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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (845)

Emer Higgins

Question:

845. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not received backdated pandemic unemployment payments from the date he or she was made unemployed; the reason the local Intreo office is unable to facilitate this; if the person is entitled to such back payments; the process for claiming the back payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12353/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. To be eligible for the Covid-19 PUP a person must have been in employment or self-employment on or after 06/03/2020 and must have lost their employment or self-employment due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19.

According to the records of my Department, Mr. Carroll applied for a Covid-19 PUP on 25/03/2020, entering his date last worked as 14/03/2020. Subsequently, a Covid-19 PUP was awarded and Mr. Carroll received his first payment on 31/03/2020. He has been in receipt of this income support on a weekly basis since.

The current focus is on ensuring that payments are made and continue to be paid to all who qualify for them. My Department is aware that many people are due some arrears and that each person's case is unique. This means that each application may need to be individually reviewed to accurately calculate any arrears.

All cases will be examined and where arrears arise they will be processed and applicants will be notified. Updates on the process will be available on www.gov.ie/deasp.

In the meantime, if Mr. Carroll is experiencing financial difficulties he can contact his local Community Welfare Service in the Clondalkin Intreo Centre where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Community Welfare Service may be contacted by phone at 01 4667200 or by email at clondalkinlucancws@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Question No. 846 answered with Question No. 790.
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