Update on payments awarded for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enhanced Illness Benefit
- Published on: 27 July 2020
- Last updated on: 11 April 2025
286,900 receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) this week, down 26,900 on last week
Numbers have dropped 52% since peak on 5 May
€88.9 million to be paid in PUP payments tomorrow
Today, the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at €88.9 million to 286,900 people for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This represents a decrease of 26,900 on the 313,800 people paid last week and a 52% drop on the 598,000 paid at its peak on 5 May.
In the past seven days, 19,200 people have closed their claim for a Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Some 8,800 will be receiving their final payment tomorrow, 28 July.
The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are Accommodation and Food Services; Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles; and Construction.
The largest cohort returning to work is aged under 25 years.
Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, Heather Humphreys, TD, today said:
“I am particularly pleased to see that numbers of people who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 health crisis are continuing fall as people are going back to work. This bodes well for our economy and for our communities across the country. Just under 287,000 workers will be receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment tomorrow which is a 52% drop on the number of people receiving the payment on 5 May when it was at its peak.
“I am confident that many more businesses will reopen in the weeks and months ahead as they avail of the most recent government supports announced in the July Stimulus package.
“It is very encouraging to see that the numbers of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are down in every county. It is very promising to see that the numbers for Dublin have fallen below 100,000 this week at 97,800, which compares to the 174,200 when the figure was at its peak on 5 May.”
As well as those availing of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now over 68,400 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). An estimated 400,000 employees are currently being supported by the scheme having received a subsidy in their most recent pay period.
The above payments are in addition to the 220,900 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of June. All COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow, Tuesday 28 July.
Payment Rates
This is the fourth week of the two-tiered payment structure for people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
- employees whose average weekly earnings in 2019 or January and February 2020 (whichever is the higher) were less than €200 gross will receive a weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 a week. This equates to the standard jobseeker rate of payment and as it is higher than the person’s prior earnings will still mean that people, who receive €203 per week, are in receipt of a higher income than they had prior to being laid off due to COVID-19
- employees with average earnings of €200 or more a week will continue to receive €350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment with almost 3 in 4 recipients continuing to receive €350 per week
- the payment to self-employed people has been assessed based on their 2018 returns to the Revenue Commissioners (Returns for 2019 are not due until later in 2020)
Some 78,000 people will receive the €203 rate of payment this week which is 9,500 fewer, than last week. The majority of people – 208,900 - will continue to receive the €350 rate of payment, which is 17,400 fewer than last week.
Any person who believes that their new payment rate does not accurately reflect their prior earnings can contact the department to request a review of earnings and forward all supporting documents, which will be matched with Revenue records.
They can contact the department by:
- emailing PUPRerate@welfare.ie
- writing to Pandemic Unemployment Rerate Requests, DEASP, Intreo Centre, Cork Road, Waterford
- calling 1890 800 024
Any person who requires further information in relation to the rate change, including how it is calculated and information on requesting a review, can access our further information document at the link here or can contact the department’s Income Support Helpline at 1890 800 024.
People returning to work
In the past week, some 19,200 people closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 14,500 reported that they were returning to work. Of those 14,500 returning to work, some 8,800 are receiving their last payment this week. As the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a weekly payment paid in arrears, there can be a one week lag in how closures, due to people returning to work, are reflected in the payment data. The reduction in the number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will, therefore, be reflected in next week’s figures.
The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are Accommodation and Food Services (4,400); Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (1,800); and Construction (1,300). A full breakdown of the sectors in this area is set out at Appendix 7 below.
Looking at the age profile of employees returning to work this week, the largest cohort are those under age 25 with 3,500 returning to employment, followed by those employees aged 25-34 and 35-44 with 3,400 returning in each of these age cohorts and 2,500 aged 45-54 also returning to work. Full details are available at Appendix 8.
The number of Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients who closed their claim since the start of Phase 1 (18 May) and who are currently availing of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) has increased to 84,300 compared to 70,400 this time last week, the biggest increase being in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.
The department continues to remind workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
In order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly, workers who are returning to work must close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start back at work. Since the commencement of Phase One of the government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, over 272,300 employees have closed their claims and returned to work.
The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via www.mywelfare.ie. Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the department’s dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Checks
As is the case, for all social welfare schemes and as part of the department’s normal work, the department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, including:
- Integrity checks made against records already held by the department including Public Service Information data and cross checks with payments on other schemes. These help to verify if a person is who they claim to be and that they are entitled to claim payment
- a reconciliation process between the department’s payment file and Revenue’s payment file for the COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme
- a prior employment status check by comparing all claims for PUP against prior earnings and employment records from Revenue data
- as with other welfare schemes, the department contacts recipients to ensure that they continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
- data analytics
- the department’s inspection staff participating with Garda and Customs staff, in security checks on major transport routes and transport hubs
Commenting on current discussions in the media on Pandemic Unemployment Payments being stopped in situations where recipients are travelling abroad, Minister Humphreys said:
“As part of its normal checks, the Department of Social Protection carries out inspections at airports and ports throughout the year. These checks are carried out as certain social welfare payments are only paid to people residing in the State.
“We all have a part to play in combatting the spread of the virus. The clear advice from Government remains that it is safer to stay at home this summer and to avoid any non-essential travel abroad.
“The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is paid to people who are genuinely seeking work and living in the State. It is not paid to people who are leaving the country to reside elsewhere or who go on holidays abroad. Neither is the payment paid to individuals during a 14 day quarantine period. These rules currently apply to people receiving Jobseekers payments as well as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
“My department will of course consider cases whereby somebody in receipt of such payments has to travel abroad for urgent or exceptional reasons such as family illness or bereavement.”
Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme
There are now over 68,400 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). Workers whose employers have registered them on the scheme are not eligible to receive a pandemic unemployment payment. In addition workers who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment but who have now been registered by their employers on the TWSS are no longer eligible to receive a pandemic unemployment payment.
COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment
Currently, there are 780 people receiving a COVID-19 related Illness Benefit payment from the department.
Since the beginning of June, 183 people have been medically certified with having COVID-19 while 2,200 others have been medically certified because they are medically self-isolating.
To date 53,000 people under age 66 have been medically certified for receipt of the COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit. Just over 7% (3,956) have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while almost 93% (49,044) were required to medically self-isolate.
The sector with the highest number of employees medically certified to receive COVID-19 Illness Benefit continues to be the Human Health and Social Work sector (11,800) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (11,300) and Manufacturing (7,200). Full details are at Appendices 11, 12 and 13.
www.MyWelfare.ie
The department wishes to thank its customers for submitting the majority of applications through our online portal www.MyWelfare.ie. This is the quickest and easiest way to submit an application or close a COVID-19-Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or for an individual to confirm their continued eligibility for the payment.
In the interests of the public health advice and the restrictions on movements people are asked, if at all possible not to attend their local Intreo Centre. Instead, they should avail of the online services available through www.MyWelfare.ie.
ENDS
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments by County
Appendix 2 - Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector
Appendix 3 - Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Age Profile
Appendix 4 - Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by gender
Appendix 5 - Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by age
Appendix 6 - Analysis of People who Closed their PUP Claim to Return to Work
Appendix 7 - Analysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector
Appendix 8 - Analysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments Age Profile
Appendix 9 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments recipients who closed their claim since start of Phase 1 and who are currently receiving the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme Sector breakdown
Appendix 10 – Age Profile of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment to return to work since 18th May and receiving Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme
Appendix 11 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by County
Appendix 12 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by Sector
Appendix 13 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments Age Profile
Appendix 1 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments
This week a total of 286,900 people are in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment, of which 134,700 are female and 152,200 are male.
County Breakdown
| County | Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 28 July | Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 21 July | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 5 May | |
| Carlow | 3,400 | 3,700 | 7,800 | |
| Cavan | 4,000 | 4,400 | 9,700 | |
| Clare | 6,300 | 7,000 | 14,600 | |
| Cork | 27,800 | 30,600 | 61,900 | |
| Donegal | 9,000 | 10,000 | 22,700 | |
| Dublin | 97,800 | 105,800 | 174,200 | |
| Galway | 15,400 | 17,000 | 32,300 | |
| Kerry | 9,300 | 10,400 | 22,200 | |
| Kildare | 12,800 | 13,900 | 26,100 | |
| Kilkenny | 4,400 | 4,900 | 10,600 | |
| Laois | 3,900 | 4,300 | 8,600 | |
| Leitrim | 1,800 | 2,000 | 4,100 | |
| Limerick | 11,100 | 12,000 | 22,300 | |
| Longford | 2,100 | 2,300 | 4,500 | |
| Louth | 8,600 | 9,500 | 17,300 | |
| Mayo | 6,800 | 7,600 | 16,400 | |
| Meath | 11,500 | 12,500 | 25,000 | |
| Monaghan | 3,600 | 4,000 | 8,200 | |
| Offaly | 3,800 | 4,200 | 8,900 | |
| Roscommon | 3,000 | 3,400 | 7,100 | |
| Sligo | 3,400 | 3,700 | 7,700 | |
| Tipperary | 8,400 | 9,100 | 18,800 | |
| Waterford | 6,100 | 6,800 | 14,100 | |
| Westmeath | 5,200 | 5,700 | 11,700 | |
| Wexford | 7,900 | 8,800 | 20,500 | |
| Wicklow | 8,800 | 9,600 | 18,700 | |
| County not included | 700 | 600 | 2,000 | |
| Total | 286,900 | 313,800 | 598,000 |
Appendix 2 – Pandemic Unemployment Payments - Sector Breakdown
The sector with the highest number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (63,700), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (40,000) and Administrative and Support Service activities (27,700).
The largest weekly drop was in Accommodation and Food Service activities (6,800) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles and the Construction industries falling by 3,500 and 3,000 respectively.
Sector Breakdown
| Industrial Sector | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 28 July | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 21 July | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 5 May |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying | 4,100 | 4,500 | 8,600 |
| Manufacturing | 15,200 | 16,700 | 37,400 |
| Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 1,100 | 1,200 | 2,100 |
| Construction | 24,300 | 27,300 | 79,300 |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles | 40,000 | 43,500 | 90,300 |
| Transportation and storage | 11,000 | 11,600 | 17,900 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 63,700 | 70,500 | 128,500 |
| Information and communication activities | 8,000 | 8,500 | 11,800 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 7,100 | 7,500 | 12,500 |
| Real Estate activities | 4,200 | 4,500 | 8,100 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 13,700 | 14,600 | 24,800 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 27,700 | 29,600 | 45,800 |
| Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security | 6,600 | 7,100 | 14,400 |
| Education | 16,300 | 17,000 | 22,000 |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 12,000 | 12,900 | 22,500 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 7,900 | 8,800 | 14,200 |
| Other Sectors | 13,900 | 15,800 | 39,200 |
| Unclassified or unknown | 10,100 | 12,200 | 18,600 |
| Total | 286,900 | 313,800 | 598,000 |
Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment - Age Profile
| Age category | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 28 July | Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 21 July |
| < 25 | 60,300 | 66,500 |
| 25-34 | 64,900 | 71,500 |
| 35-44 | 64,400 | 70,700 |
| 45-54 | 54,000 | 58,500 |
| 55+ | 43,300 | 46,600 |
| Total | 286,900 | 313,800 |
Appendix 4 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by gender
There are 78,000 people receiving €203 this week, while the remainder (208,900) are receiving a payment of €350.
| Gender | Number of people in receipt of €350 on 28 July | Number of people in receipt of €203 on 28 July |
| Male | 114,500 | 37,700 |
| Female | 94,400 | 40,300 |
| Total | 208,900 | 78,000 |
Appendix 5 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by age
| Age category | Number of people in receipt of €350 on 28 July | Number of people in receipt of €203 on 28 July |
| < 25 | 40,300 | 20,200 |
| 25-34 | 51,900 | 13,000 |
| 35-44 | 48,500 | 15,900 |
| 45-54 | 38,800 | 15,100 |
| 55+ | 29,400 | 13,800 |
| Total | 208,900 | 78,000 |
Appendix 6 – Analysis of Closed PUP payments to return to Work
Around 14,500 people who have closed their account for return to work reasons since 18 July will receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment tomorrow, 28 July. Of these, 7,400 are male and 7,100 are female.
County Breakdown
| County | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 28 July | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 21 July |
| Carlow | 200 | 300 |
| Cavan | 200 | 400 |
| Clare | 400 | 600 |
| Cork | 1,600 | 2,200 |
| Donegal | 600 | 800 |
| Dublin | 3,900 | 5,700 |
| Galway | 900 | 1,300 |
| Kerry | 600 | 1,100 |
| Kildare | 600 | 900 |
| Kilkenny | 300 | 500 |
| Laois | 200 | 300 |
| Leitrim | 100 | 200 |
| Limerick | 500 | 800 |
| Longford | 100 | 200 |
| Louth | 400 | 600 |
| Mayo | 400 | 700 |
| Meath | 500 | 800 |
| Monaghan | 200 | 300 |
| Offaly | 200 | 300 |
| Roscommon | 200 | 300 |
| Sligo | 200 | 300 |
| Tipperary | 400 | 700 |
| Waterford | 400 | 500 |
| Westmeath | 300 | 400 |
| Wexford | 500 | 800 |
| Wicklow | 500 | 700 |
| County not included | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 14,500 | 21,800 |
Appendix 7 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments - Sector Breakdown
The top three sectors from which employees closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the week ending 28 July are Accommodation and Food Service Activities (4,400); and Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (1,800), and Construction (1,300).
| Industrial Sector | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 28 July | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 21 July |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying | 200 | 300 |
| Manufacturing | 600 | 1,200 |
| Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 100 | 100 |
| Construction | 1,300 | 2,100 |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles | 1,800 | 2,800 |
| Transportation and storage | 300 | 400 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 4,400 | 6,500 |
| Information and communication activities | 300 | 300 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 300 | 400 |
| Real Estate activities | 200 | 300 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 600 | 800 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 1,000 | 1,300 |
| Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security | 300 | 400 |
| Education | 500 | 600 |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 600 | 800 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 500 | 800 |
| Other Sectors | 1,100 | 2,000 |
| Unclassified or unknown | 400 | 700 |
| Total | 14,500 | 21,800 |
Appendix 8 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Age Profile
| Age category | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 28 July | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 21 July |
| < 25 | 3,500 | 4,800 |
| 25-34 | 3,400 | 5,000 |
| 35-44 | 3,400 | 5,200 |
| 45-54 | 2,500 | 4,000 |
| 55+ | 1,700 | 2,800 |
| Total | 14,500 | 21,800 |
Appendix 9 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments Recipients who closed their claim since start of Phase 1 and who are currently receiving the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) – Sector Breakdown
Since the start of Phase 1 on 18 May, 84,300 people have closed their claims for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for reasons of returning to work and are currently being subsidised by the government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). Of this total 43,100 are female and 41,200 are male.
Sector Breakdown
The top three sectors from which people closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment who are currently receiving the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme are Accommodation and Food Service Activities (30,500); Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (15,900) and Construction (9,200). Details follow.
Sector Breakdown
| Industrial Sector | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment for return to work reasons since 18 May and receiving the TWSS on 28 July | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment for return to work reasons since 18 May and receiving TWSS on 21 July | |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying | 500 | 400 | |
| Manufacturing | 6,900 | 5,200 | |
| Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 100 | 100 | |
| Construction | 9,200 | 8,300 | |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles | 15,900 | 14,000 | |
| Transportation and storage | 1,100 | 900 | |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 30,500 | 24,700 | |
| Information and communication activities | 600 | 500 | |
| Financial and insurance activities | 500 | 400 | |
| Real Estate activities | 1,100 | 1,000 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 2,300 | 1,700 | |
| Administrative and support service activities | 2,300 | 1,900 | |
| Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security | 300 | 300 | |
| Education | 1,000 | 800 | |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 2,600 | 2,100 | |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 2,100 | 1,700 | |
| Other Sectors | 7,200 | 6,300 | |
| Unclassified or unknown | 100 | 100 | |
| Total | 84,300 | 70,400 |
Appendix 10 - Age Profile of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment to return to work since 18 May and receiving TWSS
| Age category | Number of people who closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment for return to work reasons since 18 May and who are in receipt of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme at 28 July |
| < 25 | 18,600 |
| 25-34 | 20,700 |
| 35-44 | 21,500 |
| 45-54 | 14,800 |
| 55+ | 8,700 |
| Total | 84,300 |
Appendix 11 - Analysis of COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit
There are 53,000 people medically certified for receipt of a COVID-19 related Illness Benefit payment, of whom 29,650 are female and 23,350 are male.
For 2,200 of these, the date of their first certificate was issued after 1 June 2020, of which 183 were certified for COVID-19. Currently, there are 780 people receiving a COVID-19 related Illness Benefit payment from the department.
The following Table shows the number of people medically certified for meeting the conditions for receipt of a COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, by start date entered on the medical certificate.
The number of people medically certified with having COVID-19 is given in brackets and is included in the weekly overall figure shown.
| Certificate start date | 28 July |
| Before 15/03/2020 | 3,400 (131) |
| 16/03/2020 - 22/03/2020 | 13,700 (340) |
| 23/03/2020 - 29/03/2020 | 10,600 (354) |
| 30/03/2020 - 05/04/2020 | 6,600 (419) |
| 06/04/2020 - 12/04/2020 | 3,900 (433) |
| 13/04/2020 - 19/04/2020 | 2,900 (424) |
| 20/04/2020 - 26/04/2020 | 2,900 (544) |
| 27/04/2020 - 03/05/2020 | 2,400 (468) |
| 04/05/2020 - 10/05/2020 | 1,400 (213) |
| 11/05/2020 - 17/05/2020 | 1,500 (236) |
| 18/05/2020 - 24/05/2020 | 900 (98) |
| 25/05/2020 - 31/05/2020 | 600 (113) |
| 01/06/2020 - 07/06/2020 | 300 (44) |
| 08/06/2020 - 14/06/2020 | 200 (35) |
| 15/06/2020 - 21/06/2020 | 300 (18) |
| 22/06/2020 - 28/06/2020 | 300(17) |
| 29/06/2020 - 05/07/2020 | 300(20) |
| 06/07/2020 - 12/07/2020 | 300(22) |
| 13/07/2020 - 19/07/2020 | 300(23) |
| 20/07/2020 - 26/07/2020 | 200(4) |
| Total | 53,000 (3,956) |
County Breakdown (based on the county recorded on the Illness Benefit certificate)
| County | Number of people who are medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit on 28 July | Number of people who are medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit on 21 July | |
| Carlow | 700 | 700 | |
| Cavan | 1,300 | 1,300 | |
| Clare | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| Cork | 6,100 | 6,100 | |
| Donegal | 1,200 | 1,200 | |
| Dublin | 15,200 | 15,200 | |
| Galway | 3,200 | 3,200 | |
| Kerry | 1,100 | 1,100 | |
| Kildare | 2,600 | 2,500 | |
| Kilkenny | 1,100 | 1,100 | |
| Laois | 900 | 900 | |
| Leitrim | 200 | 200 | |
| Limerick | 1,800 | 1,800 | |
| Longford | 500 | 400 | |
| Louth | 1,600 | 1,600 | |
| Mayo | 1,300 | 1,300 | |
| Meath | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| Monaghan | 800 | 800 | |
| Offaly | 900 | 900 | |
| Roscommon | 800 | 800 | |
| Sligo | 500 | 400 | |
| Tipperary | 1,800 | 1,800 | |
| Waterford | 1,600 | 1,600 | |
| Westmeath | 1,000 | 900 | |
| Wexford | 1,700 | 1,700 | |
| Wicklow | 1,700 | 1,700 | |
| Other (NI & Foreign Address) | 400 | 400 | |
| Total | 53,000 | 52,600 |
Appendix 12 – COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit - Sector Breakdown
The sector with the highest number of people medically certified for receipt of a COVID-19 Illness Benefit payment is Human Health and Social Work (11,800), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (11,300) and Manufacturing (7,200).
Sector Breakdown
| Industrial Sector | Number of people who are medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit on 28 July | Number of people medically certified to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit on 21 July | |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying | 500 | 500 | |
| Manufacturing | 7,200 | 7,100 | |
| Electricity, gas, steam supply; Water supply; Sewerage, waste management | 300 | 300 | |
| Construction | 2,200 | 2,100 | |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles | 11,300 | 11,200 | |
| Transportation and storage | 2,100 | 2,100 | |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| Information and communication activities | 900 | 900 | |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2,200 | 2,200 | |
| Real Estate activities | 400 | 400 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 1,700 | 1,700 | |
| Administrative and support service activities | 5,200 | 5,200 | |
| Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security | 2,200 | 2,100 | |
| Education | 800 | 800 | |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 11,800 | 11,800 | |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 300 | 300 | |
| Other Sectors | 1,500 | 1,500 | |
| Unclassified or unknown | 400 | 400 | |
| Total | 53,000 | 52,600 |
Appendix 13 – Enhanced Illness Benefit - Age Profile
| Age category | Number of people medically certified to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit on 28 July |
| < 25 | 6,100 |
| 25-34 | 12,800 |
| 35-44 | 14,900 |
| 45-54 | 11,400 |
| 55+ | 7,800 |
| Total | 53,000 |