Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
92. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who claimed jobseeker's benefit for self-employed and exhausted that benefit, is treated differently from a person who claimed jobseeker's benefit and exhausted that benefit when applying for the benefit for 65 year-olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7803/24]
View answerThe Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds, provided for under the Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) schemes was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at age 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66.
To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the relevant scheme including the PRSI social insurance contribution requirements. The application of PRSI towards self-employment differs from that under PAYE employment. In recognition of that difference, if a self-employed individual is liable to a compulsory PRSI payment, they are awarded the full annual complement of 52 Class S contributions.
The re-qualifying conditions for the Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) requires that a person has qualifying contributions in respect of 52 self-employment contribution weeks since the last week for which he or she was entitled to that benefit, and that a minimum of 12 months has elapsed since the last week for which he or she was entitled to that benefit.
A person that does not meet the conditions for Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds may be eligible for the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.
I trust that clarifies the position for the Deputy.
