I propose to take Questions Nos. 895, 896 and 897 together.
People with a disability who are self-employed, or considering self-employment, cannot avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS). This provision also applies to directors of limited companies who work as paid employees in their company. The WSS is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. The incentive is intended to encourage employers to take on new employees and the scheme provides financial incentives to employers to hire new staff with a disability for between 21 and 39 subsidised hours per week under a contract of employment. The employee must be subject to and have the same rights as per the conditions of employment as any of their other employees. These conditions include the payment of Class A PRSI contributions. As the WSS is a demand-led scheme, there is no way of predicting with any degree of accuracy the increased costs resulting from permitting those who are self-employed to avail of the schemes.
However, my Department provides a wide range of employment-related supports for persons with disabilities seeking to enter self-employment.
Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension.
The Disability Allowance and Blind Pension schemes are structured to support persons with a disability to achieve their employment ambitions - either in self-employment or as an employee.
Where a person in receipt of either payment commences employment or self-employment the first €140 of weekly earnings will be disregarded in the means test associated with the payment, while only half of earnings between €140 and €350 are assessed.
Resulting from a measure in Budget 2021, as of this month (June) the earnings disregards for both schemes increased by €20, from ?120 to €140 per week.
Invalidity Pension and Illness Benefit.
Persons in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) and who wish to enter or re-enter employment or self-employment can apply for the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme.
The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction, regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and their current rate of payment. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100%, respectively.
There is no restriction on the number of hours that can be worked or on the amount that can be earned from employment for persons availing of the scheme.
A person who participates on the scheme may return to an Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment if, for example, the employment ceases or if the person cannot continue to work.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. This includes persons in receipt of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension.
A person who avails of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme retains a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years. They receive support through their DSP Intreo Case Officer, who will refer them to their Local Development Company who assists them in discussing options and to explore the viability of their business idea.
Once accepted onto the scheme the person retains 100% of their original payment in year one and 75% year two.
Reasonable Accommodations and Self Employment
The Departments Reasonable Accommodation Fund includes, the Workplace Equipment / Adaptation Grant (WEAG):
Where a person with a disability is self-employed and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment they can apply for a grant towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment.
A grant of up to €6,350 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment.
It is important to note that applications from persons who are self employed in excess of this sum may be considered on an individual basis, up to a maximum of €9,523, if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
