Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a Covid-19 payment will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13987/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the answer provided under Dáil Question No. 1014.
The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department 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. One of the qualifying criteria for this payment is that the person is aged between 18 and 66 years. Unfortunately on this basis the person concerned does not qualify for this income support.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of a State Pension (contributory).
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service in the Newbridge Intreo Centre where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) 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 can be contacted by phone at 045 491500 (option 5).
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
