Posted online: Jun 22nd, 2009

By Teresa McGowan
Reporter

A LIFFORD man who has recently found himself unemployed says the social welfare office is making him “jump through hoops” for his benefits.
Michael McLaughlin (26) began claiming unemployment benefit in February after being self-employed and finding his work dry up.
He waited weeks for the claim to be processed only to have his claim cancelled again last month.
“They stopped payments saying that I was not actively seeking work even though I was registered with FAS, was going online checking jobs and was attending careers advice meetings in Ballybofey FAS,” said Mr McLaughlin.
He also says the social welfare office would not pay rent allowance as they claimed he was not living at his address even though he gave them a letter from his landlord, evidence from the Gardai and evidence from the revenue commissioner’s office to prove that he was residing at that address.
A spokesperson for the social welfare office said that they cannot comment on individual cases but if anyone is unhappy with decisions they make they have the right to appeal.
Mr McLaughlin says he has appealed “over four weeks ago, but they still have not got back to me.”
He also says he knows he is not the only local person who has found themselves in need of benefits and who face an “impossible process” when trying to claim them.
“Is this how the state is going to treat people who are out of work? What I am going to do, live on the street? I have no money at the minute and I’ve had no luck finding a job. It’s so frustrating and worrying,” he exclaimed.
Mr McLaughlin also says he had been receiving occasional payments from the Health Service Executive but they too have seized so he has zero income.
“I paid taxes for long enough and now that I’m looking for benefit that I’m entitled to there are hoops in the way and as soon as I jump through one they put another one up,” concluded Mr McLaughlin.