Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
381. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline how working part-time hours affects a person’s entitlement to jobseeker's allowance; how it affects entitlement to jobseeker's benefit; and the number of claimants in each case who receive payment while working part-time. [19553/23]
View answerThe main social welfare schemes for people who are unable to find full-time employment are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker's Benefit and the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance. These schemes allow a person to work up to three days per week, where they are fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. Among the qualifying conditions for both schemes are that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work.
Employees who are working up to 3 days per week may receive Jobseeker's Benefit for the days of unemployment. The amount of Jobseeker's Benefit paid is based on a 5-day week. This means that for each day that a person is employed, 1/5th of the normal rate of Jobseeker's Benefit is deducted from their payment.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a mean-tested social assistance payment for unemployed people who have either not paid enough social insurance contributions to qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit or have exhausted their Jobseeker's Benefit entitlement and are seeking full-time work. Earnings from employment are assessed as part of the means assessment. Where a claimant or their spouse or partner has earnings from insurable employment and they are working up to 3 days per week, earnings less PRSI deductions, superannuation, the pension levy and trade union subscriptions are assessed as means. For each person, there is a maximum income disregard of €60 per week or up to €20 for each day of unemployment and the balance is then assessed at 60%.
If a person leaves their job or reduces their days of employment they may be regarded as having deprived themselves of an income. In these circumstances they may be disqualified from payment for up to 9 weeks as they have reduced their days of employment voluntarily. However, as all cases are decided individually, based on the facts provided by the person, the Deciding Officer may find that the reason for the reduction in days of employment is reasonable. The person is still required to satisfy all of the qualifying conditions to receive the payment, including being capable of work, available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work.
The number of casual Jobseeker’s Benefit recipients working part-time for March 2023 was 5,947. The number of casual Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients working part-time for March 2023 was 17,389.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, the person concerned should be advised to contact their local Intreo Centre to discuss the appropriate support for their particular circumstances.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
