Most efficient way to claim benefits?

I'm going to be made redundant early next year (spring sometime). I've only been with the company a couple of years, so no huge redundancy payout for me. I'm using the breathing space I have to clear any debts I have.

My query relates to the benefits I'm entitled to. In the current economic climate, I'll be unemployed for a while at least (probably 6 months-year)

Jobseeker's Benefit - I've been in full employment for the last 10 years+, so I've full stamps. Straightforward here, go in, claim.

It's the other stuff I'm not so clear on.
I have a medical condition that requires me to be on full time medication. While this medication isn't that expensive, if I'm on €204 a week, it will be. So a medical card application will be needed.

Rent is the other big expense (Relative to €204 a week!)
So I'll be looking to apply to the HSE for Rent Allowance Supplement. My rent is close enough (and landlord reasonable enough) so that I can get my rent to at/below the threshold for the county I'm in.

So my question(s) is/are this:
As the last two are means tested, how should I go about claiming them? I will have some savings/redundancy (probably about €5-€10K), but this looks like it could only supplement my JB for a few months. After that, my sole income & resources are JB.
Should I claim one before the other? E.g. Is there a big waiting time for one versus the other? Does it matter?
Should I claim the day I start unemployment, or should I claim when my personal reserves have run out?

Also, is there anything else I should be claiming? I've paid my PRSI & Tax, so if I'm entitled to any other benefits/allowances I'd like to avail of them.

I've never claimed before, so this is new territory for me!

Thanks for reading. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Emptybox

You should claim Jobseeker's as soon as you are available for and seeking full time work (i.e. after you are made redundant). As well as a weekly payment, signing for Jobseeker's gives you a PRSI credit for each week you sign, which will preserve your PRSI record for later years (e.g. pension entitlements).

You should claim Rent Supplement as and when you need it - although it is means-tested, you may not lose as much as you think if you have some savings. Savings under €5k are disregarded.

You'll get more information on claiming Rent Supplement here.

You should also claim for a medical card as soon as you are unemployed - if you didn't qualify under the guidelines, you can appeal the decision based on the expenditure you would incur on your medication.

It's likely that there will be changes to the various SW schemes between now and next year, so you should keep an eye on the upcoming budget, the SW website (www.welfare.ie) and the HSE website (www.hse.ie) for up to date information nearer the time of your redundancy.

Have a read of the sticky post in the Redundancy and Unemployment forum "guide for unemployed" which gives great information on claiming Jobseekers.

Best of luck.

Thanks Gipimann, much appreciated.

So I should apply for RAS and a medical card as soon as I become unemployed then.

Any other benefits that I might be entitled to?

Emptybox