Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
535. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are in place or will be put in place for persons (details supplied) who lost their jobs in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and are over 66 years of age and are unable to apply for the pandemic unemployment payment due to their age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4291/22]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme payable to employees and self- employed persons who are aged between 18 years and up to pension age, 66 years, who lost employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19 and satisfy the scheme’s qualifying conditions. Much of the conditionality for PUP, including the age condition, is aligned with that paid under the Jobseekers supports.
The PUP scheme is currently closed to new applicants and in line with normal arrangements, anyone under pension age who loses their employment is advised to apply for Jobseekers support.
People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the State Pension Contributory which is paid to those who have sufficient paid social insurance contributions from employment or self- employment, or the means tested non-contributory State Pension.
A person aged over 66 who is in employment may retain their State Pension and employment income. Where an individual does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory, they may qualify for an increased rate of non- contributory State Pension, depending on their circumstances.
Persons in receipt of the non-contributory or means-tested pension who are also in receipt of an employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose that employment income or if that employment income is reduced. Similarly if a person aged over 66 who did not previously qualify for a means-tested pension may qualify for a pension payment if their circumstances change, including if they lose any employment income or if that employment income is reduced.
People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme is also available to any person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship. Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments may be made subject to satisfying the means test.
I trust that this clarifies the position for you.
