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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Ceisteanna (730)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

730. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers that have an underlying illness such as COPD, immune deficiencies and so on will continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment if they cannot return to work due to their illness. [22104/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a payment for employees and self-employed who are out of work (i.e. fully unemployed) due to a downturn in economic activity related to COVID-19. People who meet the criteria set out for the Payment will continue to receive it if their workplace is closed and they are genuinely seeking work. However, people who can return to work but do not do so due to an underlying illness are not eligible for the payment.

People who are considered high risk under the HSE guidelines in relation to COVID-19 are not entitled to the enhanced Illness Benefit payment for any period unless they have been diagnosed with or informed that they are a probable source of infection of COVID-19. Standard Illness Benefit payment may be payable subject to normal certification and eligibility criteria, where a medical practitioner provides a certificate of incapacity stating that a person is incapable of work due to the medical condition. Standard illness benefit is paid at a maximum weekly personal rate of €203. Increases may also be paid for qualifying adults and children. This may be paid for an extended period, depending on the person’s continued eligibility. Standard illness benefit is the primary income support payment in this State for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type apart from the COVID-19.

Employees who cocoon without a medical certificate may approach their employer in relation to taking annual or other paid leave - this is at the discretion of the employer. Many employers can, and do, agree leave arrangements with staff who need to take short periods of time off. These include arrangements to enable employees to work remotely from home, to work-up time taken, or to bring forward annual leave entitlements from future work periods. The Government has encouraged employers to support workers with leave requests at this difficult time and those with underlying health conditions should be facilitated where possible.

The Return to Work Safely Protocol provides that if an at-risk or vulnerable worker cannot work from home and must be in the workplace, employers must make sure that they are preferentially supported to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres. However, employers should enable vulnerable workers to work from home where possible.

In general, if people have additional expenses related to their illness or they are struggling financially, they can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is a means-tested payment.

I trust that this clarifies the position.

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