Update on payments awarded for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enhanced Illness Benefit - 12 January 2022
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €19.3 million to 75,648 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for the period 31 December 2021 to 6 January 2022.
This represents an increase of 8,743 on the number of people in receipt of the payment last week.
These figures are in addition to the 164,626 people who were on the Live Register at the end of November.
All COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments have been paid into recipients’ bank accounts or at their post office on Tuesday, 11 January 2022.
The sector with the highest number of people receiving PUP this week is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (16,098) and is followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (12,207) and Administrative and Support Service activities (8,070).
Since Tuesday 7 December, PUP has reopened for workers who have been impacted by the latest restrictions and measures to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
There are five weekly rates of PUP payable for these workers who lose their job as a result of the latest restrictions from 7 December. The rate of payment is determined by the person’s weekly earnings, namely €350, €300, €250, €208 and €150.
The Department of Social Protection is using Revenue data to verify employment status and earnings for all applications.
Although applicants should apply online, they may be required, as is the case with other work-related payments, to attend an Intreo Centre to present evidence of their employment status.
Enhanced Illness Benefit claims are paid on the day they are authorised so payments issue every day during the week. Consequently, the EIB statistics are now being aligned with those provided on PUP and those for EIB show that for the period 31 December 2021 to 6 January 2022 (the latest PUP payment week), some 25,073 people received the EIB payment from the department valued at €9.7 million. The total amount paid in EIB to date is €190.7 million.
Minister Humphreys recently announced that the Department of Social Protection has expanded the range of documentation customers can use to apply for the Enhanced Illness Benefit.
To avail of Enhanced Illness Benefit, depending on the circumstances of the person applying for the payment, the Department of Social Protection will accept:
1. Text message from the HSE that they are a close contact.
2. Text message from the HSE that they have a positive PCR.
3. Certification from your GP that they have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or are a probable source of infection.
4. Confirmation from the HSE that they have ordered an antigen test.
Minister Humphreys commented:
“The increasing number of people receiving the Enhanced Illness Benefit demonstrates just how easily this virus can spread.
“This financial support is there for any employee or the self-employed person who cannot work because they have been diagnosed with the virus or they have to self-isolate.
“My department is processing the applications for this payment as quickly as possible. The quickest and easiest way to apply for this payment is online through MyWelfare.ie.”
The most recent tables relating to PUP and EIB are available in the below Appendices.