COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has ended following the reopening of workplaces.

PUP was open to you if you were an employee or self-employed and lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme closed to new applicants on 22 January 2022.

• the rate of payment was €208 per week (or €150 per week if you previously earned less than €151.50 per week)
• From 25 March, all remaining COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients moved to standard jobseeker’s terms.
• PUP was paid as normal up until and including Tuesday 29 March.

Rates of payment for people who lost their jobs after 7 December 2021

From 22 January 2022

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment closed to new applicants.

• if you earned between €200 and €299.99 per week and were on the €203 rate of payment up to 9 November, you moved to standard jobseeker’s terms.
• if you earned between €300 and €399.99 per week - the rate of payment was €203 per week
• if you earned €400 or more - the rate of payment was €250 per week

• if you earned less than €200 per week and were on the €203 rate of payment up to 7 September 2021 the process of moving to standard jobseeker’s terms began on 26 October 2021.
• if you earned between €200 and €299.99 per week - the rate of payment was €203 per week
• if you earned between €300 and €399.99 per week - the rate of payment was €250 per week
• if you earned €400 or more - the rate of payment was €300 per week

From 8 July 2021

• The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme closed to new applicants.

From 7 September 2021

• The final payment of COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment issued to students on 7 September 2021.

Rates from 16 October 2020

From 16 October 2020 until 7 September 2021 the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at 4 rates.

The rate you received depended on the amount you used to get paid:

• if you earned less than €200 per week - the rate of payment was €203 per week
• if you earned between €200 and €299.99 per week - the rate of payment was €250 per week
• if you earned between €300 and €399.99 per week - the rate of payment was €300 per week
• if you earned €400 or more - the rate of payment was €350 per week.

Rates from 17 September 2020

From 17 September 2020 until 15 October 2020 the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at 3 rates.

The rate you received depended on the amount you used to get paid:

• if you earned less than €200 per week - the rate of payment was €203 per week
• if you earned between €200 and €300 per week - the rate of payment was €250 per week
• if you earned over €300 per week - the rate of payment was €300 per week
• the Qualified Adult rate for those on Jobseeker's or Illness Benefit reverted to its normal level of €134.70 from the week commencing 28 September 2020.

Rates from March 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at a flat rate of €350.

Rates from 29 June 2020

From 29 June 2020 to 16 September 2020 the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at two rates.

The rate you received depended on the amount you used to get paid:

• if you earned less than €200 per week, the rate of payment was €203 per week
• if you earned €200 or more per week, the rate of payment remained at €350 per week

If you need information or further assistance, please contact: