Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why he has declined an application by a person (details supplied) under the jobseeker's allowance scheme; to specify the documentation that remains outstanding in respect of the application and the mechanism by which he communicated a missed signing date to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21563/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The jobseeker’s allowance (JA) scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. A person must be capable of, available for, and genuinely seeking work. A person must also satisfy a mean test, which looks at all household sources of income including spouse’s, civil partner’s or cohabitant's income.

The Letterkenny INTREO office has advised that the person attended his scheduled meeting with a deciding officer, at this meeting he was given a standard form to complete in relation to his efforts to seek employment and advised of his signing date.

The form in question was not returned to the INTREO office and the person concerned failed to sign on, consequently the claim was closed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.