Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
185. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to entitling persons on a widow’s pension working in schools to be able to claim job seeker's benefit when not being paid when off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33210/25]
View answerPeople who are employed in schools may receive income support from my department during unpaid holiday periods, through the social insurance based Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme, or the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme, depending on individual circumstances. There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the nature of this system, it can happen that a person may meet the conditionality of more than one scheme at the same time, but generally, as these payments are to help people to meet their income needs, he or she can receive only one of those payments.However, in the case of a person in receipt of a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension there are some instances where a person can be paid jobseekers if they are in receipt of a weekly rate of pension that is lower than the rate of a jobseeker’s payment.There is no change to the income supports to which such persons are entitled during unpaid holiday periods following the introduction of the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit. This new social insurance income support has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who have become fully unemployed since 31 March.The legislation underpinning the scheme specifically provides that specific categories of atypical workers are excluded from Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, including those whose pattern of employment and unemployment is aligned with the academic year. People whose employment and unemployment patterns are aligned with the academic year have a predictable or ongoing pattern of work and do not the experience the income shock from a sudden and permanent loss of employment.Applications for Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie. Alternatively, application forms can be requested by emailing jobseekersforms@welfare.ie or from a person's local Intreo Centre or Branch Office. I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
