New Earnings Linked Jobseekers’ Payment Awarded to Over 60,000 during 2025

Over 60,000 people have been supported through the new Jobseekers Pay Related Benefit since its introduction in April 2025, Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has said.

Chair of the Oireachtas Social Protection Committee, John Paul O’Shea said, “This demonstrates the importance of the new payment in providing an enhanced safety net to people who suddenly lose their jobs.”

Under the Pay Related Benefit, a person’s jobseekers’ payment is linked to their previous salary up to a maximum of €450 per week. The figures were released to Deputy O’Shea by the Department of Social Protection.

“We’re at full employment, however, even with the economy performing strongly, there is always a constant churn in the labour market. Losing your job is a stressful and uncertain time. Your income falls dramatically but your everyday living costs and bills stay the same.

“Fine Gael introduced Pay Related Benefit to support workers who have a long work history and who contribute to the system through their PRSI contributions. It means these workers receive a payment linked to their previous salary and are provided with an enhanced safety net if they lose their job. Figures show that between April 2025 – when the new payment was introduced – and the end of November 2025, a total of 60,413 claims were awarded.

“It is important to say Pay Related Benefit is not designed to be a long-term payment. The maximum duration is nine months and the amount a person receives tapers down the longer they remain on it. This ensures there is no disincentive to taking up work. Figures from the Department of Social Protection show that 50% of all claims were closed within 17 weeks which demonstrates that half the people who claimed Pay Related Benefit actually returned to work within 4 months of losing their job – this is very welcome.

“None of us ever know what’s around the corner and losing you job is a major shock for anybody. The introduction of Jobseekers Pay Related Benefit is a positive and progressive measure to support workers in Ireland at a difficult time in their lives. I am calling on the Minister to continue to monitor the trends in relation to this new payment and examine other PRSI based payments that it could potentially be extended to in the future.

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For Written Answer on : 16/12/2025
Question Number(s): 635 Question Reference(s): 71740/25
Department: Social Protection
Asked by: John Paul O’Shea T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have applied for and availed of pay related benefit, by county to date; the average payment rate under the scheme to dater; the average duration of claims to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

By end November 2025, 79,779 PRB claims had been registered, of which 60,413 had been awarded at some point.  27,008 people were in receipt of payment at the end of November 2025.  A breakdown by county of residence of those recipients is shown in the below table.

It will take some time, up to 12 months, for trends to emerge showing the impacts of the tapered payments which come into effect at 13 weekly intervals and to seasonal variations.  Indications suggests that approximately 38% of claims that were in payment were subsequently closed within the first 12 weeks and 50% closed within 17 weeks.  Of the claims awarded and paying at the end of November 2025, the average weekly rate for PRB of maximum entitlement of 26 weeks was €259, while this rate was €357 for PRB of maximum entitlement of 39 weeks.