Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
1029. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a series of matters (details supplied) relating to planned changes to the pandemic unemployment payment; the new payment in respect of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11555/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeople in receipt of Jobseekers Transition, One Parent Family Payment, Working Family Payment and Carers payment can receive the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) as well as their primary payment. PUP effectively acts as a replacement for the loss of employment income in these cases.
Where a person’s previous gross weekly earnings were €200 or higher there will be no change to their rate of PUP payment. If a person’s previous gross weekly earnings were under €200 the rate of their PUP will be adjusted to €203. This change will take effect in the payments made from Tuesday 7 July. This change to the structure of the payment means that it continues to be a strong support which is also fair and targeted.
To determine the gross weekly earnings for the purpose of calculating the rate of PUP, my Department will examine the employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 and in January and February 2020, and the higher figure will be used. For example, if an employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 were €195 and €210 in 2020, the figure of €210 will be used. Similarly if the employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 were higher than in 2020, the 2019 figure will be used.
For self-employed people their gross average weekly income for 2018 will be used to calculate the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment, the last tax year for which verifiable data on self-employed income is available.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
