Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the options available to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare to allow them to legitimately take up periodic employment without loss of social welfare entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41041/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at the rate of €443.90 a week comprising of the personal rate of €204.30, an increase for a qualified adult of €135.60 and increases for four qualified children totalling €104. Jobseeker's allowance is a means tested payment consequently all earnings from employment are assessable as means and would affect entitlement with the exception of a disregard of €60 a week (€20 a day for three days) in respect of insurable employment. Sixty per cent of the balance of earnings, after the application of the disregard is assessed as means. All income from self employment is assessable as means for jobseeker's allowance purposes – there is no disregard where self employment is concerned. The loss of entitlement due to employment depends on the type and nature of the employment and the level of earnings involved and on the circumstances of the case.

Should the person concerned and/or their spouse take up periodic employment, means would be determined by averaging the earnings over a period which would depend on the pattern of the employment. It is not possible to be specific in this case given the paucity of information relating to the type of employment envisaged. The persons concerned should seek an interview with the Manager of the Social Welfare Local Office at Blackhall Street, Mullingar for information and advice relating to their circumstances. If they are interested in information and guidance with regard to employment retraining and education options they should also seek an interview with a Job Facilitator at the Local Office in Mullingar.