The Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued to 153,309 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This reveals a reduction of 4403 on last week. The greatest reduction this week is in the area of Accommodation and Food Services sector. Commenting on the figures, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said:
The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has now fallen by almost 70% since February. “It is heartening to see more people return to work each week as we continue to move cautiously through our recovery from Covid-19
Over the coming weeks a number of changes to the PUP will be implemented –
In line with the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan, the PUP will be gradually reduced on a tapered basis over a 6 month period until February 2022 to align it with the standard jobseekers payments. This transition commences in September 2021. PUP has been closed to new claimants since 8 July this year. People who have lost their job since 8 July can apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance in the normal way. Students currently receiving the PUP who have advised the Department that they are or will be full-time students in the upcoming 2021/2022 academic year will receive their final payment on Tuesday 7th September.
The top three rates of PUP will all reduce by €50 in September. The new payment rates will be reflected in payments received on Tuesday 14th September.
People on the €203 PUP rate will transition to standard jobseekers terms. People who are receiving this rate of payment will be advised in the coming weeks on their options regarding standard Jobseekers’ payments i.e. Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance. Payment of PUP will continue while jobseeker claims are being processed.
Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.
