Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
771. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that has been carried out of the current recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment to determine the number that would be eligible for higher social welfare payments or benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been introduced as a time-limited emergency measure so that payments can be made as quickly as possible to the large number of people who have become fully unemployed due to the pandemic.
Individuals who were working and were also in receipt of any social welfare payment such as a Carer's Payment, Working Family Payment (WFP) or One-Parent Family Payment, can, provided they have lost their job due to COVID-19, also claim the COVID-19 emergency payment, in addition to retaining their existing welfare payment.
The rate of payment was initially set at €203, which is equivalent to the maximum personal rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Allowance. Subsequently the rate was increased to €350 per week, which is broadly equivalent to the two-person household rate for the main social welfare payments.
In June of this year, further changes were made by modifying the payment level to align it with prior earnings of recipients of the payment subject to an overall cap of €350 per week. Currently, 74% of recipients receive payment at the rate of €350, while 24% receive payment at a rate of €203 where their average prior earnings were less than €200 per week.
Where a person has an entitlement to a higher rate of payment on an alternative social welfare scheme, the advice from my Department from the outset of the Covid crisis is that they should transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to that payment. Staff of the Department are available to advise persons in that regard, including at Intreo Centres and Branch Offices and via the Income Support Helpline. Typically, potential entitlement to a higher rate of payment exists where a person has an adult and one or more dependant children. This is because they can claim an additional allowance for their adult dependant and child dependants, which will bring their weekly payment to in excess of the €350 weekly payment due under the emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
As each case involves an individual assessment of a person’s circumstances, the information requested by the Deputy is not available.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
