Kieran O'Donnell
Question:498. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed. [25329/20]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (498, 546, 563)
Alan Kelly
Question:546. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if time spent on a Covid-19 payment will be allowed as a qualifying period for VTOS courses and studies; if there have been discussions with the Department of Education in relation to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25499/20]
View answer
Cathal Crowe
Question:563. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the criteria for courses being run through the Intreo public employment service such as those being run by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards, will be eased in order that those on the pandemic unemployment payment scheme or similar will be able to upskill while they are not working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25580/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 546 and 563 together.
The Back to Education Allowance has recently been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period of time before pursuing training or education. This condition is now being waived for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment seeking to return to education, including VTOS courses. This provides that those impacted by the pandemic have training and education options available to them for the upcoming academic year.
If a person currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment wants to apply for Back to Education Allowance, they can now choose to transfer to a Jobseeker’s payment. Their rate of Back to Education Allowance payment will be linked to their qualifying social welfare rate of payment. Whereas the pandemic unemployment payment is short term in nature and scheduled to cease at the end of March 2021, the Back to Education Allowance provides long term income support which can be provided for the duration of an education course and which can extend for up to 3 or 4 years depending on the individuals circumstances.
There is also an annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500 available to participants of the Back to Education Allowance scheme who have one or more dependent children.
Any person in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and seeking to return to education should contact their Intreo Centre to discuss the options available to them including access the Back to Education Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Payments Administration
Questions (499)
Willie O'Dea
Question:499. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when invalidity and similar payments will return to weekly payments as opposed to fortnightly payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25367/20]
View answerWritten answers
Fortnightly payments were introduced by my Department to assist with social distancing measures in accordance with public health guidelines.
While some welfare schemes have reverted to a weekly payment pattern, fortnightly payments have been retained for a number of schemes, including Disability, Pensions and Carers’ payments. These schemes mainly involve payments to people who are more likely to be medically vulnerable, including those who are over the age of 70 or their care-givers.
Within any particular scheme, it is not possible to introduce different payment cycles for different individuals or for different categories of individual. All payments on each scheme, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into someone’s bank account, have to be processed in the same way.
The frequency of payments which are remaining on a fortnightly pattern will continue to be reviewed by the Department in line with the best available health advice.
I would emphasise that, where a person encounters financial difficulty, they can contact the local community welfare service for assistance or can seek advice and support from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (500)
Joe Carey
Question:500. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25440/20]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised by the Deputy concerns the notice period with respect to marriages and the implications arising from the need to reschedule proposed marriage dates due to the impact of Covid-19 public health restrictions.
The General Register Office has contacted the parties to explain the opportunities available to them within the legal framework of the Civil Registration Act 2004 to facilitate the parties' postponed date of marriage. Contact has also been made with the local marriage registrar to facilitate the marriage once the couple have settled on a new marriage date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 501 answered with Question No. 494.
Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 493.
Carer's Benefit
Questions (503)
Brendan Griffin
Question:503. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter in regard to a person (details supplied) relating to carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24698/20]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
One of the conditions that must be satisfied to qualify for CARB is that a person must not work more than 18.5 hours with earnings of no more than €332.50 less statutory deductions per week.
However, a person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
It is also a condition for receipt of a CARB that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
My Department received an application for CARB from the person concerned on the 9 July 2019. The claim was awarded for the period 28/11/19 to 14/3/20 as applied for by the carer. No application has been received for an extension to this claim to date.
If the person in question wishes to make a further application, she should complete and return the application form (CARB1) that I have arranged to issue to her. Only on receipt of a fully completed application form can her current entitlement to CARB be determined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (504)
Dara Calleary
Question:504. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if community employment and Tús schemes can be extended by six months for participants due to finish in view of the fact that some participants lost out on six months due to Covid-19 and other participants worked tirelessly during the pandemic and training new participants will be much more difficult due to Covid-19. [24712/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides a range of supports and programmes catering for the unemployed and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús.
CE is designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons, countrywide, with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
In general, the period of participation on CE is for one year. However, CE participants who are working towards a major award or industry qualification can seek to extend participation by up to a further two years. A significant number of CE participants each year avail of an extension in order to continue training and obtain qualifications and major awards.
The Tús initiative commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the live register. It is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year.
The duration of each Tús contract is for a maximum of 12 months to ensure that as many people as possible who are long-term unemployed are able to benefit from the initiative.
During the recent Covid-19 emergency, my Department continued to provide the necessary funding for both initiatives, CE and Tús, while also introducing a number of contingency measures. These measures included the extension of all existing participant contracts for the duration of the emergency, allowing many of its scheme participants to continue to deliver a range of services to the community.
In keeping with the Government’s Return to Work Safely Protocol, the recruitment of new CE and Tús participants recommenced in July. Those participants who had their contracts extended during the emergency period have been exiting their placements on a gradual basis over recent months.
At this time there are no plans to change the current duration on CE or Tús. While I understand that a number of both CE and Tús participants would like to remain on the schemes, the Deputy will appreciate that any further extensions would have a detrimental effect on other long-term unemployed candidates wishing to avail of the opportunities afforded by those schemes.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these work programmes will continue to be available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while sustaining their role as active labour market activation programmes.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (505)
Steven Matthews
Question:505. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the proposed universal basic income pilot that was set out in the Programme for Government. [24713/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government states that the Low Pay Commission is to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government. The practical arrangements for giving effect to this commitment are still being considered. It is intended that this matter will be progressed in accordance with the timeline set out in the Programme for Government. A formal referral to the Low Pay Commission will be made in due course.
JobPath Programme
Questions (506)
Seán Canney
Question:506. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for Jobpath, the administration of the scheme and the contract with the company (details supplied) which was due to finish in 2019 and was extended due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24757/20]
View answerWritten answers
In December 2019, my Department engaged with external consultants in order to undertake a review of all current contracted Public Employment Services (PES), including JobPath. The consultants' research, recently completed, will help inform the Government's approach on the future structure of all contracted PES. I expect that the final report will be formally submitted to me shortly.
The review process was interrupted by Covid-19 and the associated restrictions. The implementation of any recommendations arising from that report has been similarly delayed and will be adapted to meet the challenge of Covid and it's impact of the economy and labour market.
The review was commissioned on the basis of ensuring all our contracted public employment services continue to be fit-for-purpose and provide value for money.
Any provision for contracted Public Employment Services in 2021 will be in the context of managing and responding to the labour market impacts of Covid-19. My Department will work to ensure there is sufficient capacity within the Public Employment Service to provide a high-quality service to help individuals back into employment.
In July, the Government announced that we would be investing an additional €43 million into the Public Employment Service to enhance this capacity. My Department is considering how to ensure that we have sufficient capacity in the Public Employment Service to ensure that we are in a position to provide the necessary supports and services to individuals who have lost employment arising from the labour market impacts of the pandemic
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (507)
Mattie McGrath
Question:507. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of the blind pension or disability allowance will lose their payment if they travel abroad; if so, if they will have to reapply on their return; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24819/20]
View answerWritten answers
Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for blind and visually impaired people between the ages of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in Ireland. In order to qualify for Disability Allowance, a person must be aged between 16 and 66, satisfy a medical and means test and be habitually resident in the State.
Neither Blind Pension or Disability Allowance are payable for any period in respect of which the claimant is resident outside of the State. This position has not been affected or changed by current Government travel advice.
A person who has been resident outside of the State for a period will need to re-apply for payment on return.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Questions (508)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:508. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of State pensions (non-contributory) selected for review each month since the start of 2020, in tabular form; the number of reviews in which the payment was suspended pending the outcome of the review; the number of reviews which were requested by the recipient of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24837/20]
View answerWritten answers
State pension non-contributory, a social assistance scheme, is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
For the purposes of the means test, it is necessary at the outset for a state pension non-contributory applicant to provide full details of any income(s), assets, savings and investments they hold. Following the award of pension, a reporting obligation continues to apply whereby the pension recipient must notify the Department in a timely manner of any changes in their circumstances that may impact on their pension entitlement.
In addition to this reporting obligation, under its Control Strategy, the Department carries out rolling reviews. The number of monthly reviews carried out to end August 2020 are shown in the table below:
|
2020 |
No. of Reviews |
|
January |
587 |
|
February |
449 |
|
March |
338 |
|
April |
198 |
|
May |
176 |
|
June |
374 |
|
July |
227 |
|
August |
123 |
It is not the practice of the Department to suspend pension payments pending the outcome of a routine review. The number of reviews instigated by the claimant requested by the Deputy is not available.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pension (Contributory)
Questions (509)
Cathal Crowe
Question:509. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to cater for persons who were 65 years of age in 2012 but did not qualify for the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24877/20]
View answerWritten answers
Further to clarification received from the Deputy’s office, it appears that this query seeks clarification in relation to the State Pension (Contributory) and the State Pension Age.
The State Pension (Contributory) was not paid at the age of 65 years in 2012. The State pension age was 66 years in 2012 and remains so. The Government will introduce legislation later this year to provide that the State pension age will remain at 66 years and not increase to 67 next year.
The State Pension (Contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record when working. A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). The actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at well over €300,000 which requires people who claim a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over 50 years of a working age life.
Payments under the State Pension (Contributory) are largely related to the number of contributions paid or credited over a working life. Under the Yearly Average approach the total number of contributions paid/credited at pension age is divided by the number of years between entering insurable employment and the last full year prior to pension age being reached. Entitlement is then banded, with a yearly average of 48 or more required for a full rate pension. One of the discrepancies of the Yearly Average system is that it is possible for a person to receive a full pension for only 10 years of contributions, while a person who paid contributions for 40 years over a 50 year period would not do so. That is because the yearly averaging system measures the frequency of contributions rather than the number of contributions.
When the Interim Total Contributions Approach was introduced in 2018, it included provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme which fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It acknowledged, for the first time, home caring periods prior to 1994. Interim TCA provides for up to 20 years of home caring periods to be considered. Those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits / homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. Arising from this initiative, the Department reviewed over 94,000 cases resulting in over 38,000 receiving an increased pension payment.
From April 2019, all new State Pension (Contributory) applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Interim TCA, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner.
Those with few or no PRSI contributions paid over the years may alternatively qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% that of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
The public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” commits to the introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA). This approach, when it is introduced, is intended to be a fairer and more transparent system aligning a person’s contributory pension more closely with the contributions they make over their working life. It is anticipated that the approach will include provision for people who take time off work to undertake caring duties.
The Programme for Government also commits to the establishment of a Commission on Pensions to examine a range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability, eligibility and intergenerational fairness. The Terms of Reference for the Commission on Pensions are currently being developed and options for its membership are being considered. Proposals will be brought to Government in that regard as soon as possible. Once it has concluded its deliberations, the Commission will report to Government by June of next year.
This Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State’s finances. The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. The Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance
Questions (510)
Bernard Durkan
Question:510. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if all requested documentation has been received; when an appeal is likely to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24887/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 17 July 2020. The Appeals Officer requested further information from the person concerned on 24 July 2020, and this was received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 August 2020. It is envisaged that the Appeals Officer's decision will issue in the near future.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
One-Parent Family Payment
Questions (511)
Bernard Durkan
Question:511. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a one parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if all requested documentation has been received; if supplementary welfare allowance has been organised in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24888/20]
View answerWritten answers
The customer applied for One Parent Family Allowance on July 23rd last and the application was referred to the local Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. This application was disallowed on September 15th last as the Social Welfare Inspector was not satisfied that the customer is residing at her stated address.
The customer applied for Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance on August 28th and this application was disallowed by the local Community Welfare Service on September 18th as the Community Welfare Officer was not satisfied that the customer is residing at her stated address.
Both of these decisions are appealable to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pension (Contributory)
Questions (512)
Robert Troy
Question:512. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pension payment for a person (details supplied) will be increased. [24895/20]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 20 August 2011. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 1,504 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions for the period from their date of entry into insurable employment (2 October 1961) until end-December 2010, which equates to a yearly average of 30 contributions.
This gives them entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 98% of the maximum rate. In order to qualify for a maximum rate of pension, the person concerned would need a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment to the end of the last complete tax year preceding the year they turned pension age.
The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of State pension (contributory), commensurate with their social insurance record since October 1961 as held by my Department. This is calculated in according with Social Welfare legislation. If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
In January 2018, the Government announced a new calculation method for State pension (contributory), including the introduction of new HomeCaring Periods, for people born on or after 1 September 1946, who were awarded State pension (contributory) based on reduced post-Budget 2012 rate bands. Since this person’s date of birth is before 1 September 1946, they are not affected by the 2012 Budget changes and are not within the cohort of pensioners eligible for review of their pension entitlement under the interim Total Contributions Approach.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments Administration
Questions (513)
Joan Collins
Question:513. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 672 of 8 September 2020, if she will discuss with NPHET the possibility of reverting social welfare payments to a weekly payment (details supplied). [24899/20]
View answerWritten answers
Fortnightly payments were introduced by my Department to assist with social distancing measures in accordance with public health guidelines.
While some welfare schemes have reverted to a weekly payment pattern, fortnightly payments have been retained for a number of schemes, including Disability, Pensions and Carers’ payments. These schemes mainly involve payments to people who are more likely to be medically vulnerable, including those who are over the age of 70 or their care-givers.
Within any particular scheme, it is not possible to introduce different payment cycles for different individuals or for different categories of individual. All payments on each scheme, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into someone’s bank account, have to be processed in the same way.
The frequency of payments which are remaining on a fortnightly pattern will continue to be reviewed by the Department in line with the best available health advice.
I would emphasise that, where a person encounters financial difficulty, they can contact the local community welfare service for assistance or can seek advice and support from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (514)
Richard Bruton
Question:514. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if special supports for proprietors and executive directors of small businesses for the duration of Covid-19 restrictions has been considered such as short time working payments and so on. [24902/20]
View answerWritten answers
The pandemic unemployment payment is available to all employees and self-employed persons aged between 18 and 66 years and has been extended until the end of March 2021 to support employees and businesses who continue to be severely impacted by ongoing public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also secured agreement that the scheme will remain open to new applicants until the end of 2020.
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 employment. This allows some limited scope for a self-employed person to engage in once-off or emergency work and still retain eligibility for the pandemic unemployment payment. This is essentially occasional, irregular or isolated events and where there is a clear divergence from previous employment patterns.
Where a person is not eligible to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they may apply for a jobseeker payment depending on their circumstances. A person in receipt of a jobseekers payment may take up employment but they must be unemployed for 4 days in 7 consecutive days.
The short time work support is a social insurance contribution based income support available under the jobseekers benefit scheme to employees who have had the number of their days of employment reduced on a temporary and systematic basis due to a reduction in business, including following the effects of the Pandemic. This presents an opportunity for employers to retain skilled labour, in a reduced capacity, thus avoiding the need to recruit once the economic situation improves.
I also wish to draw your attention to the Enterprise Support Grant which previously supported entrepreneurs who were setting up new enterprises but has now been extended to provide once-off supports for self-employed people who have been severely impacted and have had to cease operations as a result of the Pandemic. The grant is payable up to €1,000 to help small business owners who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to re-open their business. It is payable to self-employed micro enterprises that are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants. Details on the application process to access this grant is available on www.gov.ie.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie
I trust this information is useful and sets out the range of supports available from my Department.
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Questions (515)
Chris Andrews
Question:515. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be allowed to attend a vocational training opportunities scheme course. [24903/20]
View answerWritten answers
The qualification period for recipients of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) looking to pursue education has been waived where the applicant transfers their PUP to a Jobseeker's payment.
If the person concerned is eligible for a Jobseeker's payment she can apply for a place on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) through the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Further information on VTOS can be found on www.education.ie.
A Departmental official from the Intreo Centre in Cork Street will contact the person concerned to review her eligibility for a Jobseeker's payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (516)
Bernard Durkan
Question:516. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) that has been on the temporary wage subsidy scheme since 30 March is entitled to any arrears of social welfare payment, jobseekers benefit or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24924/20]
View answerWritten answers
In the case where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, the Department has clarified that, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual Jobseeker’s payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded a Jobseeker’s Benefit payment with effect from 03/09/2020 and received his first payment on 15/09/2020.
Decisions around entitlement to social welfare claims for periods prior to the introduction of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme on 01/09/2020 will depend on meeting the eligibility conditions, including satisfying the Department with regard to days of unemployment. Applications are assessed on an individual basis and the Department will notify the person concerned of the outcome of its decision. Arrears due, if any, will be considered in the context of each individual claim.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship she may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments through the Community Welfare Service in the Newbridge Intreo Centre. This service can be contacted by phone at (087) 7806165.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Aer Lingus
Questions (517)
Emer Higgins
Question:517. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are obstacles to processing claims being put before employees of a company (details supplied) by her Department or the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24950/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that officials in my Department are engaging with the company referred to by the Deputy so that claims for social welfare support are prioritised.
In the case where a person has been fully laid off from their employment, they should make an application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. I have recently announced that the time-frame for receiving new applications under this scheme has been extended until the end of this year. The quickest and easiest way to apply for this payment is online at mywelfare.ie.
In the case where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, the Department has previously clarified that, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. Officials from my Department are engaging directly with the company referred to provide any outstanding documentation required to finalise applications for jobseekers support under these arrangements as a matter of urgency.
My Department will prioritise decisions on these applications on receipt of this information so that claims are put into payment as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the current position.