Q.  I will be finishing second-level school in June and I hope to go to university in February next year. Can I sign on for an unemployment payment until then?

26.05.08

You can claim Jobseeker’s Allowance if you are looking for full-time work, but not until you have been out of school for three months and you are at least 18 years of age. Also, be advised that this is a means-tested social welfare payment, i.e. your income is assessed to find out whether you will qualify for a payment.

If you are 24 years of age or under and you are living with a parent in the family home, your parents' income will also be taken into account. This assesses the ‘benefit and privilege’ you get from living with your parents. This can affect the amount of your payment. If, however, your only means are from the benefit of your parents' income and those means are calculated as less than the personal rate of Jobseeker's Allowance, the minimum weekly payment you are entitled to is €40.

You will not be assessed for ‘benefit and privilege’ if you are under 25 years of age and married or co-habiting with your spouse/partner and living with your parents. If you have lived elsewhere in Ireland (or abroad) independent of your parents for at least 3 years, benefit and privilege is assessed as €7. You should ask your local Citizens Information Centre about exactly how this benefit and privilege is calculated.

Citizens Information: Buncrana 074 9363496; Carndonagh 074 9373741

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