• Just under 228,000 people receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, a decrease of over 16,000 on last week
• €67.2 million in PUP weekly payments to be paid into bank accounts this week
• Pandemic Unemployment Payment remains open for new applications up to and including 7th July
• €350 Special Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment extended to 8 February
• €1,000 Enterprise Support Grant available for self-employed people who close their PUP payment
• As restrictions are eased, people returning to work should close their claim on their first day back in work by logging on to www.MyWelfare.ie
• Public reminded about Scam Phone Calls and Scam Texts from callers claiming to be from the Department of Social Protection
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €67.2 million to 227,982 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
The number of recipients represents a decrease of 16,215 people compared to last week. The largest reduction, of over 7,000, was in the Accommodation and Food Services Sector.
The PUP figures published today are in addition to the 171,699 people who were on the Live Register at the end of May. All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments have been paid into recipients’ bank accounts or at their Post Office today, Tuesday, 29th June.
Also today, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys secured Government approval to extend the deadline for the closure of the PUP for new applicants until July 7th.
This extension was agreed in light of the decision to defer the July 5th re-opening of indoor hospitality.
It means people who have already returned to work to prepare for an anticipation of businesses re-opening next will not be disadvantaged.
Furthermore, Minister Humphreys also secured Government approval to extend the Special Covid-19 Illness Benefit – paid at €350 per week – until 8th February 2022.
This payment is available to people who are diagnosed with Covid-19 or who are a probable source of infection.
The extension will ensure that people do not feel it necessary to attend their workplace and risk spreading the virus.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“As a result of the decision to defer the planned re-opening of indoor hospitality, I today secured Cabinet approval to keep the Pandemic Unemployment Payment open to new entrants up to and including 7th July.
“This will give certainty to anyone who may have returned to work to prepare for re-opening next week in the likes of pubs and restaurants.
“Anyone who finds themselves in this position is encouraged to re-apply for the PUP via www.mywelfare.ie.
“The Cabinet also today agreed to extend the Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment of €350 per week until February of next year.
“This is an important payment that supports people who are diagnosed with Covid-19 or who are asked to remain away from work as a probable source of infection. It is important to make sure that people who are diagnosed as ill or who are required to self-isolate do not feel the need to attend the workplace.”
Further detail on the trends in claimants is set out in the Appendices.
Looking at the age cohort as set out in Appendix 3, the greatest decrease this week was in the under 25 age category with 52,231 receiving PUP compared with 58,441 last week.
Dublin is the county with the highest number of people who are receiving PUP this week at 82,529. It is followed by Cork (20,756) and Galway (12,296).
The sector with the highest number of people receiving PUP this week is Accommodation and Food Service activities (57,722), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (34,539) and Administrative and Support Service Activities (24,271).
The payment week for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment runs from Friday to Thursday and payments are paid on the following Tuesday. Individuals who have closed their PUP by Monday 28th June, as they have returned to work, will receive their final PUP payment on Tuesday 6th July.
PUP will now remain open to new entrants up to and including 7th July 2021.
**People returning to work**
The Department continues to remind workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on the actual date that they start back at work, in order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly and to avoid incurring an overpayment that the Department will take steps to recover.
As PUP is paid weekly in arrears 6,836 of these people are receiving a final payment this week and are still counted in the numbers in payment for this week.
The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via www.MyWelfare.ie. Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim can contact the Department’s dedicated Income Support Helpline at 1890 800 024 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
**Control Measures**
The Department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks on all PUP claims which include continuing eligibility checks. Subject to these checks being cleared the Department then processes payments based on the clients’ self-declaration.
The Department runs post payment checks that includes verifying data against Revenue records, examining cases where the same Bank account is used multiple times, examining cases where an employer or members of the public report concerns, and the use of data analytics to identify and check claims. It also undertakes employer inspections.
This work is undertaken by the Department’s Special Investigation Unit, which includes over 20 Gardaí on secondment to the Department.
As business re-opens the Department’s inspectors continue to conduct control reviews and matching records against employer payroll data from the Revenue Commissioners to help ensure people close their claim as they return to work. To avoid incurring an overpayment people returning to work should close their claim and can do so easily at www.MyWelfare.ie .
**Self-employed people and PUP**
Self-employed people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who are looking to maintain their business can earn up to €960 over an eight-week period, while retaining their full PUP entitlement.
There is no formal application process and a self-employed person simply needs to inform the Department if they earn over €960 in any eight-week period.
The €1,000 Enterprise Support Grant will remain in place for the rest of the year for self-employed people who close their PUP payment. Those who claimed the grant in 2020 but who found themselves back on PUP in 2021, will be able to access the grant for a second time.
**MyWelfare.ie – PPSN application service**
The easiest and quickest way to apply for many social welfare payments, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Enhanced Illness Benefit and Jobseekers’ payments is online at www.MyWelfare.ie. This is a platform which is safe, secure and accessible anytime, anywhere and on all devices. People have the option of applying for Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Child Benefit, PRSI refunds and Jobseekers’ payments as well as requesting a statement or a record of social insurance contributions from the Department.
The application service to apply for a PPS Number is available at www.MyWelfare.ie for people living in Ireland who are at least 18 years of age and need a PPS Number to avail of social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. To apply for a PPS Number online, a person will need to have a basic MyGovID account.
In the interests of the public health advice and observing social distancing people are asked, if possible, not to attend their local Intreo Centre. Instead, they should avail of the online services available through www.MyWelfare.ie.
**Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment**
The Covid-19 Enhanced illness Benefit scheme has been extended to February 2022.
Employees or self-employed people who contract the virus or who are medically certified by their doctor to self-isolate are advised to apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit. Unlike the standard Illness Benefit, the Enhanced Illness Benefit is paid from the first day of illness. The quickest and easiest way to apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit is through www.MyWelfare.ie.
Today, some 1,012 people are in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, compared with 963 last week.
Full details on Enhanced Illness Benefit including sector and county breakdown as well as age profile are at Appendices 9, 10 and 11.
**Scam Phone Calls and Scam Texts**
Customers and members of the public are reminded about scam phone calls and text messages they may receive from individuals claiming to be an official of the Department. These calls and texts display a range of numbers, including some which may appear to be from the Department’s phone numbers. The Department would like to remind all its customers that it will never seek personal information from customers via text message and will never ask a customer for their bank details over the phone.
Any person who receives such a call or text is asked not to disclose any information and to report it to the Gardaí immediately.
ENDS