Changes to the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (Announced 5 June 2020)

Source: www.gov.ie

Summary of Changes 

• Extending the availability of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from 9th June until Phase 5 of the Roadmap for Re-opening Society and Business (currently scheduled to begin on 10th August)
• The introduction, from Phase 3 of the Roadmap (29th June), of a two level payment structure to link the Pandemic Unemployment Payment level to prior earnings
• The extension, until Phase 5 of the Roadmap, of the waiver of waiting days on jobseekers payments and the increased rate of payment for Qualified Adults on jobseeker claims
• The extension, until Phase 5 of the Roadmap, of the current arrangements with respect to the waiver of waiting days and the payment of an enhanced rate of Illness Benefit to people affected by Covid-19.

Changes in Full

The Government has announced the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at a flat rate of €350 per week until Phase 3 of the Roadmap (June 29).

From Phase 3 of the Roadmap (June 29) the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at two rates, aligned to prior earnings:

• For those whose prior employment earnings were €200 per week or higher (about 75% of recipients), the rate will remain at €350 per week;
• For those whose prior employment earnings were up to €199.99 per week (about 25% of recipients), the rate will be €203 per week - the primary rate of payment of the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme

This change to the rates of payment will take effect from June 29. For those who will receive the €203 rate this will be visible in your payment on Tuesday July 7.

No person on the lower rate of payment will receive less on PUP than they were previously paid by their employer.

Payment is made by electronic transfer (for example, into your bank or credit union account) and only into accounts held in Irish financial institutions. Those applying on or after 8th April can also choose to collect their payment in a post office. 

They can nominate their local post office when applying online and they will need to bring a form of ID with them when collecting their payment at the post office. Payments will be made into a bank/credit union account or to a nominated post office every Tuesday once an application is processed.

If you were working and were also in receipt of any social welfare payment such as a Carer's Payment, Working Family Payment (WFP) or One-Parent Family Payment, you can, provided you have lost your job due to COVID-19, also claim the COVID-19 emergency payment, in addition to retaining your existing welfare payment. The COVID-19 Payment Unemployment Payment will replace your employment income and will be regarded by the department as equivalent to employment income.

If you have one adult and one or more dependant children you should claim a Jobseeker's Payment instead of the COVID-19 Pandemic Payment.

This is because you can claim an additional allowance for your adult dependant and child dependants, which will bring your weekly payment to in excess of the €350 weekly payment due under the emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.