I propose to take Questions Nos. 418, 419 and 420 together.
Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) is a payment for people between 18 and 66 years of age who become fully or partly unemployed and have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
If you don't qualify for JB, or if your entitlement to JB has expired, you may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance (JA). This is a means-tested payment, so your income must be below a certain amount to get JA.
At the end of November 2022, there were 122,047 individuals in receipt of JA, of which 15,886 were between 18 and 25 years of age. There were 34,830 recipients of JB, of which 3,255 were between 18 and 25 years of age.
The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the tables below. Table 1 shows the number of JA and JB recipients as at the end of December 2021 and as at the end of November 2022. Table 2 shows the number of current JA and JB recipients, broken down by their duration on the scheme. Table 3 provides the breakdown of 18 to 25 year olds in receipt of JA, by rates of payment.
Table 1: Number of recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit
Scheme
|
December 2021
|
November 2022
|
Jobseeker's Allowance
|
108,414
|
122,047
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
35,908
|
34,830
|
Table 2: Current Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit recipients (including casuals), by duration on the scheme
Duration
|
Jobseeker's Allowance
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
Less than 1 year
|
58,122
|
33,618
|
1 - 2 years
|
15,622
|
1,129
|
2 + years
|
48,303
|
83
|
Total
|
122,047
|
34,830
|
Table 3: 18 to 25 year olds in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, by rate of payment
Rate of payment
|
Jobseeker's Allowance
|
Less than €117.70
|
1,249
|
€117.70
|
9,946
|
€117.71 to €207.99
|
535
|
€208
|
2,523
|
Greater than €208
|
1,633
|
Total
|
15,886
|