Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

555. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding social protection payments will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26327/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Customers are entitled to apply for a Jobseekers' payment while on reduced hours.  However, entitlement to a Jobseekers' payment is subject to the normal qualifying conditions as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, including Section 62.

Entitlement to a casual/part-time Jobseeker's or Short-Time Work Support payment for any day depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer for that day.  If a person is paid by their employer for any days, including those where they may not have actually undertaken work, they are not considered days of unemployment. In effect, where a person was paid, including with the support of the TWSS scheme which was in operation between March and September 2020, for any day within this period, then they cannot also receive a Jobseeker’s payment for that day. 

The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme from 1st September 2020.  Subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual (i.e. part-time) jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. 

Each case is examined individually on the basis of the information supplied by the employer to determine entitlement.

As with all the schemes administered by my Department, if a customer is not satisfied with a Deciding Officer's decision, they have the right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.