Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
70. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional supports accessible for self-employed persons following budget 2020; when they will be fully implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43629/19]
View answerIn Budget 2020, I again increased the income disregard for the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker Transition Payment. This will increase to €165 per week in January and includes profit from self-employment. In addition, I increased the hours that carers can study or work – including self-employment - outside the home from 15 hours to 18 and a half hours per week.
The Social Welfare Bill 2019 introduces legislation for a new statutory scheme of Jobseekers Benefit (Self-Employed). This scheme will be introduced in November and will be payable to individuals who lose their self-employment and have the required number of social insurance contributions. Those who do not have sufficient contributions and who are operating businesses at low levels of income can continue to access the means tested Jobseekers Allowance scheme if they satisfy the conditions.
A new scheme of Parent's Benefit is also being introduced this November 2019. Parent’s benefit is payable for two weeks parent’s leave to each parent of a child, age under 1 year, on parental leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). The benefit payment is available to employees and the self-employed.
These measures are part of the Government's stated aim of creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurship, including providing an income safety net to employees and self-employed people. These supports build on other significant improvements for self-employed people in recent years such as access to invalidity pension and treatment benefits in 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
