Social Welfare payment for 23 year old

TomMc93

Hi, I am 23 years old and I just lost my job a few weeks ago and had to move back in with my parents and go on social welfare until I can find something else.

I am now getting €100 per week which is fine, but I know a guy in the same situation as me who is getting €144 per week, can anybody tell me why that is? Or is it maybe just the fact he is a year older than me at 24?

Any help appreciated, Thank You.

drake70

Hi OP,

Are you sure the other person is only 24?

Here are the Jobseeker's Allowance rates

Aged 26 and over €188
Aged 25 €144
Aged 18-24 €100

Source: https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/1057_Jobseekers-Allowance.aspx#l62fd2

TomMc93

drake70 wrote: »

Hi OP,

Are you sure the other person is only 24?

Here are the Jobseeker's Allowance rates

Aged 26 and over €188
Aged 25 €144
Aged 18-24 €100

Hi, thanks for the reply ... that's interesting, do you know if the rates changed recently? I am sure he is 24 however I am only taking his word he is getting that amount

Gatling

Don't believe everything he says as gospel then

drake70

TomMc93 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the reply ... that's interesting, do you know if the rates changed recently? I am sure he is 24 however I am only taking his word he is getting that amount

Those are the rates which are currently published on the DSP website (linked above).

I believe the age rules came in a few years ago and are unchanged since then.

drake70

I stand corrected.

There was a change made two years ago, so it would depend on when the other person started receiving their payment:

Claimants before 15 January 2014

Rates were not reduced for claimants aged between 18 and 25 who were getting a higher rate before 15 January 2014. (People aged 18-21 got €100, people aged 22-24 got €144 and at 25 the full personal JA rate was payable.) However their payments will increase in line with the new rates.

For example, John turned 22 on 5 January 2014. He has been claiming JA since January 2013 and his rate increased from €100 to €144 on 5 January 2014. John can continue to get a rate of €144. If John continues to claim JA his rate will increase to €188 on his 26th birthday.

Mary is aged 21 and was getting a JA payment of €100 before 15 January 2014. She turned 22 on 2 March 2014. Mary will continue to get a rate of €100. If Mary continues to claim JA her rate will increase to €144 on her 25th birthday and to €188 on her 26th birthday.

Source: Same link as above

LegacyUser

drake70 wrote: »

I stand corrected.

There was a change made two years ago, so it would depend on when the other person started receiving their payment:



Source: Same link as above

Ah that explains it, thanks very much ... guessing that means I'll still be only getting €100 when I turn 24 in a few weeks though? Bummer lol

Balagan

As you are under 25 and if you are going onto Jobseekers Allowance (as opposed to Jobseekers Benefit) and have not lived outside the parental home for 3 years or more, your parents' income will be taken into account as part of means testing.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/how_parents_income_can_affect_jobseekers_allowance.html