Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

170. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who is not entitled to a payment under the jobseeker's allowance due to spousal income is not entitled to sign on; the reason the person is not acknowledged as a separate human being by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21425/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.

Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme operated by my Department. The assessment of means for Jobseeker's Allowance includes the assessment of the earnings and assets of a claimant and their spouse/civil partner/cohabitant from both insurable and self-employment. The main provisions relating to the assessment of spouse/civil partner/cohabitant earnings are contained in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 and in regulations.

Where a spouse/partner/cohabitant has earnings from employment, earnings less PRSI contributions, pension contributions and trade union subscriptions are assessed as means. However a disregard of €20.00 a day also applies to the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant for a maximum of 3 days a week (maximum €60.00 a week) and the balance is assessed at 60%. It is in the nature of means tested schemes that there is no entitlement to a payment once means exceed a given amount and there is no discretion allowed as deciding officers are obliged to follow the legislation when assessing means.

Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) is a social insurance scheme. It is paid weekly to insured persons who are out of work and is based on contributions paid by the claimant. It is not subject to a means test.

A person who does not have an entitlement to either jobseeker’s benefit or allowance may have an entitlement to ‘sign on’ for jobseeker credits. Credited contributions can be awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness and their purpose is to help protect the social insurance entitlements of insured persons during periods when they may not be in a position to pay contributions. In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment.

Where an individual does not have entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit, jobseeker’s allowance or credited contributions, they may be eligible for another contingency based payment or in-work support from my Department such as family income supplement (FIS) or the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme. SWA is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.