Jobseeker’s Benefit:
Jobseeker’s Benefit is a payment for people between 18 and 66 years of age who become fully or partly unemployed and have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
If you are temporarily placed on a shorter working week, for example, your working week has been reduced from a 5 day work pattern to a 3 day work pattern, you can receive support under Short Time Work Support under the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme for the other 2 days. Short-Time Work must be systematic and must show a clear repetitive pattern of employment and you must work at least 1 day in each week.
Jobseeker’s Benefit is paid for 6 months or 9 months depending on the number of social insurance contributions you have paid.
To qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit, you must satisfy two main PRSI contribution conditions.
Condition 1
You must have paid at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A, H or P,
or
You must have paid at least 156 PRSI self-employment contributions at Class S.
Condition 2
You must have either:
39 PRSI contributions paid from employment or credited in the governing contribution year. At least 13 of these contributions must be paid from employment in the governing contribution year, the two years before this, the last year or the current tax year.
The governing contribution year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which the claim is made. For example, for claims made in 2024, the governing contribution year is 2022.
or
26 PRSI contributions paid in the governing contribution year and 26 paid in the year immediately before this.
Jobseeker Allowance:
Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and
- who do not qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self-Employed
- whose entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self-Employed has expired
or
- who do qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self-Employed but choose to claim optional Jobseeker’s Allowance instead.
Whether you qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance depends on your income and whether you are habitually resident in Ireland. In other words, you live here and have close links to Ireland.
A Jobseekers Benefit Payment is NOT means tested.
A Jobseekers Allowance Payment IS means tested.
Both Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance are both subject to the below conditions:
- be fully or partly unemployed
- be under 66 years of age
- be capable of work and be available for full-time work
- be genuinely seeking work
- be unemployed for at least 4 days out of every 7
You can work for up to 3 days a week and still get Jobseeker’s Payments for the other days if you are available for full-time work.
More information on Jobseeker’s Benefit can be found here: gov.ie – Jobseeker’s Benefit (www.gov.ie)
More information on Jobseekers Allowance can be found here: gov.ie – Jobseeker’s Allowance (www.gov.ie)
Please note! If your personal or family circumstances change you must notify your Local Intreo Office to avoid sanctions.
