Jobseekers Pay Related Benefit - Take break at start?

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New2ThisPlsHelp

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Hi All,

I am being made redundant and looking into social welfare etc for the first time and I will qualify for the new Jobseekers Pay Related Benefit.

As this is the first gap in work (non annual leave) I'll have since I finished college I am thinking of taking a trip for approx 6 weeks before coming back and looking for a new role.

I see for the JPRB that I am supposed to apply from the first day I become unemployed, and if I leave it until I come back I will not have the 4 in 10 previous weeks PRSI stamps paid so won't qualify. It says you can stop a claim and reopen it within 13 weeks to continue it. Does anyone know if you can register and immediately stop the claim? I know this is probably viewed as trying to game the system but after 15 years of working and paying in with no claims on anything I am keen to try and at least get this new increased jobseekers payment when I am being put out of a job through no fault of my own.

Has anyone paused one of these claims and restarted it? I understand you apply online initially so is this also just done online?

Thanks for any insights!
 
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Jobseeker's Benefit application following break from workforce . .

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New2ThisPlsHelp said:
It says you can stop a claim and reopen it within 13 weeks to continue it. Does anyone know if you can register and immediately stop the claim?
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All DSP benefit schemes are strictly rules based.
You are allowed to do anything within these rules and remain eligible to keep your benefit entitlement.

The rules clearly state that a person can break their claim for up to 13 weeks and resume their original claim. There are no extra limits included in this rule regarding the timing of this break.

To be on the safe side I would suggest that you keep your initial claim period until you receive the first benefit payment. This sets an indisputable start to your claim. Then contact Intreo requesting to take a break from your JPRB

You could phone or email your local Intreo center to request the break.

Doing this is allowed in the scheme rules, so there is no question that you are gaming the system.

"Breaks in a Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit Claim​

A person may break their Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit claim for up to 13 weeks and resume where they left off from the previous claim.

Breaks greater than 13 weeks will result in the claim being closed and a person will be required to re-qualify and satisfy the conditions of the scheme. The rate of payment will be re-calculated based on recent earnings as part of the re-application process."
 
Could this break be used for purposes other than wanting to go on a holiday. Say so that the 13 weeks would be paid in the next tax year? Assume that there are no prsi payments during the break so this would be an issue for someone who wouldn't have enough for the full contributory pension.
 
S class said:
Doing this is allowed in the scheme rules, so there is no question that you are gaming the system.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Yes agreed, there doesn't seem to be any stipulations in the operations guidelines for specific reasons for the break.

Do you know how long it takes for an application to be processed? If you applied on a Friday would you be paid week 1 the following Wednesday?
 
New2ThisPlsHelp said:
Do you know how long it takes for an application to be processed? If you applied on a Friday would you be paid week 1 the following Wednesday?
Click to expand...
You can apply online through Mywelfare. You should get a reply confirming that you have been awarded JPRB after a day or two.
Yes the payments will begin from the next payment date.

An application on Friday is possibly a bit tight, but you could be approved and get a payment by Wednesday.
 
JohnFlory said:
Could this break be used for purposes other than wanting to go on a holiday.
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The guidelines don't specify any restrictions on the reason for taking a break. The break could for example be because you are not available for and seeking employment for a period. This could be for any reason such as caring for dependent person.
Or it could be to improve your taxation position.

Yes you would miss out on Prsi credits during the break.
 
Just asking are you not allowed 2 weeks hoildays a year on this payment? Could you tell them your going on hoildays and then end of two ring the dept to suspend the payment for the other weeks?
 
These rules imply that you could only begin a holiday 2 weeks after your claim begins. You might be able to negotiate this.

"A person is required to inform their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office 2 weeks in advance of their departure, and this can be done online through their verified MyWelfare.ie account. Alternatively, they can contact their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to complete the JPRB30 Absence from the State form."

"A person may holiday in Ireland for up to two weeks and are exemption from satisfying the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit for those two weeks. If a person exceeds their entitlement, the payment should be stopped on the basis of not being available for full-time work.
A person is required to inform their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office two weeks in advance of their departure, and this can be done online through their verified MyWelfare.ie account. Alternatively, they can contact their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to complete the new Holidaying in Ireland form."
 
S class said:
All DSP benefit schemes are strictly rules based.
You are allowed to do anything within these rules and remain eligible to keep your benefit entitlement.

The rules clearly state that a person can break their claim for up to 13 weeks and resume their original claim. There are no extra limits included in this rule regarding the timing of this break.
Click to expand...
Hi S Class,

I just called the Intreo general line to ask a couple of questions about the pay related jobseekers. Firstly they couldn't tell me how long a claim would take to activate, I was told 'it depends on the individual application'. Then I asked about how to start a break in the claim and they were very quick to say that it only applies for if you have found temporary work, not for if you are taking a trip, and that there is a max two weeks holidays allowed. I said that from what I could see on the operational guidelines there is no limitation/requirements stipulated as to what the break is for.

Are the operational guidelines (gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/publications/operational-guidelines-jobseekers-pay-related-benefit/) the 'instructions' per se for how a scheme works?

Thanks!
 
On line applications are awarded within a day or two.

Sometimes you get wrong information from DSP staff during telephone enquiries.

Try phoning again and state that you might break your claim to do voluntary unpaid work. Don't mention that you will be abroad.

Don't state any duration for this break. You only need new Prsi contributions if the break extends beyond 13 weeks.

Therefore if the break is less than 13 weeks you do not need Prsi contributions from employment during these 13 weeks.
 
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What about 'family circumstances meaning that you are not available for full time work for a period of time'?
 
If you firstly state that you are not available for work for a period. This should be sufficient. If they ask why then state a reason. On the basis that you are only entitled to a payment if you are available for and seeking employment this should be sufficient to break your claim.
 
Very similar situation here

We have a 5 week trip planned,

Hubby will be made redundant end of may. We head off mid July back 5 weeks later.

So if he signs on 1 June, tells them he’s on 2 weeks holiday in mid July then says he’s taking 3 weeks to do a course, then back when we return?

Will they ask for proof of the course? Or can he just say he fancies a break and is taking 3 weeks off ?

Alternately he can continue job hunting remotely as he works in IT, coding, and only wants remote work anyway. But if he is asked to show up in the office here that would be a problem.

How likely is that in august?

He will actually be job hunting. Just not from here. The trip is our annual summer spent in France and he has always worked. For most of it. Hes been a remote worker for 30+ years.
 
He has two choices.
1. Say nothing and just don't collect the payment for 3 weeks. He will lose these payments. He will get PRSI credits for these weeks.
2. Send an email saying he wishes to break his claim. Don't give a reason unless asked. Then reapply when he returns. He will lose a few weeks PRSI credits.
 
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