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For Oral Answer on : 24/09/2024
Question Number(s): 49 Question Reference(s): 37663/24
Department: Social Protection
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Social Protection how her Department ensures that recipients of jobseeker’s allowance or jobseeker’s benefit are available for and actively seeking work; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
A person in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit must satisfy all the conditions for the payment including being available for and genuinely seeking work.
To satisfy this condition, it is necessary for the person to demonstrate that they have taken some action and made genuine efforts to secure employment. The person must be able to show that they have taken reasonable steps to secure employment during the period for which they have made a declaration of unemployment.
Genuinely seeking work reviews are carried out periodically on jobseeker’s claims with a further declaration required from the jobseeker that they continue to be available for and genuinely seeking work. In addition, a person is included in the activation measures provided by my Department where they are supported by a case officer to find employment and source any further training or education if required. Jobseeker’s are supported through one to one meetings with a case officer where a personal progression plan is drawn up and agreed with the jobseeker. This also ensures that the person continues to be available for and genuinely seeking work for the period during which they are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
