The unemployment benefit and assistance schemes are designed to provide income support for people who have lost employment and who are unable to find alternative employment. The conditions for receipt of unemployment payments require, inter alia, that a person must be available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. There is an onus on each person to demonstrate, on an ongoing basis, that these conditions are met by showing that he or she is making reasonable efforts to secure suitable full-time employment or self-employment This does not preclude a person from accepting part-time work in the absence of suitable full-time employment provided the person demonstrates that he or she continues to be available for work in respect of any days of unemployment.
A person who has been laid off is entitled to an unemployment payment provided that he or she is fully unemployed for at least three days in any period of six consecutive days. Therefore, a person who takes up part-time work for three days or less per week may qualify for an unemployment payment in respect of the remaining days of the week provided he or she continues to be available for full-time employment.