The Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or PUP, has been an important support for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families through the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating Government's commitment to workers. In total, over €8.2 billion has been paid out on PUP. Approximately 870,000 workers have received at least one PUP payment. The Government has also supported employers who have been severely impacted by Covid-19 through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Just over 211,000 people received a PUP payment this week, representing a drop of over 270,000 since the numbers in receipt of PUP peaked this year at around 482,000 in February.
As part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, Government announced changes to PUP including a transitional approach to its withdrawal on a tapered basis over 6 months from September. On 7th September 2021, the €350, €300 and €250 rates of PUP will each reduce by €50 per week to €300, €250 and €203 per week respectively. Further rate reductions will be introduced in instalments of €50 and will take place in mid-November and in early February.
The ongoing reduction in PUP numbers depends on continued progress in re-opening the economy and the response of the labour market to this re-opening. Therefore, it is not possible to be definitive about the number of PUP recipients who will be in receipt of the payment when the rate changes commence in September and to provide detailed information in the tabular format requested.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
