Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
685. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1287 of 20 May 2020, if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10437/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an income support payment for both employees and the self-employed who have become fully unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19. The Coivd-19 PUP is payable where a person meeting the qualifying criteria became unemployed on or after 6/3/2020.
A person is eligible to apply for the Covid-19 (PUP) if they:
- are aged between 18 and 66 years old and
- are currently living in the Republic of Ireland and
-have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic or
- have been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
- worked in the Republic of Ireland or were a cross border frontier worker and
- are not in receipt of any employment income.
The PUP is not available to people who self-isolate due to an underlying medical condition.
In order to receive a Covid Illness Benefit (IB) payment a person must be diagnosed with Covid-19 or be medically certified as a probable source of infection in order to be eligible for Covid IB, in addition to having worked in the pervious four weeks.
If medical certification is provided by a doctor of a non-Covid-19 illness and if a person is eligible, payment is awarded at normal rate of IB.
I am advised that the records of my Department reflect that the person concerned is currently in receipt of an Illness Benefit payment at the normal rate of IB. This payment has been certified up to 8/6/2020.
When the person concerned is certified medically fit to return to work and if he is concerned about returning to work due to Covid-19, he should contact his employer regarding this matter. There are a number of steps an employer can take in line with social distancing guidelines to facilitate employees during this period including, introducing/altering shift patterns, allow employees to take time worked up, work remotely from home or bring forward annual leave entitlements from future work periods. Many employers can and do agree to compassionate leave in certain circumstances.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties at present, it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth 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 may be contacted by phone at 01 6016360.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
