As you know, or maybe you don't, I have been unemployed for the past two months, and working away for my project. I have the honour then to be a recipient of the Job Seeker's Allowance. It is the open door to a life full of distraction, happiness, fulfilment, in other words it sucks.
Why?
First of all, the amount you can get is 200€/week. Considering the rents in Dublin, this is generally just enough to pay for the rent and the bills.
Secondly, the unemployment rate is Ireland increased from 4% of the active population at the end of 2007 to 12% last month. The dole (for the non initiated, dole is the name for any social assistance) staff are struggling with this increase and the payments are always delayed. Queues in the premises are getting longer.
Third, the dole is on deficit now. There are talks about decreasing the amount available to each person. Considering that the unemployment rate is supposed to increased to 16% by the end of the year, that foreign people have no chance to get a job anywhere anymore (National preference is not just a concept when recession hits), well I wonder how the middle class people with no savings and getting fired are going to cope.
Finally, the rules are a bit weird. You can get weekly payments by going to the Post Office and get the money in cash over the counter. Apparently, this is to fight against fraud, but I wonder which kind of money you can save. Furthermore, so many post offices don't ask for any ID, so you can still send someone for you.
This is the wonderful life of an unemployed person in Ireland. The good news is I don't have any debt / mortgage / car / no special taste for expensive cosmetics and clothes, and I can top up with my business. How many people have my luck? Not sure, but I do sympathise with the ones who are struggling and the ones who will in the very near future.
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