Jobseekers Benefit

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  • This used to be called Unemployment Benefit
  • If you have paid PRSI for less than 2 years, you probably won't get any Jobseekers Benefit.
  • If you have paid PRSI for at least 2 years, you will get Jobseekers Benefit for 9 months.
  • If you have paid PRSI for over 5 years, you will get Jobseekers Benefit for 12 months.
  • The rate for anyone earning over €300 per week is €204.30 per week.
  • If you earned less than €300 per week, you will get less than €200.
  • Jobseekers Benefit is not payable for the first three days of unemployment.
  • It is payable after the first three days, but it takes about 6 weeks to process your claim - but you get paid the backlog.
  • The weekly payment less €18 is taxable.
  • If you are still unemployed after the Jobseekers Benefit runs out, you can apply for Jobseekers Allowance which is means tested and will be paid if you have no other income.

The Department of Social Welfare Guide covers many technical aspects outside the scope of this article e.g. Credits; part-time unemployed; first time workers etc.

Rates from 1 January 2009

Average weekly earnings

Personal rate

Increase for Qualified adult 

Less than €150

€91.80

€87.90

€150 - €219.99

€132

€87.90

€220 - €299.99

€160.10

€87.90

€300 or more

€204.30 

€135.60

To get the increase for the qualified adult, they must be earning less than €300 per week. Full details here

Dependent children  Full rate: €26  Half rate: €13

If you are a single parent or if you get the Increase for the Qualified Adult, you will get a full payment for each child under 18 (i.e. 17, but not 18)

If your spouse has an income between €300 and €400, you will get the half rate. If your spouse has an income of over €400, you won't qualify for the Dependent Child rate. Full details here

Qualification criteria for 2009

Duration of Jobseekers payment

Less than 2 years' stamps

Don't qualify

Between 2 years and 5 years

9 months

Over 5 years

12 months

 

 

Also:

  • You must have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in 2007 - at least 13 of these must be paid contributions.

Or

  • You must have 26 weeks PRSI paid in 2007 and you must have 26 weeks PRSI paid in 2006.

Note: If you began working for the first time in 2007 you may well qualify for Jobseekers Benefit.

Impact of a redundancy payment on your Jobseekers Benefit

If you are under 55 and get a redundancy payment of more than €50,000 you will be disqualified from claiming Jobseeker's Benefit for the following length of time:

Amount of Redundancy Payment

Period of Disqualification

€50,000.00 - €55,000 

1 Week

€55,000.01 - €60,000 

2 Weeks

€60,000.01 - €65,000  

3 Weeks

€65,000.01 - €70,000  

4 Weeks

 €70,000.01 - €75,000  

5 Weeks

€75,000.01 - €80,000  

6 Weeks

€80,000.01 - €85,000  

7 Weeks

€85,000.01 - €90,000  

8 Weeks

€90,000.01 and over  

9 Weeks

The duration of the payment is reduced by the period of disqualification. For example, if you are entitled to Jobseekers Benefit for 12 months and you get  a lump sum of € 70,000, the payment will start after 4 weeks, and will finish after you have been receiving it for 11 months.

When to apply

Apply immediately you become unemployed.

You do not get paid for the first three days, but you can register your claim immediately.

If you delay in making your claim, you can apply to have it back-dated, but it is hassle and back-dating might be refused.

How to apply

You should register as unemployed (sign-on) with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. When registering, remember to bring along your P45 with you.  (A P45 is the form your employer gives you when you finish work and shows your current year's PRSI contributions, earnings, etc.). You should still apply for Jobseeker's Benefit if you cannot get a P45 from your former employer. 

You should also have your P60 forms for recent years. (The P60 form is the end of year statement in which your employer sets out your tax and PRSI paid).

If you do not have these documents to hand, you should register anyway and supply them later. You should remember that delay in applying for Jobseeker's Benefit may mean that you lose out on your full entitlements.

How do I collect it each week?

You collect it at the nominated Post Office.

Can I get it paid by bank transfer?

Not any more. That option was withdrawn in October 2008 as it was too open to widespread fraud.

I was paid in lieu of notice - from what date do I get the jobseekers benefit?

(My P45 gave the date the notice expired)

Is Jobseekers Benefit taxable

From Revenue.ie  IT24 Taxation of Jobseekers Benefit

"Jobseekers Benefit is a taxable source of income. However the child dependant element and the first €18 per week of benefit are exempt from tax."

What other welfare benefits might I be entitled to?

  • Mortgage Interest Supplement or Rent Supplement - a payment from the Community Welfare Officer at your local health centre.
  • Fuel Allowance  is payable to longterm jobseekers.
  • Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance - an allowance designed to help towards the cost of uniforms and footwear for children who are attending school. The scheme is payable between June and September each year.
  • Medical Card - if your income is below certain a level, you may get a medical card. It covers you for free doctor's care, approved prescriptions etc. Contact your Local Health Office for more information.
  • School Book Scheme - each year the Department of Education and Science provides grants to primary, secondary and comprehensive schools towards the cost of school books for students in financial need. You should contact the school principal for more information. The school principal will also advise you whether the school runs a book loan scheme, whereby your children's books are provided for a nominal rental charge each year.

I think I have been unfairly refused Jobseekers Benefit

You can appeal the decision.

How can I qualify for JB again?

If you have used up your entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, you may re-qualify by working and paying the appropriate PRSI contributions for at least 13 weeks.

Do I get a double payment at Xmas?

No Job Seekers Benefit is not classified as a long-term social welfare payment so you do not get a double payment. Usually as the Post Offices are closed, you will get two weeks' payment together in advance.

What happens when I go on holidays?

You can take up to two weeks' holidays a year. You must notify the SW office in advance and they will give you your payment when you return.