COVID 19 – Supports for frontier workers
**COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is only paid to workers living in the Republic of Ireland. It is not available to NI residents.
Partially or intermittently unemployed
(Reg 883/2004, article 65) EU rules state that frontier workers who are made partially or intermittently unemployed should seek support from their country of employment. This usually refers to people who still have a contact of employment but may, for example, have had their working hours reduced.
- Live north – work south (reduced working hours)>> more info on Short Time Work Support
- Live north – work south (temp layoff, you’ll need a letter from your employer) >> more info on Jobseekers Benefits (based on your PRSI and National Insurance contributions)
- Live south – work north (reduced working hours) >> more info on NI Social Security for jobseekers Please note that claims for Universal Credit cannot be opened for cross-border workers living in the south, you may instead be required to open a claim for UK Tax Credits.
Wholly / Completely unemployed
If your employment has completely ended the same EU rules state you should claim unemployment benefit in your country of residence:
- Live north – work south (now completely unemployed) >> more info on New Style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance
If a frontier worker living in N.I but who works in RoI becomes unemployed, they should register with the employment services (Jobs and Benefit offices) and claim unemployment benefits in their country of residence – N.I. in this case. Information about contributions paid in RoI will be exchanged between NI/RoI institutions. They can also register with the employment service in RoI if they want to look for work there, but their unemployment benefit will be paid by NI.
If the person lives N.I. they can claim both new style JSA and Universal Credit, but any new style JSA would be taken into account for UC purpose
- Live south – work north (now completely unemployed) >> more info on COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Please note this a temporary, emergency payment and in the long term you may need to apply for Job seekers benefit
Illness payments
If you are self isolating or are too ill to go to work under EU rules illness benefits will be paid by your country of employment:
- Live north – work south >> more info on COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit
- Live south – work north >> more info on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Employer schemes
Employers may also seek support to subsidise their wage bill.
These schemes are particularly important for frontier workers, as it may be the only way to protect a significant portion of your salary. Please ask your employer if they are using the relevant scheme.
More info from Government Departments:
North – Department for Communities
South – Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
