Jobseeker's Benefit Query

At least 104 weeks PRSI paid since you first started work
And
Have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (a minimum of 13 weeks must be paid contributions*)
Or
Have 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
*If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, you must have the 13 contributions paid in any of one the following years:
LINE 10: The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year
The last complete tax year
The current tax year.
The Relevant Tax Year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which your claim is made. So, for claims made in 2010, the Relevant Tax Year is 2008.

The above is an extract from WELFARE.IE on the matter of claiming Jobseeker's Benefit.
My question is: Does Line 10 refer to BOTH of the tax years before the relevent tax year?

My situation is that I have 52 paid contributions for each year up to and including 2008 and have credits from an Illness Benefit claim since then, If I make a JB claim in 2011, what is my position?
Would I be better off making the claim in 2010?

Many Thanks for any comments.....

This from ,my keypost might make it clearer; substitute 2011 for 2010 will add on a year to each calculation (i.e. 2008 will become 2009 where its quoted):~

First of all, you must have 2 years PRSI paid: 104 weeks contributions. Then, you must have at least 39 weeks paid and/or credited in the governing year; in 2010 this is 2008. For every week that you work you get a 'paid' contribution. If you don't have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, you must have the 13 contributions paid in any of one the following years:

• The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year (2006 and 2007)
• The last complete tax year (2009) or
• The current tax year. (2010)

For every week you claim a Social Welfare payment you get a 'credited contribution'. You must also be looking for full-time employment, as well as being capable of and available to work to claim Jobseeker's.

Another way of qualifying is if you have 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year (this year 2008) and 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year (2007).

So, just to confirm, the comment above:
The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year (2006 and 2007)
refers to 13 paid contributions in 2006 and 13 paid contributions in 2007 - correct?
Thanks.....

Macbeth said:

So, just to confirm, the comment above:
The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year (2006 and 2007)
refers to 13 paid contributions in 2006 and 13 paid contributions in 2007 - correct?
Thanks.....

Click to expand...

Yes, Macbeth. In your case you would have to have 13 paid in both 2007 and 2008 to claim in 2011.