The Government is providing a range of income supports for people who have lost employment as a result of the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus. My colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is responsible for the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This payment by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, is available to employees and self-employed who have lost their income as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old and have been in employment immediately before 13th March. The conditions around the payment of this payment to self-employed people is that they must have experienced a collapse of income, and be available to take up other full-time work if it was available in order to qualify. Further detail on this emergency payment and the full range of income supports available to people is available on www.gov.ie.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection recently announced that the matter of extending this scheme is being considered by her Department in consultation with the Department of Finance.
Two jobseekers benefit schemes are in place for the self-employed as well as the Social Welfare Scheme for Self-Employed Artists. This scheme recognises the unique creative circumstances of artists in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and gives them special assistance in their first year out of work, allowing them to focus on their creative output.
The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme is predicated on the employer wanting to keep employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up by enabling employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. The scheme is expected to last 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 and will cover 70% of the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week
My Department provides a helpdesk advice facility on income support for individuals at artsunit@chg.gov.ie and I would encourage people in the sector to make contact for advice.
