Can I apply for JSA after 3-6 months?

LegacyUser

Hi,

I am employed 5 years now however just resigned to start another job in UK. What if I lose this job in 3-6 moths. Can I return back home to Ireland and still apply for Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance ?

Thanks

Granger13

ClaireDublin wrote: »

Hi,

I am employed 5 years now however just resigned to start another job in UK. What if I lose this job in 3-6 moths. Can I return back home to Ireland and still apply for Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance ?

Thanks

You can apply for jobseekers Allowance at anystage, this is a means tested payment and and savings investments or other income you may have will be taken into account. There is a disregard for the first 20,000.

Jobseekers Benefit will be based on your paid contributions you have. As you have been working over 5years you should well have the required amount of contributions and PRSI. If applying for JB you should do so as soon as you can if your job does not work out.

LegacyUser

Thank you,
I do have required amount of contributions and PRSI to currently qualify for JB however I have heard that there are some restrictions for people who have left work voluntarily.

Also, do you know if there is any “expiry date” of these PRSI contributions I have paid? I mean how long I can stay abroad with an open option to return and still qualify for JB?

Granger13

ClaireDublin wrote: »

Thank you,
I do have required amount of contributions and PRSI to currently qualify for JB however I have heard that there are some restrictions for people who have left work voluntarily.

Also, do you know if there is any “expiry date” of these PRSI contributions I have paid? I mean how long I can stay abroad with an open option to return and still qualify for JB?

Yes you can be disqualifed for up to 9 weeks if you leave a job of your own accord. They ususaly go by the last 2years of your contribuitons. Off hand i cant rembember if they could possibly check a third year or exaclty how long you have.

Granger13

I checked it out to be sure they go by the Relevant Tax year.

The Relevnat Tax Year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which your claim is made. So,for example: claims made in 2011, the Relevant Tax Year is 2009.

If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year the following years can be used to meet the condition: The two tax years before the relevant tax year; the last complete tax year;the current tax year

LegacyUser

Granger, Thank you for your help.

I am a little bit lost in it. So, the answer for my second question is 2 years?