Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports in place for self-employed persons that have to stop work due to illness for a number of weeks or months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26859/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which covers them for access to long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as some treatment benefits, maternity and paternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory).

Self-employed contributors have been covered for invalidity pension since December 2017. This gives the self-employed access to a safety-net of income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of a long-term illness or disability without a means test.

Class S contributions do not provide access to short-term social insurance benefits such as illness benefit.However, the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.