My Department receives information from Revenue in relation to payments made under the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS). This includes a customer’s PPSN, customer’s wage payment frequency (monthly, fortnightly or weekly paid) and the date of the EWSS payment.
A Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will not pay if the date of a customer’s last EWSS payment from Revenue was within a certain period prior to the PUP payment date. This is based on the customer’s salary/wage payment frequency.
My Department is aware that a small number of employers, having initially registered for the EWSS, are no longer paying their employees this way. An EWSS registered employee, who is no longer engaged with the EWSS may not receive a PUP for a period of time after the last payment run is processed by their employer, as the scheme is set up to block the issuing of PUPs to avoid duplication of payments during a validation period. This period is based on the salary payment frequency of the employee. A person cannot receive a PUP and a EWSS payment concurrently.
The person concerned initially submitted a PUP application on 28/08/2020. This application was refused as according to Departmental records the employer was registered for EWSS. In the interim, the person concerned was awarded an Exceptional Needs Payment on 10/09/2020 for €350. A PUP was subsequently awarded and the person concerned received her first PUP on 15/09/2020.
The PUP is paid as a flat week, and it is not possible to include arrears. My Department is aware that many people are due some arrears and that each person’s case is unique. This means that each application must be reviewed to accurately calculate any arrears. The intention is that all arrears will be paid in the coming months.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
