Since its introduction on the 15th March in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, expenditure on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has amounted to some €4.3 billion.
Last week, I secured Government approval to keep the scheme open for new applicants until the 31st March next year. Following a Government decision in September the scheme had been due to close for applications at the end of this year. The extension to the closing date will ensure workers are eligible to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment again if they lose employment in the coming months if further Covid-19 restrictions have to be imposed.
Following the move to level 5 restrictions, the €350 rate of Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been re-introduced for those individuals who had prior average weekly earnings of €400 or more. This ensures that the rates remain aligned to prior earnings, and costs are kept at a sustainable level which is important as the scheme is due to continue until end of March.
I have also extended the 2020 earnings reference period from February to the end of September 2020. This will allow people who started employment after February 2020 but are now laid-off due to increased restrictions to have their payment rate fixed according to their earnings in the period January to September 2020. No one will have their weekly rate of payment reduced as a result of the re-assessment of their earnings.
I trust that this clarifies the matter at this time.