I propose to take Questions Nos. 1140, 1141, 1142, 1143, 1149, 1150, 1185 and 1192 together.
The two main statutory income support payments provided by my Department for people who lose employment and who are continuing to work part-time are Jobseekers Benefit, based on a person’s pay related social insurance contributions paid while in employment, and the means tested Jobseekers Allowance scheme.
Short-Time Work Support (STWS) is a social insurance income support payment provided under the Jobseekers Benefit scheme to employees who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer and are not being remunerated for the days of unemployment.
The duration of payment for Jobseeker’s Benefit is 234 days for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for 156 days for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid. It is a fundamental feature of a range of the Department's benefit payments, including for example Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Maternity Benefit, that they are time limited based on a person's PRSI contribution record..
Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme which has no limit as long as a person meets the conditions of the scheme. including the means test.
A person whose entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit is due to expire is contacted in advance and advised that they may be eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance. An application for Jobseeker's Allowance is included in this correspondence. An individual should be advised to submit an application for Jobseeker's Allowance in these circumstances.
I trust this this clarifies the position for the Deputies.