Claiming tax and USC back after redundancy.

Hi all,

I was made redundant on the 11th of October.
Doing some research it seems like I can apply for tax and usc back if I haven’t received any taxable income, which I haven’t and don’t foresee for the rest of the year.


Is there anything I need to be aware of if I apply for this?
I will be entitled to job seekers benefit from mid next month, which I will be applying for. I have to wait for 9 weeks before applying.

Thanks.

Not_near_it said:

Is there anything I need to be aware of if I apply for this?

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Not that I can think of.

Not_near_it said:

I will be entitled to job seekers benefit from mid next month, which I will be applying for. I have to wait for 9 weeks before applying.

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That will be based on your PRSI contribution record and any tax reclaim will have no bearing on it.

I'd also ignore the 9 week thing. Just apply and see what they say. I voluntarily quit my last job in 2021 and applied for JB immediately and got it.

Thanks for the reply.

I knew redundancy was coming so I was advised to apply for job seekers benefit straight away, which I did.
I was contacted by social welfare who cancelled the application and told me to reapply after the 9 weeks.

Not_near_it said:

Thanks for the reply.

I knew redundancy was coming so I was advised to apply for job seekers benefit straight away, which I did.
I was contacted by social welfare who cancelled the application and told me to reapply after the 9 weeks.

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Ok, fair enough.
I presume they deferred it on these grounds?

You may be disqualified from getting Jobseeker's Benefit for 9 weeks if you:

• ...
• Are aged under 55 and get a redundancy payment of more than €50,000. The exact length of your disqualification (up to 9 weeks) will depend on the amount of redundancy payment you received.

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That’s exactly why, I knew I wouldn’t get it for 9 weeks but I thought I could apply straight away.

Not_near_it said:

Thanks for the reply.

I knew redundancy was coming so I was advised to apply for job seekers benefit straight away, which I did.
I was contacted by social welfare who cancelled the application and told me to reapply after the 9 weeks.

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Is there any particular reason for being told to reapply after 9 weeks. In the past many years ago (2005) I was made redundant and delayed applying for around a week due to waiting for some paperwork. The person in the SW office scolded me for not applying straight away even though I was getting denied for a period of 9 weeks at the time.

Presently I will be leaving my current role in Feb 2025 after being accepted for a Voluntary Severance Program. I'm slightly concerned at having to find a new job due to my age. I will be 56 next May but this VSP was too good an opportunity to turn down. I plan to get back working ASAP as I want to maximise the Lump Sum to clear some debts but I will be signing on for SW. Am I correct is stating that being aged 55 will negate the need for the typical 9 week waiting period.

@Not_near_it Best of luck for the future....

Xaviermcd said:

Am I correct is stating that being aged 55 will negate the need for the typical 9 week waiting period.

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Why do you think that?

I would still just apply at the earliest possible opportunity and let the DSP tell me whether it not I qualified immediately or with a deferral/delay.

Due to your age you won’t have to wait the 9 weeks, you are entitled to apply straight away.

As for the reason why I was told to wait, the social welfare person said I was not entitled to job seekers benefit until 9 weeks after my finish date. I was told by citizens information to apply straight away.
Social welfare told me that if they approved it the 9 weeks would come off the 6 months I could claim JSB for. If I waited to reapply after 9 weeks I would get the full 6 months entitlement.

When i was made redundant, aged 50, i applied fr for JB immediately. There was no hassle, got approved within a few days but i received no benefit payment for the first 9 weeks. Not a problem as i knew that this was the process.

The DSP official who told you to wait 9 weeks before applying was wrong as you would lose out on 9 weeks credited PRSI. Appy first, then be assessed for any periods of disqualification.

When to apply for Jobseeker's Benefit​

You should apply for Jobseeker's Benefit the first day you become unemployed. Jobseeker's Benefit is not paid for the first 3 days you are unemployed (the first 3 days are any 3 days, not necessarily consecutive, in a period of 7 consecutive days).