FAQ about dole payments and collection

• How to sign for dole? Where to sign on for dole? Go to your local social welfare office. To find your local office click here. Read signing on guide here.
  

• What are the current payments for JB/JA? Personal rate at the moment is € 204.30

• Which documents needed for the dole? Your PPS Number, payslips, P60, P45, letter of redundancy, proof of address, proof of identity
  

• How and when to collect dole from post office? You should receive a letter stating your collection day and post office name.

• How many days do I have to collect the dole from post office? Usually it's 3 days. Confirm this with your post office clerk.

• How long is waiting time for dole? The waiting time is different for every office. I heard that it's much quicker than 3-4 months ago. Read my blog post about waiting times in Ireland.

• What to bring to post office to collect dole? What if I don't have a swipe card for dole? You will need to bring your swipe card (social services card) or a temporary signing card (yellow), which you can get in your social welfare centre.

• What do I need to bring when signing for the dole? Your PPS Card (swipe card).If it's your first time bring proof of identity and grab a letter you received in the post.

• What if I missed a weekly dole collection? It might be still in the post office. Go to post office and check.If not immediately go to social welfare centre. It will be reissued to you and might take longer.
  

• What is the phone number for Social Welfare Office? 1890 66 22 44 (Lo Call) (from within the Republic of Ireland) 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday To Friday

• What is the website for Social Welfare? Go straight to www.welfare.ie

• If you have any problem email to info@welfare.ie

Hope you found this information about dole helpful.
Please remember that I'm not representing Social Welfare.

Pregnancy and Job Seekers Benefit

All ladies who are pregnant (even those who are heavily pregnant) are entitled to Job Seekers benefit (dole).

"Pregnancy is not an illness and in the absence of any complications of pregnancy or other illness, a pregnant woman (who may not be entitled to Maternity Benefit) satisfies the condition of being capable of work for the purpose of Jobseeker's Benefit throughout her pregnancy and in the period following the birth. She will also satisfy the availability condition unless there are other factors which could call her general availability for work into question. She must, however, continue to look for work throughout her pregnancy and in the period after the birth of her child in order to satisfy the condition of genuinely seeking work. On an administrative basis a woman will not normally be requested to prove that she is genuinely seeking work in the 4 weeks immediately before the expected date of birth of her child or in the 8 week period following the birth. She will not be required to attend at the Local Office for signing purpose during this period provided she tells the Local Office of her pregnancy."