Checklist when applying for Jobseeker's Allowance

Introduction

When you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance you must bring certain documents.

If you lose your job or are made redundant

If you lose your job or are made redundant you should bring your P45 or a letter from your employer confirming the last day you worked.

If you don’t have your P45 or a letter from your employer you should still apply. However, it is important to bring either your P45 or a letter from your employer as soon as possible to your Social Welfare Local Office.

If you have difficulty getting your P45 from your employer tell the member of staff dealing with your claim at your Social Welfare Local Office (see ‘If you don’t have your P45’ below).

If you are laid off

If you are laid off temporarily, you may or may not get a P45. If you don’t have a P45 you must bring a letter from your employer stating the following:

• You have been laid off work without pay
• The last day you worked
• The reason for the lay off
• How long he or she expects you will be laid off.

If your days of work are reduced

If your days of work are reduced you must bring a letter from you employer stating the following:

• Your days at work have been reduced on a temporary basis
• The number of days you worked each week
• The number of days you now work each week
• The reduction in your pay.

You also need to bring the following documents or information:

• Your Personal Public Service Number
• Details of your availability for work and any efforts you have made to get work. For example, letters you have written to employers and any responses you have received
• Details of your income
• Details of your spouse/partner's income (if any)
• Details of your dependent children
• Proof of your identity (see below for more information)
• Proof of address (see below for more information).

Evidence of identity

You can provide evidence of your identity by showing your passport or your driver's licence.

If you do not have either a passport or driver’s licence, you should bring any other document that you may have, particularly one that has your photograph on it.

The following documents may also be acceptable: credit card, debit card, medical card, age ID card, work ID card, club membership card.

The following items are not accepted as proof of identity:

• Birth or Baptismal certificates
• Bills or personal letters

A claim cannot be decided until identity has been proven.

Evidence of address

You may be asked to show evidence of your address. You should bring any of the following documents:

• Recent bills from utility companies such as electricity, telephone (landline or mobile), gas, cable television, waste charges etc.
• Recent statements/letters from banks, building societies, credit unions, credit card companies or other financial institutions
• Recent letters addressed to you from insurance companies, local authorities, government departments or the Revenue Commissioners
• Local authority rent book, mortgage or leasing agreement.

Note: a recent document is one issued within the last 2 months. All documents must be originals, not photocopies.

If there is doubt about your address, the Jobseeker's Allowance claim is not awarded for payment until your address is verified.

If you don’t have your P45

If you don’t have your P45 you should still apply for your Jobseeker’s Allowance.

If you lose your job and your employer does not issue you with a P45, it may be because you have not been registered for PRSI by your employer. It also could be that you have been registered but your employer has not paid the PRSI contributions which are due or has not paid the correct amount. Under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 the employer is obliged to register all employees for PRSI. More information can be found about your Employer's duty to pay social insurance.

Jobseeker’s payment without a P45

If your former employer refuses to give you a P45 you should still apply for your Jobseeker’s Allowance.

If you do not have a P45, the Department may informally contact you employer when you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance and ask him or her to send you a P45 to help process your claim.

If this hasn't resulted in your former employer giving you your P45, you can ask to fill-in form IA49 at your local Social Welfare Office.

Form IA49 is a declaration stating that you believe your former employer did not comply with social insurance regulations. As a result of your declaration, there will be an investigation into your employer's payment of PRSI. Filling in form IA49 may not result in your P45, however, it may help to determine if you qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance.

Other ways to get your P45

If you are not given a P45 when you leave your job you should first ask your employer for it. If the employer does not supply it you should contact the tax office.

If you contact your tax office, Revenue will contact the employer and obtain your P45 for you. If you have not been given your P45 and you think that your PRSI contributions have not been paid you should inform your local social welfare inspector by contacting your Social Welfare Local Office or the Scope section of the Department of Social Protection.