Working for Work : Chapter 4 : Welfare to Work

Part-time work and Jobseekers Allowance

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If you are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance you can work for up to three days a week and continue to receive payment for the days you are unemployed, provided you continue to satisfy the means test and the normal qualifying conditions for Jobseeker's Allowance (See Chapter 1 for more information on Jobseeker's Allowance).

Sunday is not considered a day of employment, so if you work on a Sunday you will not lose a portion of your weekly Jobseeker's Allowance payment for this day. However, if your earned income from employment for up to 3 days plus any income from work on a Sunday exceeds the maximum family rate of Jobseeker's Allowance in your circumstances you will no longer be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance.

Your earnings from employment are assessed by taking your gross weekly earnings and deducting payments* for: -

  • PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) -
  • Pensions (including the pension levy) -
  • Trade Union subscriptions

*The Universal Social Charge - USC - is not deducted.

A daily disregard of €20.00 a day is applied for each day worked up to a maximum of 3 days (€60.00). This daily disregard is combined for the number of days worked and deducted before income assessment. After subtracting the allowable deductions and applicable daily disregards the value of the remaining balance is assessed at 60% and taken as the weekly means from insurable employment. (Please see the example on this page).

Spouse Working:

If your spouse/civil partner/cohabitant works, or is engaged in self-employment or has any capital/savings or other assessable income, while you are in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance their earnings from employment or assessable means can affect the amount of Jobseeker's Allowance the family unit receives.

Self Employment:

You can engage in self-employment while in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance for up to 3 days per week. There is no ?20 daily disregard for self-employment, as is available to those engaged in employment. If you have been self-employed, paying a Class S PRSI contribution, you do not have to de-register, wind up or close your business in order to receive Jobseeker's Allowance while self-employed part-time. If you wish to pursue self-employment as a full-time option you may qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. For more information, contact the INOU on (01) 856 0088.

Example: Part-time work and Jobseeker's Allowance

Mary is a single person on Jobseeker's Allowance, normally entitled to a payment of €188.00 a week. When she finds two days full-time (8 hours. per day) work, her assessable earnings, after the allowable deductions, is €200. Her new rate of Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is calculated as follows: Earnings for two days (€100 per day x 2 days) €200.00 Earnings disregard for two days (€20 per day x 2 days) €40.00 Assessable income from employment (earnings €200 - disregard €40) €160.00 Income assessed at 60% (€160 @ 60%) €96.00 Mary's weekly means is €96.00 Mary's new rate of Jobseeker's Allowance (€188 - €96 means) €92.00 Two days assessable earnings €200.00 Plus JA payment +€92.00 New Total household income €292.00 -

  • Persons in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance cannot qualify for a Family Income Supplement Payment (FIS). -
  • Your secondary benefits may be affected, see Chapter 2 for more details.

Last Updated: 31/08/2011 ^ back to top