Carers can claim unemployment benefits if they are able to demonstrate that they are fit for work and available for work on the open market, which essentially means that you must be prepared to accept full-time employment.
If you are a carer and you become unemployed or are laid off, it is important that you sign up as a jobseeker with your local TE Office as soon as possible. Remember to tell the TE Office that you are a designated carer for a relative so that the TE Office can make an assessment as to whether your carer status affects your eligibility for unemployment benefits. Carers can claim an earnings-related daily allowance if they are able to demonstrate that they are available for work on the open market, which essentially means that you must be prepared to accept full-time employment.
The right to unemployment security and unemployment benefits is determined in accordance with the Unemployment Security Act, which means that as long as you qualify for unemployment benefits, the amount of your earnings-related daily allowance will not be affected by your carer’s allowance.
You can claim unemployment benefits if you are available for work on the open market
Being prepared to accept full-time employment is an absolute prerequisite for receiving unemployment benefits, and this rule also applies to carers. Carers must be able to demonstrate their availability for work on the open market to qualify for unemployment benefits. Carers whose relative requires around-the-clock or full-time care are generally not considered to be able to accept full-time employment.
It is up to the claimant to explain to their TE Office how their relative’s care would be arranged while the carer goes to work. The extent of the relative’s dependence on the carer and how their care would be arranged while the carer goes to work must be explained in detail in the care and service plan that accompanies the carer’s agreement with the wellbeing services county.
If the TE Office is satisfied that the claimant qualifies for unemployment benefits, the claim will be approved and the amount of the earnings-related daily allowance will not be affected by the claimant’s carer’s allowance. Claiming unemployment benefits is not an obstacle to receiving the full carer’s allowance.
Read also:
Frequently asked questions about earnings-related daily allowance
