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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Ceisteanna (469)

John Lahart

Ceist:

469. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an application for the pandemic unemployment payment was denied in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16864/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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. The PUP is payable where a person meeting the qualifying criteria became unemployed on or after 06/03/2020.

A person is eligible to apply for the 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

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned ceased employment on 28/2/2020. His application for a PUP was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria for this income support as he was not employed on or after 6/3/2020.

The records of my Department show the person concerned submitted an application for a jobseeker's benefit dated 12/3/2020. In this application he confirmed his last day worked was 28/2/2020 and his employment had ended. His loss of employment was not due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The person concerned also provided a letter from his former employer confirming this information. A jobseeker's benefit payment was subsequently awarded from 12/3/2020. According to records the person concerned withdrew his jobseeker’s benefit payment on 10/6/2020.

If the person concerned feels he meets the eligibility criteria for a jobseeker’s benefit payment, it is open to him to make a further application, either through www.mywelfare.ie or at his local Intreo Centre in Bishop’s Square.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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