A frontier worker living in Donegal and working in Fermanagh. His wife was the main carer for their 3 year old daughter who had a congenital heart disease. He was being made redundant from his job in Northern Ireland and wanted advice on redundancy pay and benefits, their home was private rented accommodation. His wife also enquired what benefits they would be entitled to if they now decided to move to Northern Ireland.
Firstly, if the family remains in Donegal:
- The rate of his statutory redundancy payment in Northern Ireland
- Entitlement to Unemployment Benefit (UB) in Ireland. As a wholly unemployed frontier worker he can rely on his National Insurance contributions in Northern Ireland to qualify for UB as a result of EU social security legislation.
- Entitlement to Child Benefit from Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) in Ireland, family had been getting Child Benefit from Revenue in Northern Ireland under EU social security rules as a result of client’s employment in Northern Ireland.
- Loss of Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit from Revenue in Northern Ireland as those payments had resulted from the client’s employment in Northern Ireland.
- Potential entitlement to Rent Supplement in Ireland whilst the family were in receipt of Social Welfare payments.
Secondly, if the family moves to Northern Ireland:
- The family would loose the daughter’s Domiciliary Care Allowance
in Ireland and be entitled to Disability Living Allowance from Social Security Agency (SSA) in Ireland. - Loss of wife’s Carers Allowance from DSFA in Ireland and entitlement to Carers Allowance from SSA in Northern Ireland.
- Husband being able to transfer his Unemployment Benefit from DSFA to Northern Ireland for up to 3 months whilst looking for work.
August 2008
© Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NIACAB) 2008
