Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit is a payment for people whose first day of unemployment is on or after 31 March 2025 and who have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. This means that your last day of employment was on or after Friday 28 March 2025.

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit means that the income support you may get if you become unemployed will be directly linked to your previous earnings. This will be paid up to a maximum payment amount.

You should apply for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit within 6 weeks of losing your job or this could impact your entitlement.

The new Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit payment replaces Jobseeker’s Benefit if you are fully unemployed and your last day of employment was on or after Friday 28 March 2025.

If you are fully unemployed and getting Jobseeker's Benefit when the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit begins, you will stay on the Jobseeker’s Benefit payment until you return to employment or until your benefit runs out.

If you are a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal worker, retained fire fighter or your employment is based around the school or academic year, Jobseeker's Benefit is the suitable scheme for you.

If you are self-employed and lose your employment, you may be entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed.

To qualify for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, you must:

• be fully unemployed on or after 31 March 2025 (this means that your last day of employment was on or after Friday 28 March 2025)
• be under 66 years of age or
• under 70 years if you were born after 1 January 1958 and you decide not to draw down your State Pension (Contributory)
• be capable of work and be available for full-time work
• be seeking work
• have enough paid PRSI contributions at class A, H or P

If you get Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit you will be required to engage with the Intreo Employment Services which will:

• help you to connect with employers who are looking to hire people
• offer you supports and services to help you upskill or retrain
• support you with CV preparation or interview training

Find out more about the range of employment supports and services available at your local Intreo centre or Branch office.

Redundancy payments and Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit

Getting a redundancy payment does not affect your eligibility for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

Social insurance (PRSI) contributions

To qualify for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you must satisfy three main PRSI contribution conditions.

Condition 1:

You must have paid at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A, H or P.

Condition 2:

You must have paid at least 4 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A or H in the 10 weeks prior to making your application.

Condition 3:

You must have paid at least 26 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A or H in the 52 weeks prior to your first day of unemployment.

If you do not have enough contributions for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you may be entitled to the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit is payable for up to a maximum of 26 or 39 weeks duration depending on your PRSI contributions:

Time spent on a previous Jobseekers payment that was awarded after 31 March 2025 may affect how long you can claim. This could include Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) or Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Your rate of payment will be directly linked to your previous earnings subject to a maximum or minimum rate.

We will calculate your weekly average gross earnings for the 12 months previous to the 8 weeks before you lost your employment. We will get this information directly from Revenue.

For example, if you lost your employment on Monday 7 April 2025. We will look back 8 weeks to the 10 February 2025. Your weekly average earnings will be calculated between 10 February 2024 to 10 February 2025.

Your rate will be paid as follows depending on your weekly average earnings and PRSI contributions:

You can apply for the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance if you think that it may be more financially beneficial for you. Find out more information on Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Payment method

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit is paid from the full working week, starting on a Monday, after you lose your job.

Your payment will be available to collect every Wednesday from your nominated post office.

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit Taxation

You may be liable to Income Tax on all of your Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit payments. The Department of Social Protection will pay Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit to you without deducting tax.

We will notify Revenue of the weekly taxable amount of Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit to be taken into account for income tax purposes. This means you do not have to do anything for the correct tax to be paid. Information about the taxation of social protection payments is available from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and on the Jobs and Pensions page.

Different conditions apply if you were getting another social welfare payment when you lost your employment, for example, if you are getting Maternity Benefitor Illness Benefit:

Losing employment while getting Illness Benefit

You can apply for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit once you are fit to take up employment. You must satisfy three main PRSI contribution conditions.

Condition 1:

You must have at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A, H or P.

At least 1 PRSI employment contribution paid at Class A or H must be paid immediately before the start of the Illness Benefit claim.

Condition 2:

You must have at least 4 credits or employment contributions at Class A or H in the 10 weeks before you apply for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

Condition 3:

Have at least 26 PRSI employment contributions paid at Class A or H in the previous 52 weeks before losing your employment

or

Have at least 26 PRSI employment contributions paid at Class A or H in the previous 52 weeks before the start of your Illness Benefit claim.

Losing employment while in receipt of Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit or Carer’s Benefit

If you have been receiving any of the above payments, you must satisfy the two main PRSI contribution conditions.

In order to qualify, you must have the following PRSI contributions:

Condition 1:

You must have at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A, H or P.

Condition 2:

You must have at least 26 PRSI employment contributions paid or credited at Class A or H in the previous 52 weeks before losing your employment.

or

You must have at least 26 PRSI employment contributions paid at Class A or H in the previous 52 weeks before your Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit or Carer’s Benefit claim.

Note: The general condition that you must have paid at least 4 PRSI insurable employment contributions in the 10 weeks before making your application for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit does not apply.

If you do not have the contributions required for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you may be entitled to the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.

How your rate of payment for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit will be calculated if you were getting Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit or Carer's Benefit immediately before your claim

Your rate will be based on your highest gross earnings from the following:

Gross average earnings in the previous year ending 8 weeks before you lost your employment

or

Gross average earnings in the previous year before your claim for Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit or Carer’s Benefit

or

if during the period of your claim for Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit or Carer’s Benefit, you can provide evidence that there was an increase in your gross average earnings.

You can apply for the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance if you think that it may be more financially beneficial for you. Find out more information on Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit and Retirement

You are not eligible for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit if you are retired. You must be available for full-time work and seeking work to qualify. If you are retired, you may be eligible to apply for Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds.

If you are getting Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension or One-Parent Family Payment and lose your employment

You can keep your Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension or One-Parent Family Payment, and if you are entitled to a higher rate on Pay-Related Benefit you will be paid the difference on your Pay-Related Benefit payment.

If you start to work again, you will need to close your Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit claim. You may be eligible for Jobseeker’s Benefit if you take up part-time work for up to 3 days. Further information is available on the Jobseeker's Benefit page.

Breaks in your Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit claim and re-qualification

You can break your Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit claim for up to 13 weeks and resume your payment where you left off. For example, if you take up employment.

If your break is longer than 13 weeks, your claim will be closed, and you will need to satisfy the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit again. Your rate of payment will be re-calculated based on your most recent earnings.

Time spent on your previous Jobseeker’s payment may impact on the duration of your new Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit claim. Depending on your circumstances this may include a previous Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) or Jobseeker’s Allowance payment which was awarded after 31 March 2025.

For example, if you were paid Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit within the previous 12 months of your new claim, any time spent on the scheme within the current and previous calendar year will be counted on your new claim for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

Absence from the State including holidays, funerals abroad, and social welfare payments

If you are already getting Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit you must contact your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office to check your entitlements before planning or going on holidays. You will find full details on holiday entitlements here.

You need to apply within 6 weeks of losing your job or this could impact your entitlement.

Verifying Your Identification for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit

To get Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, your identity must be verified to SAFE Level 2. This applies to both online and paper applications. Verification involves confirming your identity to a satisfactory level.

• if already verified at SAFE Level 2: You can use online services through your verified MyGovID account.
• if not yet verified, the quickest and most convenient way to verify is through the MyGovID app
• you can also visit your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to complete your SAFE Level 2 registration

Once registered, you will have access to all MyGovID online services, including applying for jobseeker payments.

Apply online

If you have a verified MyGovID account, you can apply online on MyWelfare.ie.

If you have a basic MyGovID account and a Public Services Card, you can verify your account on MyGovID.ie.

How to apply on MyWelfare

If you cannot apply online

You can apply for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit by going to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.

Appeals

If you are unhappy with a decision, you can appeal it. You should appeal within 21 days of the decision, and you can ask for an oral hearing.

The easiest and quickest way to make your appeal is online on MyWelfare.ie. All you need is a verified MyGovID account. You can get a verified MyGovID account if you have a Public Services Card, a verified mobile phone number and an email address.

An appeals officer, whose decision is final, will then decide on 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 Pay-related Benefit again.

You can find more information on how to make an appeal here.

Operational Guidelines: Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit