I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
The Deputy should note that all recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance aged from 18 to 24 have a personal rate of €107.70, except for people in the following categories (who qualify for a non-age-reduced personal rate of €198.00):
- People with dependent children;
- People transferring from Disability Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance;
- People who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency during the 12 months before reaching 18.
Similarly, all recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance aged from 25 have a personal rate of €152.80, except for people in the following categories (who qualify for a non-age-reduced personal rate of €198.00):
- People with dependent children;
- People transferring from Disability Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance.
This means that the only three possible personal payment rates for Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients are those referred to in the Deputy’s questions – that is, €198.00, €152.80 and €107.70.
Some of these recipients may receive reduced personal payments in a particular week or weeks, due to the impact of means and/or the application of penalty rates, but these reductions do not change the underlying personal rate of payment to which the recipient is entitled.
Accordingly, the attached tabular statement shows the numbers of Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients aged 18 to 25 on the Live Register at end-April by year of age and by personal payment rate (€198.00, €152.80 and €107.70).
Table 1 - Number of Jobseeker's Allowance recipients (on Live Register) by year of age and maximum personal weekly rate of payment (€)
|
Weekly payment rate
|
Weekly payment rate
|
Weekly payment rate
|
Recipients of age
|
€107.70
|
€152.80
|
€198.00
|
18
|
1,539
|
|
61
|
19
|
2,331
|
|
182
|
20
|
2,353
|
|
283
|
21
|
2,239
|
|
382
|
22
|
2,014
|
|
461
|
23
|
1,928
|
|
561
|
24
|
1,690
|
9
|
648
|
25
|
1
|
2,010
|
785
|
Total
|
14,095
|
2,019
|
3,363
|