Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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159. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if part-time workers are entitled to the full rate of jobseeker's allowance if they lose their job; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10370/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order to qualify for a jobseeker’s payment, an unemployed person or part-time worker must, in the case of jobseeker’s benefit, have sufficient PRSI contributions and have lost at least one day of employment or, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, satisfy a means assessment. In addition, both schemes apply only where a person is employed for no more than three in a period of any seven consecutive days, is available for full-time employment and is genuinely seeking such work. Customers are obliged to demonstrate on an on-going basis that they satisfy all relevant conditions.

In relation to the means tested jobseeker’s allowance scheme, all means are taken into account. In particular, a part-time or casual worker who is employed for three days or less in any week receives the appropriate weekly rate of the allowance which is net of means assessed from other sources, less an amount deducted for each day of employment. The amount to be deducted is calculated as a proportion of the customer’s average daily earnings from employment and will, therefore, vary from person to person.

Customers are advised to apply for a jobseeker’s payment at their social welfare local office/Intreo office in order to ensure that their entitlement can be fully examined and that they receive a formal decision on their claim including, where applicable, an explanation of the way in which the means have been assessed.