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New social welfare payment for workers who lose their jobs to begin this year

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New social welfare payment for workers who lose their jobs to begin this year

A new pay-related jobseeker benefit payment, which will see higher earners receive larger social welfare payments if they lose their job, is set to kick off later this year.

The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, announced this week that the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 has been given the green light by both Houses of the Oireachtas and will now be presented to President Michael D Higgins for signing.




The bill signifies a major shake-up of Ireland’s social welfare system and will ensure that those with a solid work history who find themselves unemployed and claim Jobseeker’s Benefit will receive enhanced benefits in line with their previous salary, reports the Irish Mirror.

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Currently, workers who lose their jobs receive a flat rate of €232 a week in Jobseekers’ Benefit. However, under the new rules set to kick off later this year, high earners who lose their jobs would be entitled to almost double the usual social welfare rates.

Under the fresh Pay-Related Jobseeker’s Benefit, workers with a strong attachment to the labour market and at least five years of paying PRSI contributions will receive 60 per cent of their previous gross weekly wage up to a maximum €450 a week.

After that, the rate will drop to 55 per cent of earnings, subject to a maximum of €375 for the following three months. A further three months will be paid at the rate of 50 per cent, up to a maximum €300 payment. People who have contributed between two and five years will be eligible for a new scheme, seeing them receive 50 per cent of their former income, up to a limit of €300 per week for a maximum of six months.

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