Jobseeker's Allowance is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and
- who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed)
- whose entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) has expired
OR
- who do qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) but choose to claim Optional Jobseeker's Allowance instead.
Whether you qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance depends on your income and whether you are habitually resident in Ireland (in other words, you live here and have close links to Ireland).
To qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance, you must:
- be over 18 and under 66
- satisfy a means test
- be habitually resident in Ireland
- be capable of work
- be available for full-time work
- be genuinely seeking work
- be fully or partly unemployed (at least 4 days out of work in every 7)
Note: If you are self-employed, the last condition does not apply.
You can work for up to 3 days a week and may still get Jobseeker’s Allowance for the other days. If you are getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, you can use a benefit of work estimator to see how taking up part-time work would affect the amount you would get. The Reckoner works out the total amount you would get if you take up part-time work (including any Working Family Payment payable for the family) and compares this to what you are getting in jobseeker's payments (including Rent Supplement).
A means test is an assessment of all of your household income, savings, shares, investments or property that you own, apart from your own home. Your means test will also include any income that your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has.
The department adds your income from all sources (including your income from work), and, from this, calculates the means you have each week. Your means is used to work out the amount you may receive.
Your rate of payment will depend on your income and the outcome of the means assessment. If you have no means, are aged 25 or over, and you are single, you will get the full weekly payment of €203.
An increase is payable for each child dependant if you are getting an increase for a qualified adult. If you do not qualify for an increase for a qualified adult, you may get a half-rate increase for a qualified child dependant.
The rate for qualified adult was temporarily increased to €147 from €134.70 as part of the Government's income support plans announced on 24 March. From 17 September this rate will return to €134.70.
| Jobseeker's Allowance Rates | Rate | |
| Full personal payment (25 or over) | €203 | |
| Personal Rate 18-24 | €112.70 | |
| Extra payment for qualified adult | €147 (returning to €134.70 from 17 September) | |
| Extra payment for qualified adult (18-24) | €112.70 | |
| Extra payment for qualified child under 12 | €36.00 (full-rate), €18.00 (half-rate) | |
| Extra payment for qualified child 12 and over | €40.00 (Full rate), €20.00 (half rate) |
Note
Some jobseekers aged 18 to 24 can qualify for full-rate Jobseeker’s Allowance. Details are in the link below.
- The amount that you receive will be less if you have means assessed.
Your employer needs to complete the UP80 form below. This form can be downloaded and filled in. When your employer completes the form you need to return it to your local Intreo Centre
You can now declare the days you are working and not working online through www.MyWelfare.ie This means that you will not have to submit paper dockets each week to your local Intreo Centre/Social Welfare Branch Office.
Please see our guide to casual online certification for further information.
If you are on Jobseeker's Allowance and wish to volunteer, you can find all of the information here
If you are over the age of 62 and receiving a jobseeker’s payment, you do not have to:
- meet with a case officer in your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office
- sign on monthly
You can continue to work after you turn 66 years old and receive a State Pension if you satisfy all of the qualifying conditions to receive a pension.
Please see State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-contributory) for more information on how to qualify for these payments.
If you are an employee paying a Class A social insurance contribution, ask your employer to change this to Class J when you turn 66. Your payslip will tell you which class of PRSI contribution you pay.
If you are self-employed paying a Class S social insurance contribution, you should pay PRSI at Class M after your 66th birthday.
It is recommended that you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance as soon as possible after you become unemployed.
The quickest way to apply for Jobseeker's Allowance is through mywelfare . You must have a verified MyGovID to use this service.
To apply, you will need the following documents along with the application form at the end of this page:
- identification – your public service card, passport or driving licence
- proof of your address – a utility bill or letter from a government department
- evidence of your income, including bank statements
If you are making a repeat claim (less than 12 months since your last claim), you should complete a repeat claim form UP6
Application Form: Repeat Claim for Jobseeker's (UP6)
If you are making a repeat claim (less than 12 months since your last claim), you complete a repeat claim form known as a UP6.
DownloadBring all documentation to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office when you attend to make your claim. You can apply even if you do not have all of the documents but you cannot get a decision on your application until you have provided all of the documents.
Application Form: Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit (UP1)
Application form for Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit (UP1).
DownloadYou can appeal a decision if you are unhappy with it. You should appeal within 21 days of the decision and you can ask for an oral hearing.
An appeals officer, whose decision is final, will then decide 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 Allowance again.
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
