- Just over 149,000 people receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
- Number of PUP recipients has now fallen below 150,000 for the first time
- €44.2 million in PUP weekly payments paid into bank accounts this week
- Wide range of employment supports available for PUP recipients as part of Pathways to Work strategy, available via www.gov.ie/pathways
- As restrictions are eased, people returning to work should close their claim on their first day back at work
- Public reminded about Scam Phone Calls and Scam Texts from callers claiming to be from the Department of Social Protection
Tuesday, 24th August 2021
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €44.2 million to 149,436 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
The greatest reduction this week is in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.
The PUP figures published this week are in addition to the 184,213 people who were on the Live Register at the end of July.
All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments have been paid into recipients’ bank accounts or at their Post Office.
Commenting on this week’s figures, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said:
“The number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is at its lowest level since the introduction of the support.
“We are seeing week-by-week reductions in the number of people receiving the PUP – reflecting the steady progress we are making in rolling out the vaccination programme and the continued re-opening of the economy.”
The county with the highest number of people receiving PUP is Dublin, which stands at 56,900, followed by Cork (13,162) and Galway (7,900).
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 23rd August, as they have returned to work, will receive their final PUP payment on Tuesday 31st August.
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 people who have closed their claim last week 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.
Transition of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
In line with the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, the PUP will be gradually reduced on a tapered basis over a 6 month period until February 2022 to align it with the standard jobseekers payments. This transition commences in September 2021.
Changes
PUP has been closed to new claimants since 8 July this year. People who have lost their job since 8 July can apply for Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance in the normal way.
Students
Students currently receiving the PUP who have advised the Department that they are or will be full-time students in the upcoming 2021/2022 academic year will receive their final payment on Tuesday 7th September.
Changes to PUP Rates
The top three rates of PUP will reduce by €50 in September. The maximum weekly rate of €350 will reduce to €300. The current rate of €300 will reduce to €250 and the current rate of €250 will reduce to €203. The new payment rates will be reflected in payments received later in September.
People on the €203 PUP rate will transition to standard jobseekers terms. People who are receiving this rate of payment will be advised in the coming weeks on their options regarding standard Jobseekers’ payments i.e. Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance. Payment of PUP will continue while jobseeker claims are being processed.
Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.
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 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 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
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 2,494 people are in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, compared with 2,163 last week.
Full details on Enhanced Illness Benefit including sector and county breakdown as well as age profile are at Appendices 7, 8 and 9.
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
Press Office Contact Details
E: press.office@welfare.ie
T: 01 704 3082
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Appendices attached separately – County Breakdown and other details
Appendix 1 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments by County
Appendix 2 - Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector
Appendix 3 - Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Age Profile
Appendix 4 - Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by gender
Appendix 5 - Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by age
Appendix 6 - Changes in Pandemic Unemployment Payment Numbers by Sector
Appendix 7 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by County
Appendix 8 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by Sector
Appendix 9 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments Age Profile