Press release
Minister Humphreys signs commencement order for Pay-Related Benefit to start on 31st March 2025
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced that the new Pay-Related Benefit Scheme will come into effect on 31st March 2025.
Pay-Related Benefit represents a landmark reform of the social protection system and will ensure that people with a strong work history receive a higher payment if they lose their jobs.
Minister Humphreys has signed the commencement order that will make the new system operational from 31st March.
The introduction of Pay-Related Benefit will bring Ireland in line with other EU countries and benefit people who have a strong and recent attachment to the Labour Market.
Under the new system, there will be three rates of payment as follows:
Commenting today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted to sign the order which means that Pay-Related Benefit will come into effect on 31st March 2025.
“Under these landmark reforms, people who have a long work history and who have contributed to the system via their PRSI will receive enhance benefits if they find themselves in that awful situation of losing their job.
“We have seen situations in the past where companies can close and workers face a sudden and large drop in their income.
“Pay-Related Benefit is all about providing workers with a greater safety net and cushioning them from a sudden ‘cliff-edge’ drop in income.”
Minister Humphreys continued:
“At the moment, when a person who has worked hard for twenty years suddenly loses their job, they receive the same rate of unemployment payment as somebody who might never have worked.
“We need to reward the people who have worked hard; paid their dues; and contributed to the economy through their PRSI contributions. That’s what Pay-Related Benefit will achieve.
Pay-Related Benefit will be available to people who become fully unemployed.
The existing Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme is being retained for people who may not be eligible for the new scheme because they are working on a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal basis.
The Department is working on the necessary ICT changes and technical administration arrangements required for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit to go live from 31st March 2025.
Further details of the scheme and the application process will be made available on the Department’s website at Gov.ie/jprb
Key features of the new Pay-Related Benefit scheme include:
• In order to qualify for the benefit, a person must have at least 104 employment contributions in the period since entering insurance, at least 4 employment contributions in the 10 weeks immediately prior to the date the application for benefit is made; and at least 26 employment contributions in the 52 weeks immediately prior to the first week for which they are claiming benefit.
• The weekly rate of payment for people who have at least 5 years paid PRSI contributions will be set at 60% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of €450 for the first 3 months.
• After that, the rate will reduce to 55% of earnings, subject to a maximum of €375 for the following 3 months.
• A further 3 months will be paid at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum €300 payment.
• For people who have between 2 and 5 years paid contributions, the rate will be set at 50% of previous earnings subject to a maximum for €300 per week and 6 month’s duration.
• The scheme will be available to persons who become fully unemployed after the commencement of the scheme on 31st March 2025.