Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5272/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 13 May 2020
Ceisteanna (1206)
Freagraí scríofa
Working Family Payment (WFP) formerly known as Family Income Supplement , is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of WFP at a rate of €180 per week. This payment will not be affected if she has been laid off work due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Covid 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is not available to those residing outside the state. As the person concerned lives in Northern Ireland she does not qualify for this payment. Her employer may continue to keep her on under the wage subsidy scheme operated by Revenue. Further details on this scheme are available at www.revenue.ie
Under EU rules, the Member State of residence is competent for the payment of unemployment benefits in the case of wholly unemployed frontier workers, i.e. a person who works on one side of a border but lives on the other, and returns home at least once a week. The competent State for a person who is laid off, and is wholly unemployed, who lives in Northern Ireland and was working in Ireland is Northern Ireland.
I trust this clarifies the matter.