Update on payments awarded for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enhanced Illness Benefit - 15 September 2021
- Published on: 15 September 2021
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
114,600 people receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, a fall of 25,526 on last week
Overall PUP numbers have now fallen by almost 500,000 since peak in 2020
Some €29.65 million in PUP weekly payments paid into bank accounts or post offices this week
Wide range of employment supports available for PUP recipients as part of Pathways to Work strategy, available via www.gov.ie/pathways
Public reminded about Scam Phone Calls and Scam Texts from callers claiming to be from the Department of Social Protection
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €29.65 million to 114,612 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
This represents a fall of 25,526 compared to last week. The overall PUP figures have now fallen by almost 500,000 since numbers on the payment peaked at over 600,000 in May 2020.
The greatest reduction this week is in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.
The PUP figures published this week are in addition to the 179,761 people who were on the Live Register at the end of August.
All COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments have been paid into recipients’ bank accounts or at their post office this week.
Commenting today, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said:
“Throughout the summer months, we have seen a continuous steady decrease in the number of people relying on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
“The number of people in receipt of the PUP has now fallen by almost 500,000 since the peak in mid 2020.
“The economy is now substantially reopened and it is really encouraging to see businesses actively advertising for and hiring new staff. Through the government’s Pathways to Work strategy we want to support people through training, further education and reskilling opportunities to give them the tools and most importantly the confidence to get back to work.”
The Minister continued:
“The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has proven to be one of the most important supports in our country’s history.
“In fact, since the introduction of the PUP in March 2020, almost one million people have been supported under the scheme at one stage or another.
“The PUP was always a temporary emergency support and as the emergency phase of the pandemic has now passed, it is the right time to start the process of winding the payment down.
“The tapering of the PUP is happening in a gradual, phased manner between now and next February recognising the fact that some sectors of our economy are getting back to normal at a slower rate than others.
“It’s important that businesses continue to avail of the supports available through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in order to help them rehire staff.
“In particular I would encourage those working in the music and entertainment industry to utilise the Music and Entertainment Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) which remains opens for applications. I know that the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) are doing a lot of work to promote this particular support and I would strongly encourage people to make an application to ensure they don’t miss out.”
The payment week for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment runs from Friday to Thursday and payments are paid on the following Tuesday. Individuals who have closed their PUP by Monday 13 September, as they have returned to work, will receive their final PUP payment on Tuesday 21 September.
People returning to work
The department continues to remind workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on the actual date that they start back at work, in order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly and to avoid incurring an overpayment that the department will take steps to recover.
As PUP is paid weekly in arrears people who have closed their claim last week are receiving a final payment this week and are still counted in the numbers in payment for this week. 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 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Transition of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
In line with the government’s Economic Recovery Plan, the PUP is gradually being reduced on a tapered basis over a 6 month period from September 2021 until February 2022 to align it with the standard jobseekers payments.
Students
Almost 20,000 students who had been receiving the PUP and advised the department that they are or will be full-time students in the upcoming 2021/2022 academic year received their final payment last week on Tuesday 7 September.
Changes to PUP Rates
The maximum weekly rate of €350 is now reduced to €300. The €300 rate is reduced to €250 and the rate of €250 has reduced to €203. These new payment rates were reflected in the payments received yesterday, Tuesday 14 September.
The process of moving from the lower €203 rate of PUP to a jobseeker’s payment was due to begin in early September. This has now been deferred until after all sectors have started to reopen in line with the Roadmap announced on Tuesday 31 August and all affected customers will continue to receive their PUP payment until 26 October when the process of their transition to a jobseeker’s payment will begin. Work on the transition process will commence at the end of September when the department will write to all affected customers to outline the options available to them.
Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16 November 2021 and 8 February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.
Control Measures
The department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks on all PUP claims which include continuing eligibility checks. Subject to these checks being cleared the department then processes payments based on the clients’ self-declaration.
The department runs post payment checks that includes verifying data against Revenue records, examining cases where the same bank account is used multiple times, examining cases where an employer or members of the public report concerns, and the use of data analytics to identify and check claims. It also undertakes employer inspections.
This work is undertaken by the department’s Special Investigation Unit, which includes over 20 Gardaí on secondment to the department.
As business reopens the department’s inspectors continue to conduct control reviews and matching records against employer payroll data from the Revenue Commissioners to help ensure people close their claim as they return to work. To avoid incurring an overpayment people returning to work should close their claim and can do so easily at www.MyWelfare.ie.
Self-employed people and PUP
Self-employed people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment who are looking to maintain their business can earn up to €960 over an eight-week period, while retaining their full PUP entitlement.
There is no formal application process and a self-employed person simply needs to inform the department if they earn over €960 in any eight-week period.
The €1,000 Enterprise Support Grant will remain in place for the rest of the year for self-employed people who close their PUP payment. Those who claimed the grant in 2020 but who found themselves back on PUP in 2021, will be able to access the grant for a second time.
MyWelfare.ie – PPSN application service
The easiest and quickest way to apply for many social welfare payments, including the Enhanced Illness Benefit and Jobseekers’ payments is online at www.MyWelfare.ie. This is a platform which is safe, secure and accessible anytime, anywhere and on all devices. People have the option of applying for Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Child Benefit, PRSI refunds and Jobseekers’ payments as well as requesting a statement or a record of social insurance contributions from the department.
The application service to apply for a PPS Number is available at www.MyWelfare.ie for people living in Ireland who are at least 18 years of age and need a PPS Number to avail of social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. To apply for a PPS Number online, a person will need to have a basic MyGovID account.
In the interests of the public health advice and observing social distancing people are asked, if possible, not to attend their local Intreo Centre. Instead, they should avail of the online services available through www.MyWelfare.ie.
COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment
Employees or self-employed people who contract the virus or who are medically certified by their doctor to self-isolate are advised to apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit. Unlike the standard Illness Benefit, the Enhanced Illness Benefit is paid from the first day of illness. The quickest and easiest way to apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit is through www.MyWelfare.ie.
This week some 2,271 people are in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, compared with 2,367 last week.
Full details on Enhanced Illness Benefit including sector and county breakdown as well as age profile are at Appendices 7, 8 and 9.
Scam Phone Calls and Scam Texts
Customers and members of the public are reminded about scam phone calls and text messages they may receive from individuals claiming to be an official of the department.
These calls and texts display a range of numbers, including some which may appear to be from the department’s phone numbers. The department would like to remind all its customers that it will never seek personal information from customers via text message and will never ask a customer for their bank details over the phone.
Any person who receives such a call or text is asked not to disclose any information and to report it to the Gardaí immediately.
Appendices
