Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1171. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit aged 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 years of age, respectively; and the corresponding number of each on a reduced rate of €112.70. [19840/21]
View answerA reduced rate of €112.70 generally applies for young Jobseeker's Allowance recipients aged 18-24 to protect them from welfare dependency by providing them with a strong financial incentive to participate in education or training to improve their chances of obtaining sustainable full time employment. Currently the weekly personal rate for jobseeker recipients aged 18-24 years is €112.70. If a young person on Jobseeker's Allowance participates in education or training they will receive the maximum personal rate which is €203 per week.
Jobseeker's Benefit rates are graduated according to earnings in the relevant tax year.
Table 1 below shows those aged 18-24 who received either a graduated or full Jobseeker's Benefit rate while Table 2 shows Jobseeker’s Assistance recipients aged 18-24 on the reduced and full rate. The data within both tables dates from April 11th 2021.
Table 1: Jobseeker's Benefit
|
Age |
Graduated Rate (based on earnings) |
Full Rate |
|
18 |
0 |
1 |
|
19 |
9 |
3 |
|
20 |
29 |
21 |
|
21 |
59 |
59 |
|
22 |
125 |
170 |
|
23 |
152 |
271 |
|
24 |
191 |
376 |
|
Total |
565 |
901 |
Table 2: Jobseeker’s Allowance
|
Age |
Reduced Rate |
Full Rate |
|
18 |
1,595 |
77 |
|
19 |
2,491 |
258 |
|
20 |
2,228 |
422 |
|
21 |
2,043 |
515 |
|
22 |
1,952 |
615 |
|
23 |
2,104 |
669 |
|
24 |
1,902 |
763 |
|
Total |
14,315 |
3,319 |
