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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Question:

218 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on whether it is fair that people who were previously self-employed who claim unemployment assistance are assessed on a notional weekly means of income based on earnings for the previous year, considering that earnings in the previous year are already spent and, therefore, are not actual disposable income or means; and if a more equitable system can be introduced which would access actual current day means, including savings and so on. [7011/02]

Where a person who was formerly self-employed makes a claim for unemployment assistance, and a deciding officer of my Department is satisfied that the self-employment has ceased, any income which accrued to that person in the past from that self-employment is not assessed as means. Where a person either makes a claim to or is in receipt of unemployment assistance and that person continues to be engaged in self-employment, the deciding officer, in the absence of any other means of ascertaining it, will assess the net income received in the past year.

Income from self-employment can vary from week to week and the current arrangements avoid the necessity to continuously recalculate means because means are assessed by reference to income over a full year. I am satisfied that these arrangements are a fair and reasonable method of estimating income from self-employment for the purposes of unemployment assistance. However, if there is a change in the person's position which is likely to have an ongoing effect on the amount earned from self-employment, this matter should be brought to the attention of the deciding officer or, alternatively, if the person is already in receipt of unemployment assistance, a review of means should be sought. I would also like to point out that a person may appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office if he or she is dissatisfied with any decision of a deciding officer.

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