Information
Jobseeker's Benefit is a weekly payment made to people who are out of work and covered by
social insurance (PRSI). Jobseeker's Benefit was called Unemployment Benefit; the name of the payment changed in 2006. If you don't qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you may qualify for
Jobseeker's Allowance.
Budget 2009 made a number of changes to Jobseeker’s Benefit:
From 15 October 2008, Jobseeker's Benefit can be paid for a maximum of
12 months to:
- New claimants who have at least 260 paid contributions
- People getting Jobseeker’s Benefit for less than 6 months on 15 October 2008 who have at least 260 paid contributions.
From 15 October 2008, Jobseeker's Benefit can be paid for a maximum of
9 months to:
- New claimants who have less than 260 paid contributions
- People getting Jobseeker’s Benefit for less than 3 months on 15 October 2008 who have less than 260 paid contributions.
From January 2009, there will be changes to the number of PRSI contributions you will need to qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit - see 'Rules' below. There will also be an increase in the earnings limit for a graduated rate of payment - see 'Rates' below.
Rules
To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you must:
- Be unemployed (you must be fully unemployed or unemployed for at least 3 days in 6)
- Be under 66 years of age
- Have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions
- Be capable of work
- Be available for and genuinely seeking work
- Have a substantial loss of employment and as a result be unemployed for at least 3 days in 6.
Social insurance (PRSI) contributions
In order to qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit, you must pay Class A, H or P PRSI contributions. Class A is the one paid by most private sector employees. Class H is paid by soldiers, reservists and temporary army nurses, who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit until they have left the army.
- At least 104 weeks PRSI paid since you first started work
And
- Have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (a minimum of 13 weeks must be paid contributions*)
Or
- Have 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
*If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, the following years can be used to meet this condition:
- The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year
- The last complete tax year,
Or
The Relevant Tax Year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which your claim is made. So, for claims made in 2009, the Relevant Tax Year is 2007.
There are a number of circumstances in which you will be awarded
credited contributions. For example, pre-entry credits are given when you start employment for the first time in your working life. However, you will only qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit when you have 104 contributions actually paid. Credits are also normally awarded while you are getting certain social welfare payments, including Jobseeker's Benefit (provided it is for 6 days), Jobseeker's Allowance or
Illness Benefit.
Contributions you have paid in other
member states of the EU/EEA will be added to your Irish contributions. If you are applying for Jobseeker's Benefit and need the contributions paid in another EU/EEA country to help you qualify, then your last contribution must have been in Ireland.
Capable of work
You are capable of work unless you can prove otherwise. You must produce medical evidence to prove that you are not able to work. If you have spent some time incapable of work you must produce a final medical certificate to prove that you are now fit for work.
If you are ill and incapable of work you may be entitled to
Illness Benefit.
Available for and genuinely seeking work
You must be available for work and actively looking for work to qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. You may be asked to show evidence that you are actively seeking work. For example, letters showing job applications or failure to get a job.