The Department provides a range of income supports for both employees and self-employed people who lose their employment.
Employees who are fully unemployed or working up to 3 days per week may receive Jobseeker's Benefit provided that they satisfy the qualifying conditions, including having the necessary social insurance contributions.
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) is a social insurance contribution-based income support payment for qualifying self-employed people who have fully ceased self-employment. Many of the features of this benefit scheme are similar to Jobseeker's Benefit while recognising the fundamental differences in the types of employment.
A person in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) can work up for 3 days as an employee in insurable employment and retain their entitlement to the support, in line with that available under the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme.
Where a self-employed person is operating their business at reduced levels and does not meet the conditions for Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) they may receive support under the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance provided that they satisfy the conditions of that scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position around the supports available.