Welfare Rights Information

This section of the web-site contains the information a person who is self employed needs on their welfare rights entitlements once they become unemployed. Included is information on PRSI, the various entitlements related to PRSI and what supports are available.

Deregistering as Self-employed

If you have been self-employed and your business has had to close down or if the business has reduced so much that it no longer provides you with a sufficient income you may qualify for a Jobseekers Allowance payment.

Please note: You do not need to de-register as self-employed to get a social welfare payment.

PRSI

Most self-employed people pay Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. If a self-employed person is aged between 16 and 66 and earns over €3174 per year, they will pay a PRSI S Contrubution.

The S contribution (or stamp as it is often referred to) entitles a person to the following:

The PRSI S stamp or contribution does not entitle a person to Jobseekers Benefit. A Self Employed person can apply for Jobseekers Allowance which is a means tested payment.


Voluntary Contributions to maintain entitlements

If a Self Employed person's income falls below €3174 per annum and they are under 66, they can apply to become a voluntary contributor providing that they have worked and paid PRSI for at least 260 weeks and apply within 12 months after the tax year in which thay paid less than €3174.00