Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
826. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when further details will be announced regarding the way in which self-employed persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment can earn up to €480 a month without having their payment impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32576/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra830. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the earnings threshold of €480 per month will be introduced for self-employed persons that are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment to allow same to take up occasional work opportunities and keep their payment. [33196/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra844. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the need to be on the PUP for 16 weeks before a person can qualify for the part-time job incentive scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32459/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 826, 830 and 844 together.
Budget 2021 introduced an earnings threshold of up to €480 over a rolling 4 week period for self- employed people who are in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The threshold amount is based on gross income minus trading expenses and before tax and PRSI are deducted. The measure was implemented with immediate effect and allows a self-employed individual to take up occasional work opportunities and still retain their payment.
The Part Time Job Incentive is an administrative scheme which allows people who are in receipt of long term Jobseekers Allowance to engage in part time insurable employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a special weekly income supplement. Under the scheme a jobseeker can apply for this support for at least 390 days. Budget 2021 has extended the Part Time Job Incentive scheme to the self-employed who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment payment. Under this scheme, a self-employed person receiving the Pandemic Unemployment, can engage in self-employment for up to 24 hours per week and retain a personal weekly rate of payment of €128.60. A qualifying period on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for eligibility for self employed recipients has been removed and this will facilitate immediate access to the scheme for the self-employed.
A self -employed person also has the option of applying for jobseekers allowance where they are trading at a reduced level and satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.
