Employed then Self-employed Benefits

[jayb]

Hi just wondering if someone could shine some light on something for me.

Not sure if this or the askabout business forum is correct so mods please move as needed.

Currently I am working a full-time contract that will finish in September.
I am considering starting a small business selling merchandise to the likes of gift shops,
I am hoping it will make enough money to keep it going but I wont have a proper idea if it is viable long term until the end of the year.

What I'm asking is if I set up the business and keep it going until November or December when my contract runs out in September and my only income is from my sole trader business if the business doesn't pan out will I have lost any entitlements to any kind of welfare as my last employment was as a sole trader.

 

[Ildánach]

If you have been self-employed for the last number of years, it is unlikely that you have the PRSI stamps to be eligible for any benefit payment to lose (although you will of course have access to means tested allowance payments, such as jobseekers allowance, which everyone habitually resident in the State has).

You will only be able to keep any entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance if you are available for and seeking full time work. If you work even one hour in a day (as employed or as self-employed) then you are considered employed on that day. If you are employed more than 3 days in any 6 consecutive days (they don't count sundays), you are not entitled to any Jobseekers payment.

If you are working 30 hours a week or more, then you will also not be eligible for any assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (eg, rent supplement)

 

[Mrs Vimes]

You will only be able to keep any entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance if you are available for and seeking full time work. If you work even one hour in a day (as employed or as self-employed) then you are considered employed on that day. If you are employed more than 3 days in any 6 consecutive days (they don't count sundays), you are not entitled to any Jobseekers payment.

This is not correct. If a self-employed person is unable to earn enough to support themselves and meets the means test criteria then the hours they are working for are not relevant to the claim.