Two employees from the same construction firm in Monaghan are laid off; one lives in Monaghan, the other in Fermanagh. They want to know where to claim benefits.

When a frontier worker is made completely unemployed (there is no contract of employment in place) they should claim unemployment payments where they live.

Employee resident in Monaghan –  will claim Irish Jobseekers Benefit.

Employee resident in Fermanagh – will claim New Style Jobseekers Allowance in NI.

Both payments are based on social insurance contributions, and are not means-tested so a partner’s income or saving won’t affect how much is paid.

When making the application the person resident in Fermanagh should request that their record of Irish social insurance contributions (PRSI) is transferred to NI to help them qualify.

Page last checked: March 2023