Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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654. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an 18-year-old person cannot sign on for jobseeker’s until after they receive their leaving certificate results (details supplied). [9970/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under Social Welfare legislation students are disqualified from receiving jobseekers allowance while attending a course of study, including school or college holiday periods and for the 3 month period after completing the Leaving Certificate or leaving second level education. Following the cancellation of this year's Leaving Certificate Examination, these students will be eligible to apply for jobseekers Allowance from 30 August 2020, which is 3 months after their end of term on 29th May.

Where a person, of any age, is experiencing financial hardship they can apply for assistance through the Department’s means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.