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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Questions (38)

Thomas Gould

Question:

38. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if provisions will be made for artists and other freelance workers who may acquire work intermittently but have lost their steady income flow to remain on the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25018/20]

View answer

Written answers

I am acutely aware of the issues faced by self-employed people, in particular those in the arts and entertainment sector in dealing with the challenges created by Covid-19. I have met representatives from the sector and put in place special contact arrangements to ensure that they can check and avail of their entitlements. This includes the flexibility to take-up and receive payment for occasional or intermittent work while retaining their Pandemic Unemployment Payment. To be eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment a self-employed person must have suffered a reduction in their trading income to the extent that they are available to take up other full-time work. This allows some scope for a self-employed person to engage in once-off or occasional work and still retain their payment unless it becomes regular work or it generates significant income. The once off or occasional work should be infrequent and must show a clear divergence from previous work patterns. Any worker from the arts or entertainment sector that requires information or advice on this matter can contact the Department at a special email account - at artistspup@welfare.ie. The Government has also extended the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme until the end of March 2021. I have also secured approval to keep the scheme open to new applicants until the end of this year. This provides security to anyone who loses their employment over the coming months, particularly in sectors of continued uncertainty. Where a self-employed individual has regular employment or it generates significant income, then they should close their pandemic unemployment payment as they do not satisfy the conditions for the payment. In cases of doubt, they can look for advice via the special email account artistspup@welfare.ie. Where a person is engaged in regular employment they may be able to apply for a jobseekers payment which also provides increased allowances for adult and child dependents. Alternatively, they may be eligible for support under the enterprise support grant that provides support of up to €1,000 with business re-start costs. I would suggest that anyone in the situation where they are being offered regular employment should engage with the Department to assess the most appropriate option for them. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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