Pay-related Jobseeker’s Benefit: how much you get, for how long, and the caps

Since March 2025, people who lose their job get a payment linked to their old wages. Here are the percentages, the weekly caps, how it steps down and worked examples for typical pay.

Lose your job after five years of work and the State now pays up to €450 a week for the first 13 weeks. That is 60% of your old pay. The flat-rate Jobseeker's Benefit tops out at €254 a week in 2026.

This guide covers what you get. For how to apply, see our How To guide on Jobseeker's payments.

A payment linked to your wages

Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit started on 31 March 2025. It is for people whose last day of work was on or after 28 March 2025. The payment is based on what you earned, not a flat amount.

You must be fully unemployed, under 66, able to work and looking for full-time work. You also need enough PRSI. That is the social insurance taken from your pay, and most employees pay Class A.

• At least 104 paid PRSI contributions at Class A, H or P
• At least 4 paid at Class A or H in the 10 weeks before you apply
• At least 26 paid at Class A or H in the 52 weeks before you became unemployed

The rates step down over time

So a longer work record gets you both a higher rate and a longer claim. Whatever your pay, you get at least €125 a week.

How your pay is worked out

The Department of Social Protection uses Revenue records. It takes your average weekly gross pay, before tax, over the 12 months ending 8 weeks before you lost your job.

For example, if you lost your job on 7 April 2025, the 12 months ran from 10 February 2024 to 10 February 2025. A pay rise in your last few weeks will not count.

What you would get: examples

With 2 to 5 years of PRSI, the payment is 50% for 26 weeks. Someone on €500 a week gets €250. Anyone on €600 or more gets the €300 cap.

There are no extra payments for a partner or children. If you have dependants, the Department suggests checking whether means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance would pay more, especially after 3 months on the pay-related rate.

Tax, PRSI credits and other rules

No tax is taken off at source, but the payment is taxable. The Department tells Revenue the amount, so you may owe income tax. You also get a credited PRSI contribution for each week, if you are under 66.

• A redundancy payment does not stop you getting it
• Apply within 6 weeks of losing your job, or you may lose some payment
• Leaving a job without good cause can mean no payment for up to 9 weeks
• A break of up to 13 weeks lets you pick up your claim where you left off
• Payment is made every Wednesday

Each week of pay-related benefit counts as 6 days of Jobseeker's Benefit. Time on a jobseeker's payment awarded after 31 March 2025 can shorten a new claim.

Coming off sick leave, maternity leave or part-time work

Some people move to this payment from another one. The rules are a little different for them.

• Illness Benefit: you can apply once you are fit for work, and your rate uses the highest of several earnings measures
• Maternity, Adoptive or Carer's Benefit in the last 13 weeks: you can claim when it ends
• Bereaved Partner's Pension or One-Parent Family Payment: you keep it and get the difference if pay-related is higher
• Part-time, casual, seasonal or school-year workers: you are directed to Jobseeker's Benefit instead
• Self-employed: you may qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed

Now the main jobseeker's benefit

Over the same year, the number on the pay-related payment rose by 7,828. It now has almost four times as many people as the flat-rate benefit.

Budget 2027: what changes

Budget 2027 raises the flat-rate Jobseeker's Benefit by €10 to €264 a week from January 2027. The increase for a qualified adult rises from €168.60 to €175.20.

The Department of Social Protection's Budget 2027 documents list no change to the pay-related percentages or the €450, €375 and €300 caps. The Government's spending plan for 2027 refers to around 33,000 people on the payment.