Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot use their homemaker credits. [34253/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 28 September 2020. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 02 November 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

This decision was based on the medical conditions for the scheme and not related to homemaker credits.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reckon Covid-19 payments to the self-employed as credits for social welfare purposes; if so, when this will happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34358/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A self-employed contributor has nine months following the end of the contribution year, or from the day in the contribution year in which he or she ceases to be such a contributor, to remit and pay his or her social insurance liability for that contribution year. Where the social insurance liability is paid in full in respect to a contribution year, 52 contributions weeks at the self-employed rate will be regarded as having been paid for that contribution year.

I made provision in the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, with the consent of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and having considered certain matters specified in the Act including the potential impact of Covid-19 on the entitlements of employed and self-employed contributors, to allow me to prescribe by regulation the number of self-employment contributions to be attributed to a self-employed contributor in respect of any contribution week commencing on or after 13 March 2020.

As social insurance contributions in respect of the 2020 contribution year are not due to be paid by self-employed contributors until September 2021, any regulation necessary in this regard will be considered closer to that time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.