was ordered to pay federal inheritance taxes of $363,000 following the 2009 death of Thea Spyer, her partner of more than 40 years.
# Benefits
Department accused of having "systematic policy" of refusing Invalidity Pension
Minister Joan Burton said that Deputy Boyd Barrett’s “notion that social welfare illness payments and benefits are being denied to people is very, very wide of the mark”.
# Your Say
Poll: Should officials monitor jobseekers' online employment searches?
If someone is claiming benefits, should the government be allowed to monitor their online job searches on an official website?
# Benefit claimants
UK: Jobseekers could be remotely monitored on compulsory website
The website allows unemployed users to upload a CV to be matched to suitable job openings.
# Spain
Spain passes massive austerity cutbacks
Crowds gathered today to protest against job and benefit cuts as well as the tax increases passed today.
# Unemployment
ESRI: One in five people are living in jobless households
The percentage of households where adults are not working has grown from 15 per cent to 22 per cent in just three years.
# ibrc
IBRC CEO paid €600,000 + in allowances over three years
Alan Dukes of IBRC told Minister Michael Noonan that staff pay cuts at the bank were not pursued partly because of the difficulty in retaining and attracting staff.
# Dole
Jobseekers have benefits cut for not accepting work or training offers
The Department of Social Protection recently introduced a measure to allow payments to be reduced by up to €44 a week for those refusing to take up job interviews, training, or employment offers.
Voices
Column: Forget about our ‘economic sovereignty’ – let’s look at what matters
Fears over ceding our sovereignty are misplaced – people do it all the time, writes Ronan Lyons. Here’s what we should be focusing on instead.