• 244,153 people receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
  • An increase of 15,295 receiving PUP compared to last week
  • 2,526 closed their PUP claim in past 7 days to return to work
  • €65.5 million to be paid in PUP payments tomorrow
  • PUP remains open to new entrants who should apply online at www.MyWelfare.ie
  • Increasing number of people applying for Enhanced Illness Benefit in every County

Today, the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at €65.5 million, up from €61.4m last week, to 244,153 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week represents an increase of 15,295 on the 228,858 people paid last week.

In the past seven days, 3,950 people have closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  Of these, 2,526 have reported that they were returning to work. Some 1,973 people will be receiving their final payment tomorrow, 20th October.

The sector with the highest number of people receiving a PUP payment this week is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (79,369). It is followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (31,834) and Administrative and Support Service activities (23,273).

This week’s figures are in addition to the 211,492 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of September.  All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow, Tuesday, 20th October.

Commenting on the figures, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, said:

 Some €65.5 million has been paid out in PUP this week, supporting over 244,000 people.

Today’s figures demonstrate the unprecedented challenging times the country is facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A major factor in managing the behaviour of the virus is being able to reduce the number of people we meet.

 I know how difficult it is for people who are being asked to work from home where possible and to refrain from making household visits.  

But the best way we can protect the people we care about the most is to follow the public health advice: Reduce your contacts, wash your hands, wear your mask, and observe social distancing.”

Minister Humphreys added:

I am deeply conscious that people feel anxious and concerned about the prospect of future restrictions.

But I know too that we have it in us as a country to get back on top on this virus. We did it before and we will do it again.

So let’s come together and ensure we do what is necessary to protect lives and protect livelihoods.

I also want to thank the huge number of people applying for social protection supports who have moved to use our online service www.MyWelfare.ie.

This is the quickest and easiest way to receive the likes of PUP so I would encourage anyone wishing to avail of supports to do so online.

Applying for PUP

To apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the easiest and quickest way is to do so online at www.MyWelfare.ie. When applying, people should provide the name of their employer and details of their last day of employment. Over 95% of people who applied for PUP last week did so online, ensuring that their payment was processed quickly.

In the interests of the public health advice and observing social distancing people are asked, if at all possible, not to attend their local Intreo Centre. Instead, they should avail of the online services available through www.MyWelfare.ie.

People returning to work

In the past week, some 3,950 people closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 2,526 reported that they were returning to work. As the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a weekly payment paid in arrears, there is a one week lag in how closures, due to people returning to work or people making new applications for PUP, are reflected in the payment data.

This week the sector with the greatest number of employees returning to work is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (391), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor vehicles and Motorcycles (367) and the Administrative and Support Service activities (267). A full breakdown of the sectors in this area is set out at Appendix 7 below.

Looking at the age profile, the largest number of people returning to work is in the 25-34 group, followed by those aged 35–44. Full details are available at Appendix 8.

The Department continues to remind workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). In order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly, workers who are returning to work must close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start back at work.

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 (Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm).

Employment supports available to people returning to work

Last week Minister Humphreys announced increased supports for the self-employed who are availing of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and who are looking to restart their business. In order to reduce the risk of moving from the certainty of the PUP payment to the uncertainty of trading income, self-employed people on PUP, including those who work in the arts/entertainment industry, taxi drivers and others, can earn up to €480 per month, while retaining their full PUP entitlement.

In addition, the Minister is making the Part-Time Job Incentive scheme available to self-employed people who come off PUP or a jobseeker’s payment. This scheme allows a person to receive a partial jobseeker’s payment, while retaining employment income. This may be particularly suited in circumstances where a self-employed person’s income exceeds the €480 per month income threshold on PUP.

Employees who satisfy the relevant criteria, may claim casual (i.e. part-time) jobseeker’s payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. The normal scheme rules and application processes for casual jobseeker payments and Short-Time Work Support apply, including completion of the relevant forms by the employer to certify days of employment and unemployment.

Industries that remain closed

Where, due to ongoing restrictions, a person’s employer has not restarted operations or where a sector is still temporarily closed, or has had to close their business again temporarily, the Department will continue to support these workers through payment of the PUP.  New applications for PUP can be made until the end of this year.

COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment

Since March, 75,015 people under the age of 66 have been medically certified for receipt of the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit, which is an increase of 3,374 from last week and an increase of 5,749 in the past two weeks.

Today, some 3,481 people are currently in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment.

This week again, the number of people medically certified to receive the Enhanced Illness Benefit has increased in every county, the greatest number being in Dublin, followed by Cork and Galway.

The three counties currently under Level 4, Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan have seen increases of 163, 173 and 97 people respectively medically certified to receive the payment this week.

There has also been an increase in every sector affected by the Covid-19 virus again this week. The sectors with the greatest number of people medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment are Wholesale and Retail Trade and Human Health and Social Work, followed by Manufacturing. Full details are at Appendices 9, 10 and 11.

Appendices

Appendix 1 –    Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments by County

Appendix 2 –    Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector

Appendix 3 –    Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Age Profile

Appendix 4 –    Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by gender

Appendix 5 –    Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates by age

Appendix 6 –    Analysis of People who Closed their PUP Claim to Return to Work

Appendix 7 –    Analysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector

Appendix 8 –    Analysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments Age Profile

Appendix 9 –    Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by County

Appendix 10 –  Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by Sector

Appendix 11 –  Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments Age Profile

Appendix 1 – Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments

There are 244,153 people in receipt a Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 115,831 are female and 128,322 are male.

County Breakdown

CountyNumber of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment

Payment on

20th October

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment

Payment on

13th October

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

 
Carlow2,3982,2347,800
Cavan3,2262,8759,700
Clare5,4934,99714,600
Cork22,51320,56661,900
Donegal9,1198,53022,700
Dublin85,95084,485174,200
Galway13,03511,57832,300
Kerry9,0287,63022,200
Kildare10,47410,04126,100
Kilkenny3,7493,33810,600
Laois3,0142,8718,600
Leitrim1,4471,3074,100
Limerick9,0778,30022,300
Longford1,5131,3994,500
Louth7,2186,73017,300
Mayo5,9775,12516,400
Meath9,2348,65925,000
Monaghan2,9122,6278,200
Offaly3,0812,9218,900
Roscommon2,4172,2347,100
Sligo2,9742,6597,700
Tipperary6,2255,77518,800
Waterford5,3274,77314,100
Westmeath4,1983,78811,700
Wexford6,5405,84620,500
Wicklow7,1956,71818,700
County not included8198522,000
Total244,153228,858598,000 

 Appendix 2 – Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Sector Breakdown

The sector with the highest number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (79,369) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (31,834) and Administrative and Support Service activities (23,273).

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

20th October

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

13th October

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying2,9982,8198,600
Manufacturing11,79911,44737,400
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management8618452,100
Construction16,20915,59079,300
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles31,83430,61290,300
Transportation and storage7,6507,48217,900
Accommodation and food service activities79,36969,710128,500
Information and communication activities6,5526,25211,800
Financial and insurance activities5,5385,34112,500
Real Estate activities3,8023,5758,100
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities10,80410,65824,800
Administrative and support service activities23,27322,70745,800
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security4,1164,02014,400
Education8,5498,54422,000
Human Health And Social Work activities8,0697,78822,500
Arts, entertainment and recreation7,7407,08814,200
Other Sectors9,8679,34139,200
Unclassified or unknown5,1235,03918,600
Total244,153228,858598,000

Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment – Age Profile

Age categoryNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 20thOctoberNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 13th  October
< 2560,87354,999
25-3455,63652,780
35-4452,33449,554
45-5442,28540,099
55+33,02531,426
Total244,153228,858

Appendix 4 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by gender

GenderNumber of people in receipt of €300 on

20th October

Number of people in receipt of €250 on

20th October

Number of people in receipt of €203 on

20thOctober

Male84,29019,40424,628
Female58,99824,71632,117
Total143,28844,12056,745

Appendix 5 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by age

Age category

 

Number of people in receipt of €300 on  20thOctoberNumber of people in receipt of €250 on 20thOctoberNumber of people in receipt of €203 on 20thOctober
< 2523,11716,52721,229
25-3439,0828,3108,224
35-4435,5637,2719,500
45-5426,9396,3349,012
55+18,5875,6788,760
Total143,28844,12056,745

Appendix 6 – Analysis of Closed PUP payments to return to Work

Around 2,526 people who have closed their account for return to work since 11th October will receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment tomorrow, 20thOctober.   Of these 1,327 are male and 1,199 are female.

County Breakdown

County 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

20thOctober to return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

13th Octoberto return to work

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

6th Octoberto return to work

 
Carlow264750
Cavan403693
Clare5964114
Cork257339550
Donegal8876123
Dublin7669391,161
Galway141189285
Kerry6099213
Kildare102175286
Kilkenny445399
Laois374871
Leitrim211733
Limerick121138240
Longford211633
Louth92118133
Mayo5873146
Meath96108216
Monaghan374995
Offaly495890
Roscommon313756
Sligo404681
Tipperary73110218
Waterford6269138
Westmeath4756105
Wexford7487185
Wicklow7685138
County not included8717
Total2,5263,139           4,969

Appendix 7 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Sector Breakdown

The top three sectors from which employees closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the week ending 20h October to return to work are Accommodation and Food Service Activities (391), Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (367) and Administrative and Support Service activities (267).

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 20th October to return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 13th October to return to work

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying2135
Manufacturing220237
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management1916
Construction215247
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles367478
Transportation and storage106121
Accommodation and food service activities391489
Information and communication activities96107
Financial and insurance activities5972
Real Estate activities2726
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities177232
Administrative and support service activities267344
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security8094
Education206236
Human Health And Social Work activities129142
Arts, entertainment and recreation5193
Other Sectors76124
Unclassified or unknown1946
Total 

2,526

 

3,139

Appendix 8 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Age Profile

Age category 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

20th October to

return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

13th October to

return to work

< 25544700
25-34679763
35-44588741
45-54464606
55+251329
Total2,5263,139

Appendix 9 – Analysis of Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit

To date, 75,015 people have been medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 related Illness Benefit payment, of whom 41,499 are female and 33,516 are male.

Today, some 3,481 people are currently in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment. 

County Breakdown (based on the county recorded on the Illness Benefit certificate)

CountyNumber of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

20th  October

Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

13th  October

 Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

6th October

Carlow1,0421,010990
Cavan1,8761,7131,644
Clare1,3461,2801,231
Cork8,0157,6377,367
Donegal2,0311,8581,726
Dublin21,43120,69920,053
Galway4,4944,3004,140
Kerry1,7491,6571,589
Kildare3,8183,6913,617
Kilkenny1,5461,4621,427
Laois1,2881,2281,187
Leitrim328315302
Limerick2,5312,4322,346
Longford615593580
Louth2,1742,1092,051
Mayo1,7011,6281,591
Meath2,8312,6622,582
Monaghan1,3761,2791,205
Offaly1,2381,2081,175
Roscommon1,1021,0601,020
Sligo642576540
Tipperary2,7302,6472,562
Waterford2,6432,4612,400
Westmeath1,3191,2631,221
Wexford2,4642,2762,189
Wicklow2,3072,2292,168
Other (NI & Foreign Address)378368363
Total75,01571,641 69,266

Appendix 10 – Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit – Sector Breakdown

The two sectors with the highest number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment to date are Wholesale and Retail Trade (15,988) and Human Health and Social Work (14,460), followed by Manufacturing (10,413)

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

20th October

Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

13th October

 Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

6thOctober

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying708664640
Manufacturing10,4139,9889,711
Electricity, gas, steam supply; Water supply; Sewerage, waste management370351337
Construction3,1682,9732,858
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles15,98815,20514,670
Transportation and storage2,7522,6572,584
Accommodation and food service activities4,3163,9663,707
Information and communication activities1,2471,1981,169
Financial and insurance activities2,8122,7182,660
Real Estate activities599580567
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities2,3722,2752,194
Administrative and support service activities6,8636,6206,444
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security3,0102,8842,774
Education1,8111,6591,552
Human Health And Social Work activities14,46014,06313,775
Arts, entertainment and recreation667613566
Other Sectors2,5722,4162,304
Unclassified or unknown887811754
Total75,01571,641 69,266

Appendix 11 – Enhanced Illness Benefit – Age Profile

Age categoryNumber of people who have been medically certified

for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

20th  October

 

 

Number of people who have been medically certified

for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to

13th October

 

 

Number of people

who have been

medically certified

for receipt of

Enhanced Illness

Benefit to

6th October

 

 

< 2510,3339,5369,000
25-3418,60417,72817,118
35-4421,08520,32519,767
45-5415,10814,52014,071
55+9,8859,5329,310
Total75,01571,64169,266

 


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