Hard Times for the Self‑employed : Citizens Information and MABS Experience

Abstract

This Citizens Information Board (CIB) social policy report, Hard Times for the Self-employed: Citizens Information and MABS Experience, sets out a range of factors relevant to social insurance provision for self‑employed people arising out of the experience of CIB delivery partners - Citizens Information Services, the Citizens Information Phone Service and Money Advice and Budgeting Services. The report contains a number of proposals which would enable the Irish social welfare system to better accommodate the current difficulties being faced by self‑employed people and the emerging scenario where many more people will at some point in their working lives be self‑employed either as sole traders or as small family businesses with employees. The proposals are based on the premise that all people should have broadly similar levels of protection under the social insurance system and should be able to avail of whatever other relevant income supports and employment activation supports that are available from the State.