Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
170. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reckon Covid-19 payments to the self-employed as credits for social welfare purposes; if so, when this will happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34358/20]
View answerA self-employed contributor has nine months following the end of the contribution year, or from the day in the contribution year in which he or she ceases to be such a contributor, to remit and pay his or her social insurance liability for that contribution year. Where the social insurance liability is paid in full in respect to a contribution year, 52 contributions weeks at the self-employed rate will be regarded as having been paid for that contribution year.
I made provision in the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, with the consent of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and having considered certain matters specified in the Act including the potential impact of Covid-19 on the entitlements of employed and self-employed contributors, to allow me to prescribe by regulation the number of self-employment contributions to be attributed to a self-employed contributor in respect of any contribution week commencing on or after 13 March 2020.
As social insurance contributions in respect of the 2020 contribution year are not due to be paid by self-employed contributors until September 2021, any regulation necessary in this regard will be considered closer to that time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
