Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020
221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which, and-or the method that will be used, to calculate earnings in order to apply the pandemic unemployment payment to persons in view of the change in rates and tiers to the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19338/20]
View answerAs part of the Government's July stimulus package announced last week, the pandemic unemployment payment has been extended to 1 April 2021. From 17 September 2020 until 31 January 2021 the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 3 rates. The payment rate will continue to depend on the amount previously earned.
For employees, their gross weekly earnings will be used to determine the rate of pandemic unemployment payment. The approach used is that average gross weekly earnings in 2019 and in January and February 2020 as received from Revenue are examined. The higher of the two amounts is then used.
For self-employed people the rate is based on their gross average weekly income for 2018 which is the last tax year for which complete data on self-employed income is available.
Any person who feels that the assessment of their earnings, based on returns already submitted to Revenue, is inaccurate can ask for a review of their case with further details available on www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
