Jobseeker’s Allowance and Professional Artists

If you are on Jobseeker's Allowance and are a professional artist, you may continue to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance if you continue to satisfy the conditions for the payment. You are exempted from participating in the department’s activation programme for one year only. This allows you to focus on your artistic work for one year.

To get this activation programme exemption you must:

• be a member of one of the listed certifying professional organisations
• provide a certificate or declaration from a professional body that you are a professional artist
• be registered as self-employed with Revenue

However, you must continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance - for example: availability for full-time work and genuinely seeking work, in order to continue to receive payment.

When you are being assessed for this scheme, you will be means tested as a self-employed person.

At least 50% of your income in the previous year must come from your work as a professional artist.

This list is not exhaustive:

• Sales of Artworks
• Sale of Books
• Royalties
• Bursaries and grant arising from status as an artist
• Book readings
• Appearance fees
• Lecture fees
• Sales of Artistic Editions
• Artist Fee on Commissioned Works
• Artist Fee on Exhibitions
• Artist Fee on Education & Outreach Programme
• Artistic Consultancy
• Artist Fee for Selection Panels
• Artists Fee for Artistic Advisory Panels
• Artistic Technical & Installation Support
• Art Awards & Prizes
• Artistic residencies
• Artist Fee on Design Consultants

You should advise your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Officeas soon as you are a member of one of the listed certifying professional organisations.

You will need to provide:

• a certificate or declaration from one of the listed certifying professional organisations with your status as a professional artist
• documents from Revenue showing that at least 50% of your income in the previous year came from your work as a professional artist
• identification such as your public service card, passport or driving licence
• proof of your address such as a utility bill or letter from a government department
• evidence of your income, including bank statements

You can collect your weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance payment from your nearest Post Office. You must bring valid photo ID with you to collect your payment.

Any one of the following is a valid photo ID:

• Public Services Card
• driving licence
• passport
• Irish residence permit
• National Identity Card (for EU/EEA nationals)

If you are already getting Jobseeker’s Allowance and you think you might qualify for this scheme, you can contact your your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

Operational Guidelines: Jobseeker's Allowance