# Jobseeker's Benefit
This year
2023
# Jobseeker's Benefit
Unemployed who worked 5 years or more before losing job to get €450 per week under Govt plan
Minister Heather Humphreys says she wants to bring proposals to Government this year on the new pay-related benefit plan.
Last year
2022
# Social Welfare
Proposed overhaul of jobseeker's benefit would directly link payment to previous earnings
Currently, recipients of the jobseeker’s benefit are categorised into one of four bands depending on their prior income.
# Social Welfare
Warning over linking unemployment benefits to previous earnings
The Economic and Social Research Institute said the move would give rise to weaker financial work incentives unless capped or time-limited.
# Social Protection
'Insanity': Criticism as unemployment benefit to be paid at post offices rather than online
It was announced last month that people receiving the payment would no longer have it paid directly into their bank account.
One man said he now has to drive over 55km to a post office in order to collect the payment, which brings his fuel cost to between €45 - €50 a week.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that the return to post offices would help to support the network and tackle welfare fraud.
A Social Democrats TD said the idea that people in receipt of social welfare are going to defraud the State "has been debunked on several occasions".
All time
THE MORNING LEAD
ICTU: Scrap 'inadequate' unemployment welfare system and link payments to past earnings
With the PUP set to be cut again this week, politicians are being urged to reform the social welfare system.
ICTU general secretary says higher PUP rate highlight paltry nature of Jobseeker's Benefit, Ian Curran writes.
Calls to move to European-style system, where welfare benefits are based on a percentage of past earnings.
Irish flat-rate system dates back to period before independence.
# Welfare
State pension and core social welfare payments to increase by €5 per week
A range of other social welfare increases was announced.
This will bring the full State pension to €253.30 per week.
A €5 increase to the Fuel Allowance comes into effect from midnight.
The Living Alone Allowance will also increase by €3 per week.
# pricey trip
Going overseas against travel advice will cost claimants Jobseekers or PUP payments
Claimants would not be able to claim for the duration of their holiday and two weeks afterwards.
# Self-employed
Government to go ahead with plans for self-employed to access jobseeker's payments
Self-employed people will be able to access €203 a week if they’re out of work.
# factfind
FactFind: How does Ireland's jobseeker's benefit compare to the rest of the EU?
One of the Budget talking points will be how our social welfare benefits compare to our EU counterparts.
# Social Protection
Waiting times for social welfare payments vary from one week to 40 weeks
As of 30 September, the average waiting time to receive a carer’s allowance was about nine months.
# factcheck
FactCheck: How do jobseeker's payments here compare to Northern Ireland?
In the Dáil last week, Leo Varadkar asked TheJournal.ie for a fact check. We accepted that request.
# Jobseeker's Benefit
Varadkar plans to raise dole payments depending on how long you've worked
The INOU has welcomed the plan, which the Department of Social Protection told TheJournal.ie is under consideration.
# Show Me The Money
Under 26 and on the dole? Labour has some good news for you - sort of
Young adults are currently paid a lower rate of jobseeker’s allowance.
Voices
'Dear Joan: Today, I sat in a dole office and cried to a complete stranger through a glass partition'
An open letter to the Minister for Social Protection: “I left that office embarrassed, angry, degraded, and a shadow of the educated, confident woman I am meant to be.”
# seasonal jobs
Signing off for Christmas work? Your dole will be restored 'immediately' afterwards
Minister Kevin Humphreys is reminding those on Jobseekers payments that seasonal work of up to eight weeks can be taken.
# Live Register
Almost 3,000 extra young people were signing on last month
Overall, the number of people on the Live Register decreased by 4,400 in June.
# sit tight
Appealing a social welfare decision? You could be in for a long wait
The average processing time of an appeal is six months.
# Social Protection
Jobseeker payments expenditure to fall by as much as 20 per cent
The spend in 2014 is expected to be close to half of what it was in 2011.
# error
Social welfare payments delayed by one day, affecting 32,700 people
The Department of Social Protection has blamed a “once off processing issue” for the delay with some payments today. They will be paid tomorrow.
# Social Welfare
€669 million saved through social welfare control measures in 2012
Jobseeker’s benefit was the only payment that had a lower rate of suspected fraud than departmental error.
# Euroleaks
Government to hire private companies to find work for long-term unemployed
Leaked bailout documents reveal new Department of Social Protection plans to get longstanding jobseekers back to work.
# Unemployment
Small drop in live register figures - but unemployment stays at 14.6 per cent
The number of people aged 25 or under on the live register dropped for the 29th month in a row.
# Budget 2013
Dáil to begin debating Budget's changes to social welfare system
The Social Welfare Bill, which gives legal effect to cuts to the respite care grant and other changes, will be debated this week.
# Social Protection
Burton asks for extra €685 million in social protection funding... for 2012
On the day of Budget 2013, Joan Burton asks an Oireachtas committee to approve a 5.1 per cent increase for 2012.
# Budget 2013
Readers' Panel Part One: What are you expecting from Budget 2013?
We spoke to some readers about their hopes and fears ahead of tomorrow’s budget. Here’s what they had to say, in their own words.
# Christmas
Burton: Unemployed who work over Christmas "should not have any concerns"
Those who are unemployed are able to work or attend a training course for up to eight weeks without it impacting on their various allowances.
# Welfare
Oireachtas committee considers access to welfare for self-employed
The committee heard from the Self Employed Alliance Dundalk who said there has been “unjust, unwarranted discrimination” against self-employed people.
# Benefits
Just 10-20 per cent of people better off on dole, says ESRI
The economic think-tank has revised the findings from a controversial working paper which it pulled earlier this week.
Voices
Column: Our welfare system is broken. We can fix it… by paying everybody.
Paying rich and poor alike might sound counter-intuitive – but it could lay the foundation for a welfare system that works, writes Anne B Ryan.
# Welfare
Those on benefits do not have enough for 'basic standard of living'
A report being launched today highlights the difficulties of those in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit who do not have enough to meet their physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs.
# Welfare
New welfare 'profiling' to determine when jobless likely to find work
The new system aims to reduce long-term unemployment – and penalise people who refuse work or training.
# Budget 2012
Changes to part-time jobseeker's payment will not benefit unemployed - INOU
The unemployed will not benefit from the changes to the way jobseeker’s payments are paid, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has said.
# CAB
Criminal Assets Bureau takings now over €133million
The CAB handed more than €7million to the Exchequer last year, amid suggestions its methods could be rolled out across Europe.
# Unemployment
Unemployment rate increased in May, reaching 14.8 per cent
Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the numbers signing on jumped by 2,600 in the month of May.
# Live Register
Unemployment down slightly as Live Register is unchanged
Ireland’s rate of unemployment now stands at 14.6 per cent, down 0.1 from last month, with 439,200 signing on.
# Live Register
Unemployment stays at 14.7 per cent as live register rises
1,100 more people were signing on March, up by almost 11,000 on the same time last year but down on September’s peak.
