Operational Guidelines: Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment

Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is a provision under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that is available to lone parents (both former OFP recipients and new lone parents), who are not co-habiting and have a youngest child aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. The payment is known as JST.

JST customers must initially satisfy the qualifying condition for OFP of being a ‘qualified parent'. A ‘qualified parent’ must be the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a relevant child. ‘Relevant child’ means a child who

Is ordinarily resident in the State
Is not detained in a children detention school

And

Has not attained the relevant age.

It is not a qualifying condition for Guardian’s Payment that a person must be the legal guardian of the child. However, it is a qualifying condition for Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, as a person must initially satisfy this One-Parent Family Payment condition (as above). If a person is not the parent, step-parent or adoptive parent of at least one relevant child, they must be the legal guardian of that child. Simply being in receipt of Guardian’s Payment for a relevant child, does not necessarily mean that they are the legal guardian of that child.

JST recipients are exempt from the JA conditions that require them to be available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work. They are also exempt from the 4 in 7 rule and can work any work pattern and still receive a payment subject to a means test. They can also move into education and/or employment, including into part-time employment, and still receive payment, subject to a means test.

All JST recipients must engage with the department’s Intreo service.

JST customers who are married and have recently separated, must be separated for 3 months before they can qualify for Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. Unmarried persons may apply for JST from the first day they become a lone parent.

The holiday entitlement for JST customers is 3 weeks in any calendar year.

A customer who satisfies the conditions for JST cannot claim Jobseeker’s Allowance instead.

Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) can be summarised as follows:

JST was introduced with effect from 4 July 2013
It is a statutory provision, introduced by amendment to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) provisions in the Social Welfare Acts.
The youngest child dependant is at least 7 years of age and under 14 years of age
JST customers must be resident in the State and satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition (HRC)
JST customers must be capable of work. Although recipients are JA customers the obligation to be unemployed, available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work does not apply to JST customers
4-in-7 Rule does not apply to JST meaning that a JST customer can work any work pattern and receive payment subject to means
Waiting Days do not apply to JST and all claims are regarded as long-term from the date of claim
The maximum weekly rate of JST is the same as the maximum weekly rate of JA
Payment of JST is based on a weekly means assessment
From the 9th January 2020, the first €165.00 per week of gross earnings from insurable employment is disregarded in the means assessment for JST customers, and half of the balance is assessed as means.
For self-employed persons the net profit is assessed. The net profit is the gross income less expenses. While their income from the previous twelve months is used as an indication in estimating their likely future earnings, it is not simply assumed that the previous year's earnings will be received in the coming year. Instead, account is taken of the potential for significant upward or downward variations in income from one year to the next
JST customers may participate in a course of education. Customers engaging in a course of education should contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office as they will advise if Back to Education Allowance is a better option for them
JST payment is made weekly in advance in respect of payment week from Thursday to Wednesday
JST customers are obliged to sign a declaration Quarterly to confirm continuing entitlement to JST
JST customers are obliged to participate in Intreo Centre/Branch Office activation measures, including case management, and are also obliged to participate in any recommended course of education, training or employment programme
Where a JST customer fails to participate as above, Penalty Rates may be applied
Customers must declare any change of circumstances, including a change in living arrangements and/or means, which may affect entitlement to JA and/or JST exemptions
When the JST customer’s youngest child reaches 14 years of age, the JST exemptions outlined above no longer apply, and full JA conditionality applies

Half-rate Adoptive Benefit, half-rate Carer’s Benefit, half-rate Health and Safety Benefit and half-rate Maternity Benefit are not payable with JST.

Rental Disregard

A new statutory rental disregard of up to €269.23 per week (€14,000 per year) has been introduced and applies from the 12 July 2022 in respect of rental income from renting out a room(s) in your home to someone who is not an employee or an immediate family member. See Operational Guidelines: Means Assessment for more details.

Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child)

A Child Support Payment is only payable once in respect of a child and is not payable to a person's spouse or civil partner on another social welfare payment. There is no half rate Child Support Payment on One-Parent Family Payment.

A Child Support Payment is not payable on any social welfare payment, in respect of a child for whom Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) or (Non-Contributory) is in payment. Where a customer in receipt of Guardians Payment has an additional child or children in respect of whom they are not in receipt of Guardians Payment, a Child Support Payment may be payable in respect of that child or children so long as the Child Support Payment conditions are satisfied.

Operational Guidelines: Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child)

Child maintenance changes

From June 2024, any maintenance received for a child will no longer be assessed as means. However, all other maintenance, including spousal maintenance, will continue to be assessed in the normal manner.

Jobseeker's Allowance

One-Parent Family Payment

Operational Guidelines: Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment

Rental Disregard

Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child)

Child maintenance changes

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