Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35252/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme 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 and who meet the statutory conditions for the scheme.

The legislation underpinning the scheme provides that specific categories of atypical workers are not included under the Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme and will continue to be supported under the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme. This includes people who are working on a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal basis, including those whose employment involves a recurring pattern of employment and unemployment reflecting the academic year. The conditions for the Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit scheme are not designed to provide in-work support on a recurring and intermittent basis.

The rate of payment a person receives under Jobseeker's Benefit is based on earnings in the Governing Contribution Year which is two year's prior the year of the person's claim. There is no change to the income supports to which such persons are entitled and they continue to receive their jobseeker's payment on the same terms as was previously the case.

It is open to the individual referred to in the correspondence from the Deputy to apply for the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance if it may be more financially beneficial for them to do so. In addition, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Further information on these supports is available on the Government's website.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.