Jobseeker's Benefit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2017

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

Ceisteanna (236)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

236. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the anomaly whereby recipients of jobseeker's benefit are not entitled to a child dependent allowance in respect of a child over 18 years of age who is still in full-time education in view of the fact that recipients of jobseeker's allowance are entitled to receive this allowance; and her views on whether this is unfair in view of the fact that recipients of jobseeker's benefit have paid PRSI contributions to benefit from this scheme. [49506/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and who are available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance payment whereas jobseeker’s benefit is a contribution based insurance scheme. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.5 billion.

An increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) is normally payable until the child reaches 18 years of age. Where a person is in receipt of either jobseekers allowance or jobseekers benefit for at least 156 days and the child is in full-time education, an IQC will be paid up to 22 years of age or up to the end of the academic year in which he or she reaches 22. The 156 day requirement is the same for both of the jobseekers schemes.

Time spent on other social welfare payments can be combined to meet the 156 days requirement, but the period between any two payments must not be more than 26 weeks.