(b) Absence from the State
A person shall be disqualified from receiving JB (including increases in respect of a Qualified Adult/dependents) while s/he is absent from the State.
There are two exceptions to this disqualification:
A person may receive JB for 2 weeks holidays (i.e. 12 days excluding Sundays) in any calendar year. These holidays may be taken abroad.
S/he is required to inform the Local Office 2 weeks in advance of his/her departure and to complete the form UP 30. All holiday payments should be made retrospectively, upon confirmation of the position when the person signs on again (on the next normal signing day after his/her return). If a person goes on holiday for longer than 2 weeks, s/he may be paid in respect of the first two weeks, but should be disqualified for any period abroad in excess of this.
The Qualified Adult (QA) of a person in receipt of JB may take up to 2 weeks foreign holiday. A disqualification in respect of the increase for a QA should be imposed in respect of any period in excess of 2 weeks. It is not necessary for a UP30 to be completed in respect of a QA.
The disqualification shall not apply in respect of any period during which a person is representing Ireland at an international sporting event in an amateur capacity. There is no limit on the amount of time that a person may spend abroad engaged in such sporting activities, but only periods of actual competition are covered. Training abroad is not covered, except in respect of final preparation and acclimatisation immediately preceding the competition.
An international event in this context means a competition such as the Olympics, Special Olympics, Para-Olympics, World or European competitions where the participants are formally representing their countries. The mere presence of athletes from various countries does not make it an international event.
Form UP30 must be completed 2 weeks in advance.