Written answers

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Jobseeker's Allowance

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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451. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration is being given to altering the three month waiting period which applies to school leavers not going on to further education before applying for jobseeker’s allowance for young persons that cannot find work or part-time work during Covid-19 restrictions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16517/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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 the end of term on 29th May.

A person who is in receipt of a social welfare payment can continue to get paid an increase for a qualified child for this period after they have left second level education or completed their leaving certificate, provided they are not receiving a payment in their own right.

Where a person is experiencing financial hardship they can apply for assistance through the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.

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