Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
488. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of on-course bookmakers for existing support packages in view of the fact they have been unable to trade since the advent of the pandemic due to the ban on attendance of racegoers at tracks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34540/20]
View answer489. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an item was passed in budget 2021 that allows taxi drivers to earn an amount of money while in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [34606/20]
View answer536. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to the self-employed who have been forced to cease trading in order to comply with restrictions in which they have no full-year tax returns as they are newly self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35387/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489 and 536 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme is an income support measure that has been introduced for employees and the self-employed who have lost employment as a consequence of Covid-19 .
The recent Budget provided that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a rolling four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses. This measure is already in place. A self-employed person does not need to seek approval from the Department and they do not need to report these earnings to the Department on a regular basis. They do need to keep a record of all income for the period.
Where a self-employed person exceeds this threshold and works up to 24 hours per week they may be eligible for support under the Part Time Job Incentive scheme which, as part of Budget 2021, has been extended to the self-employed who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The weekly rate of payment for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment payment is €128.60. Details of the scheme and the application process are available at Gov.ie.
A person also has the option of applying for means tested jobseeker's allowance where they are engaged in regular employment depending on their individual circumstances. The maximum weekly personal rate is €203 and increases may be paid for qualifying adults and children.
A self-employed person may also be eligible for support under my Department’s COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant which provides support of up to €1,000 with business re-start costs where a person transitions from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment back into employment. Further information on these supports are available on www.gov.ie
Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims from self-employed people who have closed their business and apply for the support are checked against 2018 and 2019 Revenue returns. If a person has made a return for either of those two years they receive a payment based on the greater of the two. Where a person is newly self-employed, evidence of registration with the Revenue Commissioners will be accepted.
I hope this clarifies the position.
