The truth about our Dole!!!

[spidermom]

Thought this was very interesting....a lot of posters here claim that our social welfare for the unemployed is top of the pops in the world.

Here are the facts as per the tribune today!!!

States of Grace 'Dole' payments around the world

[kerrynorth]

I spotted one error in that article straight away. They say that there is no minimum wage in Denmark, that is incorrect, there is one - I spent sometime in Denmark.

[monroe99999]

spent some time in Germany and got a percentage of my previous income when I was unemployed and on welfare. This meant that I was getting more on the dole than many germans in paid employment.

[jcdf]

Yes this is quite interesting. I do not think anyone was saying that our "social welfare for the unemployed is top of the pops in the world". I think what most peple were complaining about was the ease of aquiring our social welfare. Not just foreigners but local Irish scrongers or long term dole recipiants.

[monroe99999]

I'm not sure how making it more difficult to apply would change the situation. most people on the dole are not in that situation by choice and I don't think that demeaning them further would serve any purpose. However there are many who are better off financially than they would be in mininum wage jobs, particularly those with dependants. giving people more on the dole than they would get on minimun wage discourages people from taking employment. Although this is probably irrelevant at the moment given that there is no difficulty getting anyone to take any job on minimun wage.

[OMahonyMunster]

Very interesting post but one problem with the statistics quoted is that the cost of living in the various countries is not given. Another is the fact that the NI and UK rates do not mention the fact that the government will pay the full amount of a person's rent is not reflected etc.

It is virtually impossible to make a true comparison based on partial information. No exact comparison is possible based on the info provided there.

[marmurr1916]

I don't think it's that bad in Ireland. Almost 200 euro per week, plus a medical card, plus Rent Allowance, Fuel Allowance, full or partial waiver of bin charges.

Compare that to the UK: about 60 pounds per week (about 65 euro pw), free health-care anyway (although try getting an NHS dentist...), plus Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. No help with fuel or other bills though, unless you apply for an Emergency Fund loan.

There have been recent changes to the Housing Benefit system. Before, the local authority (responsible for paying Council and Housing Benefits) would pay almost the full rent for someone on the dole. Now, however, they assess the market rent for similar property types (say 1-bed flats) in their area, and pay a fixed amount based on this. The days of Housing Benefit paying 99.9% of someone's rent are over.

The cost of living in the UK is generally significantly lower, but it's not that much lower.

If you're single, you're probably better off on the dole in Ireland than in the UK.

[Question R24U]

My main problem with the dole set up is that it currently acts an disincentive to work, training, education, setting up your own business. But yet anyone it appears can claim it. It is also far too bureaucratic. A basic income system would be less open to abuse but would nominally cost more.

[spidermom]

Very interesting post but one problem with the statistics quoted is that the cost of living in the various countries is not given. Another is the fact that the NI and UK rates do not mention the fact that the government will pay the full amount of a person's rent is not reflected etc.

It is virtually impossible to make a true comparison based on partial information. No exact comparison is possible based on the info provided there.

Thanks for that...thought the comparisons were a little over simplistic myself...but do provide a basis for comparison!


(plus the cost of acessing healthcare is not taken in to account...may be not Vital for a single person but for a parent would be)

[Risteard]

If you're single, you're probably better off on the dole in Ireland

Depends which part of Ireland. Occupied Ireland pays you so little that you starve. And yet that weasel Hanafin is targeting those claiming in the Free State instead of the British criminals for underpaying Irishmen and Irishwomen in their own country.