Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
582. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in respect of the payment of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1469/21]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 24/3/2020 confirming his last day worked was 06/03/2020. A PUP was awarded at the weekly rate of €350 in line with the scheme guidelines at that time.
From 29/06/2020 the PUP rate was revised and where a person had no earnings in 2018 or 2019 (for self-employed) and in 2019 or January to September 2020 (for employees), a rate of €203 per week is applied.
In the case of the person concerned, the review of his PUP rate based on data from the Revenue Commissioners found he had no record of relevant PRSI contributions paid at Classes A, E, H, P or S in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The rate of €203 is therefore correct.
If the person concerned is currently experiencing financial difficulties it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at Newbridge Intreo Centre to seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (Supplements) Scheme where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at (087) 7806165 or by email at KildareCWS@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
