Eligibility Criteria for Job-seekers

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You are eligible to attend Skillnets courses as a job-seeker if you are in one of the following categories:

Category 1 - On the Live Register

Individuals registered with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and who are in receipt of Job-seekers Allowance (JA) or Job-seekers Benefit (JB). This applies to individuals who are full time unemployed and seasonal/casual/part-time/short-time workers.

Category 2 - Other Payment Recipients

Individuals in receipt of the following payments are eligible:

  • Disability Allowance
  • Blind Pension
  • Invalidity Pension
  • Illness Benefit
  • Lone Parents Allowance
  • Farm Assist
  • Back to Work Allowance (Scheme closed to new applicants - May 2009)
  • Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Category 3 - No Social Welfare Payments

Individuals who are not in receipt of any social welfare payments:

  • Former sole traders and small business owners
  • Recent graduates who are unemployed
  • Individuals who don’t qualify for social welfare payment because of their spouse’s income
  • Individuals, including former semi-state employees, signing on for credits but in receipt of no social welfare payment
  • Individuals who have accepted redundancy payments

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive, and is based on feedback provided by networks to Skillnets. If your personal circumstances are not covered by the Category 3 list you should contact Skillnets to confirm eligibility.

Please note that full-time students engaged in second and third-level education are ineligible to participate in Skillnets training.

For more detailed information on eligibility criteria please click here.