Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 68KF

Duration of payment

Section 68KF sets out how long a person can receive Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, the rules for counting time on other payments against that entitlement, and the conditions for requalifying after the initial period has been exhausted.

• Payment duration depends on PRSI contribution history: up to 39 weeks for those with 260 or more employment contributions, or up to 26 weeks for those with fewer than 260 contributions.
• Time spent on other jobseeker payments (Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed), or Short Term Enterprise Allowance) counts towards the total entitlement period for claims starting on or after the scheme's commencement date.
• Requalification requires meeting the contribution conditions again, plus either a prescribed waiting period or remaining off all jobseeker payments for a specified number of weeks within a maximum 104-week window.
• Special rules apply for recipients aged 65 and over, allowing continued payment until pensionable age subject to having at least 156 employment contribution weeks and, for those born on or after 1 January 1958, giving the Minister advance notice of the wish to continue receiving the benefit.