Short-Time Work Support is a non taxable social insurance contribution payment provided under Jobseekers Benefit for employees temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer and who are not being paid for days of unemployment. A person is entitled to payment of the support for any day of unemployment as long as they meet the scheme's conditions which include that they are unemployed for 4 days in 7 consecutive days.
It is a fundamental feature of a range of PRSI related benefits (including Jobseeker's Benefit, Maternity Benefit and Illness Benefit) that they are time limited. Jobseeker's Benefit support is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for up to 6 months (or 156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid.
Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. In these cases, the Department will contact the recipient 10 weeks and 4 weeks in advance of the expiry date of their claim to advise them that their entitlement is due to expire and that they may be eligible for the means tested Jobseekers Allowance.
Entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance ensures that those most financially disadvantaged will continue to receive income support. Jobseeker's Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions including the means test. The maximum weekly personal rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and Benefit are aligned at €203.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme provided by the Community Welfare Service is also available to any person who is in need of financial assistance. There are several payments within the scheme, including basic weekly Supplementary Welfare Allowance, supplements, Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments.
The wide ranging nature of the assistance available to those impacted by Covid -19, including the Employment Wage Subsidy scheme for employers, constitutes a comprehensive suite of supports and I do not, therefore, intend to extend the duration of Jobseeker's Benefit.
I hope that this clarifies the position at this time.
