How do Ireland’s social welfare rates compare to folk north of the Border in Northern Ireland in areas such as unemployment benefit, child allowance etc?
Mr P.B.
Living on welfare is never easy, not least when the cost of life’s basic essentials keeps rising faster than the general rate of inflation – and the annual increase in welfare rates announced in the budget.
The payments available in the Republic are certainly more generous than those available across the Border but then the cost of living down here is also higher.
Unemployment
Unemployment payments have changed recently. In the Republic, we have a new Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit for people who lost their job since March 28th last. Eligibility is based on your PRSI record and there are three separate criteria:
1 – You must have paid at least 104 stamps at class A, H or P. The first of those covers most private-sector PAYE workers. Class H covers the Defence Forces and Class P fishermen and women
2 – You must have paid at least 26 stamps in the 12 months before you lost your job, and;
3 – You must have paid at least four of those in the 10 weeks before applying for benefit, ie you need to apply within six weeks of losing yo
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