Seán Sherlock
Question:530. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined. [23676/21]
View answerTuesday, 11 May 2021
Questions (530)
Written answers
There are 3 categories of claimant who may qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit while partially employed. They are short-time workers, casual workers and part-time workers. In order to classify a person as either a short-time, part-time or casual work employee, each case is examined on its merits having regard to the person’s employment history, any fluctuation in the number of days worked, the systematic pattern of the work days, the existence of a contract of employment and if the employee is in receipt of a set wage.
In this case, the customer is considered a part-time worker. He is not categorised as a short-time worker as the number of days worked is not systematic i.e. there is no clear repetitive pattern of employment, nor is he categorised as a casual worker given his circumstances including that he has assurance of repeat employment from the same employer. In order to requalify for jobseekers benefit when a claim exhausts benefit, a part-time worker has to satisfy the substantial loss of employment condition.
The duration of payment for Jobseeker’s Benefit is 9 months (234 Cumulative Total) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for 6 months (156 Cumulative Total) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid. The Department corresponds with the Jobseeker's Benefit recipient in advance of the expiry date of their claim and advises of the option to apply for the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. Jobseekers Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions, including the means test.
This customer's cumulative total (of days of jobseeker's benefit) has been re-checked by my Department officials and his cumulative total is 185 days as of 28th April 2021. His cumulative total of 156 days was reached on 1st March 2021 and any contributions paid after this date are reckonable for re-qualification purposes.