Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

912.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason jobseeker's allowance payment has stopped in the case of a person (details supplied), the procedure to be followed to reinstate payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[33954/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self-Employed. Amongst other qualifying criteria, a person must be capable of and available for full-time work.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded JA on 16/10/2023. Their claim was closed on 28/05/2024 as a result of the person failing to collect JA payments from the post office on three consecutive weeks.

Following your representation, a holiday form was issued by the Maynooth Social Welfare Branch Office to the person on 01/08/2024 to assess any potential entitlement they may have to the missed payments. When the completed form has been received from the person concerned with the necessary information, their claim will be reviewed, and they will be advised of the outcome.

The person concerned submitted a new JA application on 15/07/2024, however this claim was disallowed as the person was not available for full-time work. This decision was made on the basis the person had provided my Department with a medical letter stating they were unfit to resume work. The person subsequently appealed this decision which was acknowledged by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16/08/2024.

I trust this clarifies the matter.