Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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860. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that the flexibility for casual work which is available to jobseekers applying for jobseeker’s benefit is not also made available to jobseekers who are applying for jobseeker's benefit self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63630/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department provides a range of income supports for both employees and self-employed people who lose their employment.

Employees who are fully unemployed or working up to 3 days per week may receive Jobseeker's Benefit provided that they satisfy the qualifying conditions, including having the necessary social insurance contributions.

Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) is a social insurance contribution-based income support payment for qualifying self-employed people who have fully ceased self-employment.  Many of the features of this benefit scheme are similar to Jobseeker's Benefit while recognising the fundamental differences in the types of employment.

A person in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) can work up for 3 days as an employee in insurable employment and retain their entitlement to the support, in line with that available under the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme.

Where a self-employed person is operating their business at reduced levels and does not meet the conditions for Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) they may receive support under the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance provided that they satisfy the conditions of that scheme.

I trust that this clarifies the position around the supports available.