Unemployed after self-employment - status?

PetraMac

Hi, I am self-employed but have had no work for several months. I haven't applied for any benefits yet as 1) I was hoping that more work would come in, and 2) I think it might be a waste of time as my partner's income is over the means test limit for Jobseeker's Allowance.
If I am not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance, so be it, but what I am trying to find out is, what is my exact status in the "system" now?
I am effectively unemployed, but if I am not entitled to JA, I cannot register with FAS or JobBridge.
I think I am stuck in some kind of limbo but it is very hard to figure it out from citizensinformation.ie. Even my local social welfare office doesn't seem to know.
Any information / suggestions would be much appreciated.

STAR2011

You don't exist! We are in the same boat, my husband was self employed and is entitled to nothing because I earn just above the max rate for him to qualify! Therefore, he gets no payment, therefore he is not entitled to partciapte in any FAS/Training scheme and can't even sign on for credits or future pension payments. The only record of him is that I claim his tax credits! I often wonder how many more people are "actually" unemployed but there is no record of them for this reason!
Apply for JS anyway, we were just above the limit! Good luck

Lugh Ildanach

You CAN register with FAS, but you may have to pay for any courses that are on offer. You can also register with your Local Employment Services offices, they can provide great support in finding employment or identifying training or education opportunities that are out there (although again there's little funding support there).

As far as pension entitlement is concerned, you can make voluntary contributions (about 250 Euro a year) to ensure that your pension entitlement is not adversely affected.

STAR2011

Lugh Ildanach wrote: »

You CAN register with FAS, but you may have to pay for any courses that are on offer. You can also register with your Local Employment Services offices, they can provide great support in finding employment or identifying training or education opportunities that are out there (although again there's little funding support there).

As far as pension entitlement is concerned, you can make voluntary contributions (about 250 Euro a year) to ensure that your pension entitlement is not adversely affected.

Yes, you can register with FAS and pay to do a FAS course which nobody in their sane mind would do, what local Employment Service are you referring to?
I am very curious as to the pension entitlement which won't be adversely effected??? Self - employed people are not entitled to a social welfare pension, it will be means tested, so if your partner is working you will get zero! That is what we have been told.

mp22

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Topics/PRSI/Pages/selfemployed.aspx

STAR2011

To become a voluntary contributor after self-employment, you must:

have worked and paid PRSI for at least 260 weeks,
and
apply within 12 months after the end of the tax year during which you last paid PRSI.
For more details about the Voluntary Contribution Scheme see voluntary contributions or information booklet or contact:

Voluntary Contributions Section
Social Welfare Services Office
Cork Road
Waterford.

Tel: Waterford (051) 356000 Dublin (01) 704 3000

Thanks for the link but it really just confirms what we already knew! The Voluntary contributions scheme is very restrictive.
In my case my husband has never been employed in Ireland. He worked abroad for years and has been self employed in Ireland for the last 20 years and is entitled to absolutely no assistance from the state!
I wonder are there any figures compiled for the amount of people in this situation?

Tazz T

The government's attitude to the self-employed and entrepreneurs is appalling. People who have actually created employment for other people are discriminated against when it comes to welfare if their business goes under. While the people they employed get benefit, the entrepreneur gets nothing. There is no motivation for anyone to try to start out on their own. Why would you take the risk if it negates your entitlement to benefit?

No wonder we're in this mess. The powers that be should be putting the money from the jobbridge scheme into people who want to start-up their own business rather than giving it to rich companies like Tesco to 'employ' people for no wages.

mp22

This is not the forum to discuss the policies of the government.sorry.

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