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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (888, 929)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

888. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps self-employed persons need to take to notify her Department following her announcement that self-employed persons can earn up €480 and remain on PUP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32945/20]

View answer

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

929. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter in relation applications for the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied). [33571/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 929 together.

In order to address concerns expressed by self-employed people relating to the difficulties they face in resuming activity, the uncertainty of income streams given the ongoing economic disruption and the fact that in many cases work will be of an occasional or intermittent nature during the initial period of a return to work, the Government introduced changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as part of Budget 2021.

These changes included formal provision to enable self-employed people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (including arts/entertainment sector workers and taxi drivers) recommencing employment to earn up to €480 per rolling four week period while retaining entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The changes are effective from 13 October 2020.

In effect an earnings threshold of €480 per rolling 4 week period will be used to assess whether or not a self-employed person is substantively employed/unemployed. Any self-employed person earning below this amount will be considered to be unemployed for the purposes of assessing entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The earnings threshold is aligned with the income disregard currently in place for people in receipt of Disability Allowance. A self-employed person availing of this does not need to seek approval from the Department and they do not need to report these earnings to the Department on a regular basis. They do need to keep a record of all income for the period.

The Earnings Threshold approach is being implemented in the first instance by means of self-assessment with spot checks of a sample of claims by Social Welfare inspectors and ultimately reconciliation with Revenue earnings returns.

Staff in the Department, including those in Intreo Centres and Branch Offices, have been briefed on the changes.

I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputies.

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