In the INOU’s e-bulletin Issue 57 we wrote an article on the press release from Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries TD, dated November 21 st , 2023 about the changes that are likely to be made Jobseeker’s Benefit payment during 2024. At the end of January the INOU made a submission to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on this development. This is the Oireachtas Committee that will undertake the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Social Welfare (Pay-Related Social Insurance and Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit Provisions) Bill 2024 .
If these changes are made, Jobseeker’s Benefit will become Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit (JPRB). In the INOU’s submission we commented on each of the Heads, raising particular points of under Head Numbers six to sixteen, this article presents a summary of the points raised.
Head 6: Entitlement to benefit and qualifying conditions
- It will be important that this information is communicated to people constructively;
- that people’s entitlements are explained to them fully and clearly and in a supportive manner;
- that people are supported to return to work as soon as they are able; or
- to change employment if they feel that is the most appropriate option for themselves.
Head 7: Conditions for receipt
- While appreciating that Ireland now has better real time data to assess a person’s earnings in the periods of time applying to Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, it will be important that loss of income arising from a reduction in employment that can precede a period of unemployment is taken into account. It is welcome that Head of Bill 8, subsection (4) acknowledges this problem.
Head 8: Rate of benefit
- The new payment is called Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit, which is not an entirely accurate description, it is pay related up to a point, and like the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, it is a flat rate payment.
- Though the maintenance of the current duration of nine months for people who become unemployed and have 260+ contributions, is to be welcomed, it is regrettable that this is being achieved by the introduction of a tiered payment.
- It would be important that circumstances listed in (6) (a-h) are used to inform a more person centred approach to engaging with people seeking or in receipt of JPRB.
Head 9: Duration of payment
- It is regrettable that the cuts to duration applied to Jobseeker’s Benefit in response to 2008 financial crisis remain in place, and will apply to the new JPRB.
- Section (7) covers people exhausting their right to JPRB, how they can requalify once they do “not exceed the maximum number of weeks in which jobseeker’s pay-related benefit is payable in a period of 104 weeks, to be prescribed by the Minister .” The explanatory notes on page 21 observe that “Entitlement to the benefit will be limited within a 104-week period, unlike Jobseeker’s Benefit which can be re-claimed after a 13-week period.” This unwelcome development could leave some people in less secure employment in a difficult situation, potentially leaving them outside income and employment supports, at a time when they are most in need of both, and should be re-visited.
Heads 10-14 deal with refusal or failure to engage and disqualifications
- Under the Purpose of Heads 10-14 it notes that these “provisions cover engagement with activation such as attending meetings or participating in prescribed schemes, programmes or courses.” (p22)
- It is regrettable that the focus in these Heads of Bill is on the negative, on what will happen to the person who is unemployed who is perceived to be failing in their responsibilities.
- Amongst the motions passed at the INOU’s Annual Delegate Conference in May 2023, was one calling “on the Government to deliver wrap around employment and support services that really meet the needs of people who are unemployed - regardless of whether or not they are on a social welfare payment - to support them to access decent work and to appropriately address any barriers they experience.”
- At the same conference a motion from the INOU’s General Branch - the mechanism through which unemployed people play an active part in the running of the organisation - stated that “Many people when they are or become unemployed are unaware of the different options and supports that might be available to them” and called “on the Department of Social Protection to ensure that unemployed people are properly informed about their options and the range of supports that are available to them.”
Head 16: Closure of jobseeker’s benefit for new applications
- This closure should not happen.
- Notwithstanding that the majority of people currently on Jobseeker’s Benefit claim only for themselves, the option to apply for a Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) payment should be retained for people who have adult and child dependents for whom they could claim.
- People who become unemployed who would receive a higher level of income support under JB than the proposed Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit payment (JPRB), should be able to apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit.
The INOU’s full submission is available at Download the full submission PDF here