S.I. No. 62/2017 - Social Welfare (Jobseeker's Benefit Variation of Rate Specified in sections 65A and 66(1A) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005) Regulations 2017.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 10th March, 2017.

I, LEO VARADKAR, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 4 (amended by section 96 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 (No. 10 of 2011)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005), and by section 292 (amended by section 24 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 (No. 28 of 2010)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 , with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Jobseeker’s Benefit Variation of Rate Specified in sections 65A and 66(1A) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005) Regulations 2017.

Definition

2. In these Regulations “Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 .

Application of Regulations

3. These Regulations apply in relation to the weekly rate of—

(a) jobseeker’s benefit where a claimant has reckonable weekly earnings specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 64(6), or as the case may be, has reckonable weekly income specified in paragraphs (d) to (f) of section 64(6) of the Principal Act, and

(b) the qualified adult increase payable in accordance with section 66(1A) of the Principal Act.

Variation of rates of jobseeker’s benefit relating to certain reckonable weekly earnings, certain reckonable weekly income and certain periods

4. The weekly rate of jobseeker’s benefit payable to a claimant in accordance with section 65A(1) of the Principal Act is varied–

(a) in paragraphs (a), (d) and (g), by the substitution of “€86.70” for “€84.50”,

(b) in paragraphs (b), (e) and (h), by the substitution of “€124.60” for “€121.40”, and

(c) in paragraphs (c), (f) and (i), by the substitution of “€151.20” for “€147.30”.

Increase for qualified adult

5. The weekly rate of qualified adult increase payable to a claimant in accordance with section 66(1A) (inserted by section 7 of the Social Welfare Act 2010 (No. 34 of 2010)) of the Principal Act, is varied by the substitution of “€83.00” for “€80.90”.

Commencement

6. The variations provided for in articles 4 and 5 of these Regulations shall come into operation on 9 March 2017.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consents to the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

1 March 2017.

PASCHAL DONOHOE,

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

2 March 2017.

LEO VARADKAR,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This Note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

Section 64(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides that in order to qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit, a claimant, in addition to having made a minimum number of PRSI contributions, must have, in the governing contribution year-

— reckonable weekly earnings or weekly income in excess of €300.00, or

— such lesser reckonable weekly earnings or lesser reckonable weekly income as specified in section 64(6) of the Act.

In the case of earnings or income within the ranges specified in section 64(6), a lower rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit is payable in accordance with section 65A of the Act.

These Regulations provide for an increase in the personal weekly rates of Jobseeker’s Benefit arising from Budget 2017 as follows:

• an increase of €2.20 (from €84.50 to €86.70) where the beneficiary’s reckonable weekly earnings do not exceed €149.99 or their reckonable weekly income does not exceed €149.99;

• an increase of €3.20 (from €121.40 to €124.60) where the beneficiary’s reckonable weekly earnings exceed €149.99 but do not exceed €219.99 or their reckonable weekly income exceeds €149.99 but does not exceed €219.99;

• an increase of €3.90 (from €147.30 to €151.20) where the beneficiary’s reckonable weekly earnings exceed €219.99 but do not exceed €299.99 or their reckonable weekly income exceeds €219.99 but does not exceed €299.99.

The Regulations also provide for an increase where a qualified adult increase is payable to these claimants. They provide for an increase of €2.10 (from €80.90 to €83.00) per week in the amount payable for a qualified adult.

The variation in the rates provided for by these Regulations comes into effect on 9 March 2017 to coincide with the increase in the full rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit provided for by section 21 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Social Welfare Act 2016 .