Personal weekly rates
Age 25 and over
€232.00 per week (maximum, before means assessment)
Age 18–24, living independently
€232.00 per week — you qualify for the full adult rate if you live independently, have dependants, or previously received JA at the full rate
Age 18–24, living with parents
€129.70 per week — reduced rate applies if you live in the family home and have no dependants
Increases for dependants
Qualified adult (spouse or partner)
€154.00 per week — only applies if your partner has no income or very low income. Your partner's income is assessed and the increase tapers off as their income rises.
Qualified child — full rate
€46.00 per week per child — applies when the child lives with you and you are the main claimant
Qualified child — half rate
€23.00 per week per child — applies in shared custody or where the child also qualifies under another payment
How means reduce your payment
The means test calculates your weekly means from all sources. The DSP deducts your assessed weekly means from the maximum rate to arrive at your actual weekly payment. If your means equal or exceed the maximum rate, you receive nothing — but you remain on the live register and your PRSI record continues.
More Jobseeker's Allowance guides
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