Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2020

Thursday, 16 July 2020

Ceisteanna (133, 134)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact self-employed persons have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203 on the basis of 2018 tax returns; if she will allow 2019 tax returns to be examined and the higher rate of the two be paid in view the unique difficulties faced by the self-employed at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16419/20]

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

134. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the self-employed are having their 2018 tax returns examined in order to determine their rates under the pandemic unemployment payment rather than 2019 tax returns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16420/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.

Where a person is self-employed their average weekly income for 2018 was used to determine their rate of payment for the pandemic unemployment payment. This is the last tax year for which complete data on self-employed income is available. The submission deadline for self-employment returns for 2019 is October or November 2020.

Any person who feels that the assessment of their earnings, based on returns already submitted to Revenue, is inaccurate can ask for a review of their case with further details available on www.gov.ie.

I trust that this clarifies the position.