Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2018
243. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person who becomes unemployed and then receives jobseeker's benefit cannot claim for a child dependant over 18 years of age in full-time education for the first six months; the rationale for the six month timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21755/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The 2018 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.17 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. 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.
Where a student reaches 18 during the academic year, and the customer is in receipt of a short-term payment but does not satisfy the 156 days requirement, the IQC will continue to be paid in respect of that child up to the 30th June following the birthday or until s/he completes the full-time day course, whichever is the earlier. Where a student reaches age 22 during an academic year, payment of the IQC is continued for the duration of that academic year, provided s/he remains in full-time education until then.
If a person is in receipt of a reduced rate jobseeker’s benefit payment and their income is insufficient to meet their needs, they may, subject to a means test, be eligible for a top-up under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
