Jobseeker’s Benefit is a payment for people between 18 and 66 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 nine months or six months depending on the number of social insurance contributions you have.
- If you are 65 Years Old and have ceased employment or self-employment you may be entitled to Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds
How to qualify
To qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit, you must:
- 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
- have enough paid (PRSI) contributions at class A, H or P
You can work for up to 3 days a week and still get Jobseeker’s Benefit for the other days as long as you are available for full-time work.
Social insurance (PRSI) contributions
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 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 2024.
or
26 PRSI contributions paid in the governing contribution year and 26 paid in the year immediately before this.
Rates of payment
Your rate of payment will depend on your average weekly earnings in the governing contribution year.
The current rates are as follows:
| Jobseeker’s Benefit Rates | Rate |
| Full weekly payment | €203 |
| Extra payment for qualified adult | €134.70 |
| Extra payment for qualified child under 12 | €38.00 (full-rate), €19.00 (half-rate) |
| Extra payment for qualified child 12 and over | €45.00 (full rate), €22.50 (half rate) |
If you were working part-time during the governing contribution year and your average earnings were less than €300 a week, you will not qualify for the full rate of payment.
Please see the tables below for details on the reduced rates of payment.
| Average weekly earnings | Personal rate of payment |
| Less than €150 | €91.10 |
| €150 or above but less than €220 | €131 |
| €220 or above but less than €300 | €159 |
| €300 or more | €203 |
You may get an increased rate of payment for a qualified adult and qualified children.
Voluntary work
If you are on Jobseeker’s Benefit and wish to volunteer you can find all the information here
Jobseekers over 62
If you are over the age of 62 and receiving a jobseeker’s payment, you do not have to:
- meet with a case officer in your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office
- sign on monthly
Jobseekers over 65
If you are over 65 or turn 65 while receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit you may continue to receive your payment up to your 66th birthday. This applies even if your claim is due to end before that date.
Working when retired
You can continue to work after you turn 66 and receive a State Pension if you satisfy all of the qualifying conditions to receive a pension.
Please see State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-contributory) for more information on how to qualify for these payments.
If you are an employee paying a Class A social insurance (PRSI) contribution, ask your employer to change this to Class J when you turn 66.
Your payslip will tell you which class of PRSI contribution you pay.
If you are self-employed paying a Class S social insurance contribution, you should pay PRSI at Class M after your 66th birthday.
Apply
Apply with MyWelfare
The quickest way to apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit is through MyWelfare . You must have a basic MyGovID to use this service. You only need a user name and a password to create a basic account.
However, you have more options on MyWelfare such as tracking your claim and accessing payment details with a verified MyGovID account.Access service here
If you are unable to apply online, please fill in the application form below and bring it to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office when you attend to make your claim.
You should apply as soon as you become unemployed otherwise you could lose some payment.
To apply, you will need the following documents along with the application form:
- identification – your public service card, passport or driving licence
- proof of your address – a utility bill or letter from a government department
Appeals
You can appeal a decision if you are unhappy with it. You should appeal within 21 days of the decision and you can ask for an oral hearing.
An appeals officer, whose decision is final, will then decide your case. Some cases can be decided without an oral hearing.
If new information comes to light or your circumstances change, you can apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit again.
Operational Guidelines
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.