Invalidity pension to be extended to self-employed workers

The invalidity pension scheme will be extended to self-employed workers for the first time from 1 December, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has announced.

People who work for themselves and pay PRSI at Class S will have the option of applying for invalidity pension on a similar basis to those who are employees, giving them access to State income supports if they have a serious illness or injury that prevents them from working without having to go through a means test.

It will also be open to self-employed people who are currently out of work through illness to claim the invalidity pension if they have the relevant PRSI contributions on their social insurance record.

Ms Doherty said: “These measures are part of the Government’s policy of making work pay and encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship.

“It is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed and it is in line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government for an improved PRSI scheme for the self-employed.”