Burton considers allowing self-employed to claim unemployment benefits

Self-employed people may soon be able to claim unemployment benefits under proposals being examined by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.

Minister Burton has ordered a review of the Social Insurance Fund to see whether self-employed people could get dole payments when they are out of work.

The Sunday Times has reported that the Minister is examining if this can be achieved by increasing the PRSI contributions of self-employed workers, which are significantly less than those of PAYE workers.