Unemployment Benefits in Ireland

Rates of Unemployment Benefits in Ireland.

There are two types of welfare payments for unemployed people in Ireland.

Jobseekers Benefit  :
The rates were reduced in January 2011

Maximum Weekly Rate : €188   Plus €124.80 for a dependent adult. Plus €29.80 a week for a child.  E.g  : A couple with 2 children would get a maximum of  €372.40 a week ( €19,364 a year)

Jobseeker’s Benefit is a weekly payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to people who are out of work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). In other words – you must have been previously in a job and have paid a certain number of PSRI contributions. Full Rules Here

Jobseekers Allowance : JSA
Jobseekers Allowance is payable to claimants who have not paid enough PSRI contributions (or any). The top rates of payment are very similar to Jobseekers Benefit – but under 25′s get a lower rate.
Maximum Weekly Rate : €188   Plus €124.80  for a dependent adult. Plus €29.80 a week for a child.

Claimants aged between 18 and 21 – without children get a reduced rate of JSA of €100 a week with €100 for a dependent adult.
Claimants aged 22,23 or 24 get €144 a week Jobseekers Allowance.

The main difference between Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance – is that:
Jobseekers Benefit is not means tested
The income  of your partner is not taken into account for Jobseekers  Benefit.
Jobseekers Benefit is only paid for 12 months.

Jobseekers Allowance is subject to a means test – . A means test is when your income is calculated to find out if it falls below a certain level. If it falls below a certain level you can get Jobseeker’s Allowance. The income of your partner will be taken into consideration too.

See here about getting  your Jobseekers Allowance paid while you are abroad and looking for work.

Some information here about Mortgage Interest Supplement - get help paying your mortgage if you are unemployed