Recruitment Eire

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT IN IRELAND

Unemployment benefit is paid on a weekly basis by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. This payment is based on insurance contributions paid while in employment n Ireland or another EU/EEA country and can last up to fifteen months. To qualify for this payment you must meet the following criteria:
- Be unemployed
- Be over 18 and under 66 years of age
- Be capable of working
- Be willing and able to genuinely seek work
- Have paid 39 weeks PRSI contributions since starting work and credited in the relevant tax year or 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks PRSI paid in the previous year. PRSI classes A, H and P count.
- Be fully unemployed for at least three days in any period of six days
- Be living in Ireland

If you do not qualify for unemployment benefit then you may be eligible for employment assistance. It is paid subject to a means test when you must satisfy an assessor that you have no other means of income and are unable to live at an acceptable level without assistance.

People seeking unemployment support will be required to undertake training or unemployment schemes as part of their continuous development.

The maximum rates of payment for unemployment assistance/benefits are €148.80 personal rate or €98.70 qualified adult allowance.

If you are self employed you do not qualify for Unemployment Benefit but might be able to claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance.