Social welfare claims and preferential treatment

Dear Editor,

I will like to respond to the letter "How long does it take a process a social welfare claim?"published by the Galway Advertiser last week. The writer clearly stated that he works eight days every two weeks and intentionally structured his work pattern to run a full-week followed by a three-day week (that is still equivalent to a four-day week). I don’t think that qualifies him as a part-time worker or for unemployment benefit/allowance and will suggest he should start looking at the option of the Family Income Support (FIS).

I doubt if he will get any response from the Social Welfare Dept. because they are too busy lately, but I will advise him to visit his local Citizens Information office for more information regarding his circumstance.

On the issue he raised about foreigners being given preferential treatment, probably he his right and probably he suddenly now belongs to a minority group that is facing what is known as stereotyping. A couple of weeks ago, several people were arrested along the border to Northern Ireland travelling over to make cross border social welfare claims. Maybe the writer’s description fit into the description of those caught in this illegal activity thus requiring that a more detailed check be done on him to make sure his off days are not used for travelling up north.

Hardly will any foreign national have the privilege to a cross border benefit claim (although they face other stereotypical issues) thus they require less administrative check resulting in a faster processing time for their social welfare claims.

After all, being Irish is not an automatic licence to rip off the Government, it is only allowed if it is done to fellow Irish citizens and residents.

After all, you are Irish.

Yours,

Name and address with editor