If you are unemployed in Ireland, you could be entitled to receive money from the government to help you to support yourself while you look for work.
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While both Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance are for unemployed people who are looking for work, there is a difference between the two.
Jobseeker’s Benefit is a weekly payment that you can receive if you are unemployed and looking for work. To get Jobseeker’s Benefit you must have worked and paid a certain amount of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. PRSI is a form of tax you pay every month when you are working. PRSI contributions go to the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) which helps to pay for social welfare benefits and pensions. Contributing money to the fund will allow you to receive these benefits. If you have not paid enough PRSI, you will not be eligible for Jobseeker’s Benefit.
If you have not paid enough PRSI, you can apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance. To be eligible, you will need to meet the conditions of a means test. The means test will calculate your income from work, savings and other sources. If you are living with a partner or in your family home, some of their income might be taken into account too. If it falls below a certain cut-off point you will be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance. Find out more about what is assessed in the means test for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You may be eligible to receive a jobseeker’s payment if any of the following apply to you:
If you voluntarily leave your job, you may still be entitled to benefits. However, you have to wait nine weeks before applying for these payments.
To qualify for a jobseeker’s payment, you must be:
When you apply for one of these payments, you will be asked to agree to certain conditions. If you break any of these, you could be put on penalty rates until you meet the conditions again. Find out more about jobseeker’s payments and penalty rates.
You may still be entitled to a payment if you work part-time. If you are unemployed for at least four days out of seven, then you could be entitled to a payment.
However, if you work very long shifts with your hours adding up to 36 hours per week over three days, then you might be treated as being in full-time employment. This might also be the case for people working up to 30 hours per week. Your Intreo officer will assess whether or not you are considered to be in full-time employment.
Read more about jobseeker’s payments and work:
The amount of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit that you receive will depend on certain factors.
The maximum personal rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance are:
Your rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit depends on your average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year, which is two years before your claim. If you are claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit in 2024, the relevant tax year is 2022. Click here to read more about average weekly earnings.
There are increases to these rates for ‘qualified adults’ and a ‘qualified child’. This means if you are supporting an adult (such as a spouse or civil partner) or child, you will receive an increase. Find out more about the rate increases for Jobseeker’s Allowance and the rate increases for Jobseeker’s Benefit.
It is important to apply for your jobseeker’s payment as soon as you become unemployed. You will not be paid for the first three days of your claim, so it’s important to apply on your first day of unemployment.
The quickest and easiest way to apply for your jobseeker’s payment is by applying online through MyWelfare.ie.
You will first need to create a MyGovID account. To do this, you need an email address. Once you have a MyGovID account, you can make your application.
To apply for both Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit for the first time, you must fill out a (UP 1) form. You can get an application form by emailing [email protected].
If it has been less than two years since you last claimed Jobseeker’s Benefit, you must fill out this form (UP 6) instead.
The relevant form should then be posted or brought to your local Intreo Centre, along with any other supporting documents you have been asked to provide.
You can get help with filling in your application form at your local Intreo Centre, social welfare office or Citizens Information Centre.
You will receive your jobseeker’s payment weekly and can collect it from your nearest Post Office. You will need to bring valid identification with you such as a Public Services Card, Driving licence, Passport, Irish Residence Permit card or National Identity Card
While you are waiting to receive your first payment, you may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Find out more about Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
If you are receiving a jobseeker’s payment you may be entitled to other benefits such as a medical card, mortgage interest payments or rent relief. You can find out more about your entitlements at your local Intreo Centre, social welfare office or Citizens Information Centre.
We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.
