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Social Welfare Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Ceisteanna (560)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

560. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for short-term work support payments currently allow for flexibility with regard to normal employment and unusual circumstances which many employees are experiencing with work patterns; if her Department is reviewing discrepancies in decisions around normal employment relying on the discretion of individual SWOs; the supports in place for workers who are not considered eligible for short-term work support payments as a result of current patterns of working which have been affected by Covid-19 guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26369/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Short-Time Work Support is a form of Jobseeker's Benefit and is an income support payment for people who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer i.e. where for the time being the number of days systematically worked in a working week is less than the number of days normally worked. Short-Time Work must be systematic and show a clear repetitive pattern of employment. Employees must also work at least 1 day in each week that would normally have been worked.

A Deciding Officer examines each case on its own merits having regard to the person’s employment history, any fluctuation in the number of days worked, the systematic pattern of the work days, the existence of a contract of employment and if the employee is in receipt of a set wage.  A decision is made as to whether a person's work pattern  meets the criteria for short-time work support.  

If a person does not meet the conditions for short-time work support they may be entitled to a jobseeker's payment as either a part-time worker or casual worker.  

A person who works on a part-time basis and is employed for a set number of days each week and knows the days on which they will be employed may receive a jobseeker's payment as a part-time worker. A person who is normally employed for periods of less than a week, and does not know the number of days or the days of the week on which they will be employed as this varies with the level of activity in the employer’s business, may receive a casual jobseeker's payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.  

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