Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2020
130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the pandemic unemployment payment that did not receive payment in the week beginning 16 November 2020; the reason for this non-payment; if applicants will be assured that this will not happen again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38947/20]
View answerA total of 350,072 individuals received payment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 17 November 2020, an increase of 7,567 on the previous week. To date, over 13 million payments have issued since the commencement of the scheme in March of this year.
Following a number of queries regarding non-receipt of payments on 17 November, 636 cases were identified where payments had not issued as expected. Arrangements were subsequently made to ensure that replacement payments issued as quickly as possible. In addition, any person who required immediate financial assistance was able to avail of assistance through the Community Welfare Service.
The cause of the issue relates to software changes to put in an extension of the reference period for employee earnings to September 2020. This change meant that people who only commenced employment after February 2020 but have now been laid-off due to increased restrictions can have their payment rate fixed by reference to their earnings in the period January to September 2020. Subsequently, some 37,430 people receiving payment on November 17 saw an increase in their rate of payment.
The problem concerned related to a specific issue and corrective action was immediately taken. While it is obviously regrettable that it occurred in the first instance, this isolated incident should also be seen in the context of the overall continued successful delivery of payments every week.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
