Jobseeker Supports
This page outlines the main social welfare payments available to people who are unemployed.
If you are unemployed you may qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) which is based on your social insurance record.
If you are unemployed you may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) which is based on your weekly means.
On June 1st 2010, The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan T.D. announced that 6,589 training places will be made available to the unemployed under the Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010. A further 5,000 places were announced on August 5th, 2010.
Farm Assist is a weekly means-tested payment for low income farmers. Farmers who have income from another source (such as other self-employment, insurable employment, or capital) may still qualify for a payment under the Farm Assist Scheme.
Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly payment for families, including one parent families, at work on low pay. It is not subject to income tax and does not affect whether you can get a medical card.
The Work Placement Programme is a Government supported programme that brings employers and the unemployed together for a nine month work experience placement.
If you are getting a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months and take up a job for at least 30 hours a week, which you expect to last at least 12 months, you may qualify for Revenue Job Assist.
This scheme provides for continued payment, for up to 13 weeks, of increase for a qualified child (IQC), where payable at the full rate, to certain persons who have been receiving jobseeker's payments (JA/JB) for a year or more and who take up full-time employment for at least 4 weeks.
This scheme is for people who have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance for 15 months or more. It allows them to take up part-time work and get a Part-time Job Allowance instead of the Jobseeker’s Allowance.
If you are getting certain social welfare payments and you would like to become self-employed, the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance lets you keep a portion of your social welfare payment for 2 years.
The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees for 12 months.
The Pre-Retirement Allowance (PRETA) is for people in Ireland aged 55 and over who have left the labour force. It is means tested and you no longer have to sign-on as you do not need to be available for work. From 4 July 2007, no new applications for Pre-Retirment Allowance will be accepted. The Social Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 2006 abolishes the Pre-Retirement Allowance but existing recipients are not affected and may continue to get it.