Q 1:  I currently live in Ireland and receive Irish Job Seekers Benefit.  I am moving to Northern Ireland in order to look for work.  Can I continue to receive this benefit when I move to Northern Ireland and are there any steps I need to take in order to do so?

A:  Yes you can continue to receive Jobseekers Benefit, but only for a limited time.

A person in receipt of Irish Jobseekers Benefit for at least 4 weeks may transfer the Jobseekers Benefit claim to a country covered by EC Regulations for up to 3 months (78 Days) if the person is looking for work.  You must apply via your Social Welfare Office prior to moving and you must register as a jobseeker with the social security authorities in the other country within 7 days of your departure from Ireland.

The 13-week period of payment may be extended to 6 months in exceptional circumstances. Also you may now transfer your benefit more than once while you are unemployed provided you do not exceed the maximum period of 13 weeks (6 months if extended). If you do not find work, you must return to the first country within 3 months, otherwise you will lose your right to unemployment benefit.  [Last checked November 2021]

Q 2.   Can a person living in the South and claiming Jobseekers benefit take up part-time work in Northern Ireland and continue to claim Jobseekers benefit in the South?

A.    YES.  But it is essential to get confirmation from your local welfare office in advance of taking the job in Northern Ireland.  Please refer them to the following: EU Recommendation No U1 of 12 June 2009  – “Where persons residing in the territory of a Member State are eligible, under the legislation applicable to them, to receive unemployment benefits, they should be allowed to pursue a part-time professional or trade activity in the territory of another Member State, while retaining entitlement to unemployment benefits provided by the State in which they reside.”

If issues arise about payment of National Insurance in the North it can be sorted out by the Special Collections Section which is based in Waterford. The office will forward a form on which you should cite the above EU recommendation.  The Special Collections Section will then consult with the Northern Ireland authorities and issue a certificate to the effect that the person remains subject to Irish legislation.  Further information is available on the Department website [Last checked November 2021]

Q3:  I was a cross-border worker but my employer has recently closed down so I am unemployed. Where do I claim unemployment benefit, north or south? 

With regards to claiming job seeker benefits there are special rules for frontier workers:

• Frontier workers who are wholly/fully unemployed (e.g. made completely redundant) receive unemployment benefit in the state in which they live.
• Frontier workers who are partially or intermittently out of work (e.g. reduced working hours or temporary layoff) receive unemployment benefit in the state where they were last employed.

Under aggregation rules previous Social Insurance contributions paid across the border (PRSI or National Insurance) can be combined to help the person qualify for unemployment benefits. However, if they still do not have sufficient contributions paid, they will be subject to a means-test and may qualify for a means-test benefit instead e.g. Irish Jobseeker Allowance or UK Universal Credit  [Last checked: May 2023]

Please use this information as general guidance only.
Cross-border  issues can be complex and every situation is different. A quick conversation with a trained citizens advisor or financial advisor can keep you on the right path.