July Stimulus - Social Protection

Minister Humphreys announces €2.3 billion in expenditure on income and employment supports as part of the July Stimulus Package

Information correct as per July Stimulus announcement 23 July 2020.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was due to close on 10 August. As part of the July Stimulus Package, the payment will be extended to April 2021.

The payment was only open to new applicants up to 17 September. Applications for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment have now been further extended to the end of 2020.

The payment rate will be gradually tapered between now and April 2021 by linking the payment rate to prior earnings.

From 17 September there will be three rates of payment:

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates will be adjusted further in February and April 2021.

As part of the July Stimulus Package, there will be an additional 45,500 places in employment schemes and services.

This comprises:

• 10,000 extra places for Work Placement and Experience Programmes - Youth Employment Support Scheme
• 12,500 extra places with Training Support Grant and an increase from €500 to €1000
• 12,000 extra Enterprise Support Grants for self-employed people receiving the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
• enhanced JobsPlus recruitment subsidies paid to employers to create an estimated 8,000 new hires from the Live Register
• 3,000 extra places on State Employment Schemes, such as Community Employment and Tús
• Public Employment Services(PES) capacity increased across Intreo
• Back to Education Allowance extended to those who received COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
• additional support for jobseekers to start a new business will be available with the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The department will also work with the Department of Finance to develop and implement a new Short-Time Working scheme, using the wage subsidy model.

For more information, see the press release.