advice on benefits for brother

Hi
This is my first time using this so sorry if I am not very good at getting my questions across.

My brother is 25. He was working as a carpenter for a local builder since he left school. Since march last he has been out of work as he is suffering with depression he is unable to take care of any of his affairs at the moment. He is waiting to see a psychiatrist.

My mother is sending in certs to the social welfare office since he got sick but she doesn't seem to have inquired about his entitlements she says she was told somewhere down the line he didn't have enough stamps even though he is working since he left school apart from taking a year out in 2005.

In the summer of this year he decided he wanted to leave work mainly because of the depression and the fact there was no work with his employer so we looked for his p45 and we got it, my mother went looking for his p60s to see if he was entitled to any benefits and was told by the tax office there was only record of his p60s for 2004 and 2008.

I dont live at home and trying to get information from my mother about things is hard as she doesnt really know what she is doing and its hard get information from any government departments because they wont discuss his business with us, although we did manage to get control of his bank business with his consent.

I just want to know what to do, why would we be still sending in certs if he has got his P45? and is he entitled to any benefits? if so what? he has agreed to come into the local sw office with me this week but I have no idea what to say or ask them? how come the tax office only has P60s for 2 years when he was working for longer?

im confused and would be happy with any advice I can get.

Thanks

Sounds your brother and mum are struggling....

Why not get in touch with your local Citizen's Information Centre.... http://www.citizensinformation.ie/about/about

They can offer advice, and assistance on establishing your bother's entitlements, help with filling out the forms, and advocacy with the appropriate agencies...

The gap in PRSI contributions might suggest that the employer hasn't been compliant (or hasn't made proper returns). If your brother got payslips at the time and can show that as far as he was concerned he was paying PRSI, SW can look into that and get his record sorted.

While your brother has no income and is unable to work, he may be entitled to Supplementary Welfare Allowance from the Community Welfare Officer at the local health centre. It's a means tested payment but could be a big help to him and your mother. He could also apply for a medical card which would help with GP expenses and medication.

Thanks for the replies, he used to get paid by cheque there was never any pay slips not that I know of anyway! I got the form for the supplementary welfare allowance he surely should be entitled to something he literally has nothing to his name, he lives at home with my parents. Id be interested to know why he has not got P60s for all the years he worked, is there anything we can do about that?

It's the employers duty to issue P60's and the employee should be requesting them if they are not issued by Feb. 15th each year.

Perhaps you or your brother could ask the employer for his reasons but it's not looking good. Either a case of sloppy book-keeping or non-compliant

Hi

I have tried ringing him and texting but I dont get an answer he keeps saying he will send them on!!! he sent me his p45 and p60 for 2008 and that was it! should Revenue be getting onto him?

Yes. Ring them and provide all relevant details of his employers for times he was working. They are required to hold records for 7 years. Maybe give his former employer(s) one last chance, tell them you will have to get revenue to look into it. They should produce them pretty quick then!

just to keep ye updated, we got supplementary welfare for him, we went to the community welfare officer who to be honest was not very friendly, my brother himself went in but didnt ask if he has to go back weekly to get this payment? does anyone know how that works? do you have to go back weekly to get the payment, we were also told by the CWO to take his p45 and latest p60 to the social welfare office and tell them there is no record for p60s for previous years and that social welfare would have to get onto the employer! thanks to everyone for the replies

also sorry forgot to ask, how long does supplementary welfare payment go on for?

SWA will continue for as long as your brother has an entitlement - certainly until he gets sorted with something from SW.

SWA is usually paid into the local post office for collection each week (although it can be paid by cheque which is posted out), there should be no need for your brother to call to the CWO each week unless he's been asked to do so.

Your brother should also apply for a Medical Card.

Thanks to all for the replies, yes we will apply for a medical card for him, thanks again