Jobseeker’s Benefit and Work

Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) is a weekly payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to people who are out of work and have paid enough PRSI contributions.

Can I work while receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit?

You can work part-time or casually while receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit. In order to qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit, you must be fully unemployed for 4 out of 7 days. You must also be available for and actively seeking work and you must meet all the other conditions for the payment.

Who is eligible to receive Jobseeker’s Benefit while working?

You can continue to claim Jobseeker’s Benefit while working if:

• your days at work have been reduced
• you are a part-time worker including job-sharing week on and week off (but not if you have chosen to do so)
• you are employed as a casual or part-time worker
• you are employed as a subsidiary worker

You will get the payment for days you do not work, but you cannot work more than 3 days per week, even part time.

If you are receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit and working for part of a week, your entitlement will be based on a 5-day payment week. Therefore, for every day you work, one fifth of your normal JB rate is deducted from your payment.

The Citizens Information Website provides a lot of detail about the different rates of payment and terms attached to them.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back