I am happy to be receiving lots of calls from my families around this time of great change for everyone. I am trying my best to keep parents up to date on issues impacting their families.
With this in mind I thought I touch on a few key areas that might help:
Made Unemployed
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment is a payment available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment is a flat rate payment of €350 per week for jobseekers. This is a temporary payment to help you immediately. You will also need to apply for another social welfare payment such as Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Reduced Working Hours
If your employer reduces your hours to 3 days or less per week from your normal full-time hours, you can apply for a payment called Short Time Work Support which is a form of Jobseeker’s Benefit.
For more information https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/4cf0e2-covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-employers-and-employees-test/
Alternative
If your employer has reduced your hours to less than 18.5-hours per week or you have stopped work altogether then Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit might be an option to look into as well as the standard social welfare payments mentioned above.
Here is an article I wrote explaining both benefits in greater details.
https://www.financialwellbeing.ie/carers-payments-by-allan-2/
I recommend all parents to contact Citizens information on 0761074000 to discuss your options and do inform them that you have a child with special needs so you can discuss alternatives.
If you have any questions then feel free to call 021 482 3635 or email me at allan@financialwellbeing.ie.
Take care,
Allan.