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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 February 2014

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Questions (128)

Brian Walsh

Question:

128. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the transfer of unemployment benefits to other EU countries; the eligibility criteria involved; the period of time allowable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8660/14]

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Written answers

Jobseeker’s benefit is not normally payable outside the State. However, EU regulations on the coordination of social security systems provide that a wholly unemployed person who satisfies the conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefits and who goes to another Member State in order to seek employment there can, subject to conditions and limitations, continue to receive their unemployment payments in the other Member State.

In order to qualify to have their benefit exported a person must have been receiving jobseeker’s benefit for four weeks before their departure. Before departing to seek work in another Member State they must notify their local office in advance and apply for portable document U2 which certifies that they retain entitlement to unemployment benefit in their State of residence.

On arrival in the other Member State they must, within seven days, register as a person seeking work with the employment services of that Member State, be subject to the control procedure organised there and adhere to the conditions laid down under the legislation of that Member State. Once notification is received that the person has registered in the other Member State arrangements will be made to continue payments from Ireland for up to three months. A person loses all entitlement to benefit if they do not return to Ireland on or before the expiry of the export period.

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