Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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547. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a jobseeker’s benefit application will be approved for a person (details supplied); if this application will be finalised without further delay as it meets with the criteria of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25523/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In the case where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, the Department has clarified that, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual Jobseeker’s payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. Officials from my Department are engaging directly with the employer of the person concerned to provide any outstanding documentation required to finalise applications for Jobseeker’s support under these arrangements.

My Department will prioritise decisions on these applications on receipt of this information so that claims are put into payment as quickly as possible.

Decisions around entitlement to social welfare claims for periods prior to the introduction of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme on 01/09/2020 will depend on meeting the eligibility conditions, including satisfying the Department with regard to days of unemployment. Applications are assessed on an individual basis and the Department will notify the person concerned of the outcome of its decision. Arrears due, if any, will be considered in the context of each individual claim.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship she may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments through the Community Welfare Service in the Finglas Intreo Centre. This service can be contacted by phone at (01) 8581100 or by email cwsfinglas@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.