Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (837)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

837. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person can avail of the pandemic unemployment payment, which he or she would get if his or her# place of work is still closed, in the situation in which his or her place of work has reopened, but have written medical advice to not return to work at this time due to the fact he or she is particularly high risk if he or she contracts Covid-19, for example, if he or she has an underlying health condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12115/20]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

A person who is cocooning for medical reasons is not entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment unless they meet the conditions of the payment, including that they:

- have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic or

- have been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic

In these situations their eligibility for the payment is based on their employment status, not on their health status. When the workplace re-opens, the person is expected to return to work.

Employers should enable vulnerable workers to work from home where possible. The Return to Work Safely Protocol provides that if an at-risk or vulnerable worker cannot work from home and must be in the workplace, employers must make sure that they are preferentially supported to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres.

Standard Illness Benefit payment may be payable subject to normal certification and eligibility criteria to a person with a serious health condition, where a medical practitioner provides a Certificate of Incapacity for Work that a person is incapable of work due to the medical condition. This may be paid for an extended period, depending on the person’s continued eligibility.