Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
526. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if freelance workers can qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment if they were not at work for the relevant weeks of their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10982/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding seasonal tour bus operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11030/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra529. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow claims of the pandemic unemployment payment by those who were in the process of changing jobs prior to the initial lockdown in March 2020 in circumstances in which they had a full working history but were not working on the relevant date of 6 March 2020 following a decision in May 2020 to pay arrears of the pandemic unemployment payment to those who may have not received payment for a number of weeks in which they were out of work due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11081/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 526, 527 and 529 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme and requires that a person has lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19 and has paid at least one contribution in the 4 weeks immediately before claiming the support.
People who are currently receiving a Jobseeker’s Payment, including seasonal workers who have been out of work for some time, will remain on this payment for the period they are entitled. Jobseeker's Benefit is normally paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people with less than 260 PRSI contributions paid. Where a person’s entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit is exhausted or where they do not satisfy the conditionality for this scheme, a person may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker’s Allowance payment.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.
