Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claims open for jobseekers benefit on 31 March 2025 before the jobseekers pay-related benefit scheme began; and if any consideration was given to retrospectively applying the new benefit to the cohort in receipt of the original payment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33983/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit was introduced at the end of March this year. This new social insurance-based income support has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who have become fully unemployed since the commencement of the scheme on 31 March, in line with the statutory conditions for the scheme.

A commencement date is required for the introduction of any new scheme. The Commencement Order provides that this scheme comes into operation on 31 March 2025. The scheme is available to those whose unemployment begins on or after this date as provided for in section 68KB(1)(d) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended.

The existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme remains available for people who became fully unemployed before 31 March and such customers will remain on Jobseeker's Benefit until they return to employment, or their benefit runs out, whichever is the earlier, subject to the normal rules of that scheme. There was a total of 38,500 people in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit at the end of March 2025.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.