• Almost 330,000 receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
  • An increase of 34,000 receiving PUP compared to last week
  • €95.5 million is paid out in PUP payments today
  • Quickest and easiest way to apply for PUP is online at www.MyWelfare.ie
  • Earnings Reference Period for employees extended to September 2020

This week, the Department of Social Protection has issued payments valued at €95.5m, up from €85.6 million last week, to 329,991 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week represents an increase of 34,131 on the 295,860 people paid last week.

The sector with the highest number of people receiving a PUP payment this week is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (98,233). It is followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (51,921) and Other Sectors, e.g., hairdressers and beauty salons (28,799).

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 today, Tuesday, 3rd November.

Commenting on this week’s figures, Minister Humphreys said:

The increase in the number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was expected as a result of the move to Level 5 of restrictions. 

Supporting workers who have lost their job as a result of this pandemic remains my top priority. My Department has processed and put into payment over 125,000 new applications for PUP in recent weeks.

I would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the people who are claiming the PUP payment online.  By applying online at www.MyWelfare.ie it makes the PUP application process much easier and results in the applications going into payment much faster.”

The fall in the number of cases of Covid-19 in recent days is encouraging. This is a credit to the Irish people and the sacrifices they are making in responding to the public health advice.

PUP Payment Rates

PUP is paid at four rates. With effect from 16th October,

    • those with prior gross weekly earnings below €200 will continue to receive a rate of €203 per week.
    • those with prior gross weekly earnings of €200 to €299.99 will continue to receive €250 per week.
    • those with prior gross weekly earnings of €300 to €399.99 will continue to receive €300 per week.
    • those with prior gross weekly earnings of €400 or more will receive a rate of €350 per week.

PUP is paid weekly in arrears with applications received up to close of business on Thursday in any week being processed for payment on the following Tuesday.  Applications received after Thursday each week, are processed as part of the following week’s claims and paid in the next week after that.

Prior weekly earnings have been assessed in the case of employees, based on Revenue earnings data for 2019 and for January and February 2020. The average weekly pay for 2019 is calculated and the same is done for January and February 2020. The Department then uses the calculation which gives the person the highest weekly rate of income from these reference periods as the basis for calculating their PUP entitlement.

In the case of self-employed people, earnings have been assessed based on the 2019 and 2018 earnings returns to Revenue with the higher figure being used to determine the payment rate.

Any person, including any self-employed person, who believes that their new payment rate does not accurately reflect their prior earnings can contact the Department to request a review of earnings and forward all supporting documents, which will be matched with Revenue records. They can contact the Department by:

  • Emailing [email protected]; or
  • Writing to Pandemic Unemployment Rerate Requests, DEASP, Intreo Centre, Cork Road, Waterford or
  • Calling the Helpline at 1890 800 024 which is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

New Reference Period

The Minister today brought a memorandum to Cabinet which extends the 2020 earnings reference period for employees to September 2020.

This will mean that people who only commenced employment after February 2020 but have now been laid-off due to increased restrictions can have their payment rate fixed by reference to their earnings in the period March to September 2020.

The regulations will also provide that people who may have been in employment before February 2020 but whose earnings have reduced in the period since February can still have their PUP payment rate set by reference to their earlier, higher, earnings.

As self-employment earnings are filed with Revenue on an annual basis the assessment of self-employed earnings will continue as before to be based on the best of a person’s 2018 or 2019 earnings. Any earnings a person may have received as an employee during 2019 will also be considered and added to their self-employment earnings for the purpose of setting the appropriate PUP payment rate.

Self-employed people can also continue to earn up to €480 (net) per month while in receipt of PUP, take up the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme or avail of standard jobseeker payments.

People returning to work

 In the past seven days, some 4,200 people closed their PUP, 2,460 of whom stated that they were doing so because they are returning to work.

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

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 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

The largest cohort of people who closed their claims to return to work is in the 25-35 age group (649), followed by those aged 35-55 (603).  Full details are available at Appendix 8.

Employment supports available for when people return to work

There are a range of supports for the self-employed who are receiving 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 Part-Time Job Incentive scheme is available to self-employed people who come off PUP or a jobseeker’s payment. This scheme which allows a person to receive a partial jobseeker’s payment, while retaining employment income, 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.

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.

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

Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment

Since March, a cumulative total of 81,999 people under the age of 66 have been medically certified for receipt of the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit.  For 10,340 people the date of their first certificate was issued in October 2020, of which 1,556 have been certified for Covid-19.

Today, some 3,770 people are currently in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment.

The number of people medically certified to receive the Enhanced Illness Benefit has increased in every county again this week, the greatest number being in Dublin (22,906), followed by Cork (8,885), Galway (4,987), Kildare (4,052) and Meath (3,252).

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 (17,551) and Human Health and Social Work (15,397), followed by Manufacturing (11,301). 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 329,991 people in receipt a Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 166,280 are female and 163,711 are male.

County Breakdown

CountyNumber of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment

Payment on

3rd November

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

27th October

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

Carlow3,4813,0827,800
Cavan4,5404,1359,700
Clare7,2556,56314,600
Cork33,06228,96261,900
Donegal11,67310,95022,700
Dublin108,29299,157174,200
Galway18,21416,00532,300
Kerry12,96511,42622,200
Kildare14,44412,90326,100
Kilkenny5,2724,65310,600
Laois4,3343,7518,600
Leitrim1,9391,7034,100
Limerick12,83211,30822,300
Longford2,1191,8964,500
Louth9,9688,89217,300
Mayo8,6427,47416,400
Meath12,43911,22525,000
Monaghan3,8323,5778,200
Offaly4,1333,7188,900
Roscommon3,2742,8987,100
Sligo4,0383,5907,700
Tipperary8,8327,77218,800
Waterford7,6236,70414,100
Westmeath6,0225,24511,700
Wexford9,9328,57520,500
Wicklow10,0228,89518,700
County not included8128012,000
Total329,991295,860598,000

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 (98,233) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (51,921) and Other Sectors e.g. hairdressers and beauty salons (28,799).

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

3rd November

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

27th  October

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying3,9113,4748,600
Manufacturing14,76413,48737,400
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management1,0659552,100
Construction19,82318,19379,300
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles51,92143,43290,300
Transportation and storage8,7598,18217,900
Accommodation and food service activities98,23390,051128,500
Information and communication activities7,2887,04711,800
Financial and insurance activities6,8156,26012,500
Real Estate activities5,1604,5988,100
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities12,74511,85824,800
Administrative and support service activities27,71425,65645,800
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security5,1744,72814,400
Education10,1469,46422,000
Human Health And Social Work activities9,8539,06122,500
Arts, entertainment and recreation11,37610,06914,200
Other Sectors (e.g. hairdressers and beauty salons)28,79923,53739,200
Unclassified or unknown6,4455,80818,600
Total329,991295,860598,000

 Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment – Age Profile

Age categoryNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 3rd NovemberNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 27thOctober
< 2583,50074,479
25-3475,64668,111
35-4471,48964,109
45-5456,72350,802
55+42,63338,359
Total329,991295,860

Appendix 4 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by gender

GenderNumber of people in receipt of €350 on

3rd November

Number of people in receipt of €300 on

3rd November

Number of people in receipt of €250 on

3rd November

Number of people in receipt of €203 on

3rd November

Male81,45926,42625,15030,676
Female54,87031,14735,53644,727
Total136,32957,57360,68675,403

Appendix 5 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by age

Age category

 

Number of people in receipt of €350 on  3rd NovemberNumber of people in receipt of €300 on  3rd NovemberNumber of people in receipt of €250 on 3rd NovemberNumber of people in receipt of €203 on 3rd November
< 2515,39215,91522,48329,710
25-3437,99815,08511,34911,214
35-4436,90311,45010,54812,588
45-5427,7818,7038,86111,378
55+18,2556,4207,44510,513
Total136,32957,57360,68675,403

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

Around 2,460 people who have closed their account for return to work since 25th October will receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment today, 3rdNovember.   Of these 1,453 are male and 1,007 are female.

County Breakdown

County 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

3rd Novemberto return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

27th October to return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

20th October to return to work

Carlow312226
Cavan493340
Clare522959
Cork273212257
Donegal736088
Dublin761569766
Galway14192141
Kerry744960
Kildare12874102
Kilkenny243544
Laois422137
Leitrim111121
Limerick8188121
Longford221921
Louth685992
Mayo553358
Meath1115396
Monaghan372837
Offaly373449
Roscommon321831
Sligo252640
Tipperary765973
Waterford554062
Westmeath454747
Wexford813274
Wicklow644176
County not included1238
Total2,4601,7872,526

Appendix 7 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Sector Breakdown

The top three sectors from which employees closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the week ending 3rd November to return to work are Accommodation and Food Service Activities (491), Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (362) and Construction (279).

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 3rd November to return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 27th October to return to work

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying2531
Manufacturing234145
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management49
Construction279137
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles362295
Transportation and storage9198
Accommodation and food service activities491260
Information and communication activities7586
Financial and insurance activities4138
Real Estate activities2720
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities143115
Administrative and support service activities276205
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security4543
Education93102
Human Health And Social Work activities124104
Arts, entertainment and recreation4247
Other Sectors8234
Unclassified or unknown2618
Total2,460 

1,787

Appendix 8 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments to return to work – Age Profile 

Age category 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 3rdNovember to return to work

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 27th October to return to work
< 25513419
25-34649491
35-44603409
45-54440307
55+255161
Total2,4601,787

Appendix 9 – Analysis of Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit

To date, 81,999 people have been medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 related Illness Benefit payment, of whom 45,238 are female and 36,761 are male.

Some 3,770 people are currently in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment.

 For 10,340 people the date of their first certificate was issued in October 2020, of which 1,556 have been certified for Covid-19.

The following Table shows the number of people medically certified for meeting the conditions for receipt of a Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, by start date entered on the medical certificate.

The number of people medically certified with having Coronavirus is given in brackets and is included in the weekly overall figure shown.

Certificate start dateNumber of people medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit
Before March 2020151 (7)
March 202031,139 (1,008)
April 202014,469 (2,037)
May 20205,009 (772)
June 20201,472 (128)
July 20202,294 (155)
August 20205,718 (554)
September 202011,407 (1,076)
October 202010,340 (1,556)
Total81,999 (7,293)

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

3rd  November

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

27th  October

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

20th  October

Carlow1,1441,1081,042
Cavan2,1392,0541,876
Clare1,4791,4171,346
Cork8,8858,5308,015
Donegal2,3152,2052,031
Dublin22,90622,35221,431
Galway4,9874,7844,494
Kerry1,9291,8571,749
Kildare4,0523,9643,818
Kilkenny1,6691,6221,546
Laois1,3751,3361,288
Leitrim365351328
Limerick2,7862,6882,531
Longford674652615
Louth2,3602,2822,174
Mayo1,8601,7831,701
Meath3,2523,0922,831
Monaghan1,5251,4661,376
Offaly1,3111,2801,238
Roscommon1,1901,1531,102
Sligo760715642
Tipperary2,9532,8642,730
Waterford2,8652,7912,643
Westmeath1,4891,4131,319
Wexford2,8122,6842,464
Wicklow2,4672,4002,307
Other (NI & Foreign Address)450413378
Total81,99979,25675,015

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

The 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 (17,551) and Human Health and Social Work (15,397), followed by Manufacturing (11,301).

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

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

3rd  November

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

27th  October

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

20th  October

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying787752708
Manufacturing11,30110,94110,413
Electricity, gas, steam supply; Water supply; Sewerage, waste management405392370
Construction3,6163,4433,168
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles17,55116,93415,988
Transportation and storage2,9832,8772,752
Accommodation and food service activities4,9424,6974,316
Information and communication activities1,3481,3081,247
Financial and insurance activities3,0112,9422,812
Real Estate activities661635599
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities2,5722,4862,372
Administrative and support service activities7,3297,1386,863
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security3,2963,1913,010
Education2,1172,0121,811
Human Health And Social Work activities15,39715,03414,460
Arts, entertainment and recreation780733667
Other Sectors2,8342,7512,572
Unclassified or unknown1,069990887
Total81,99979,25675,015

Appendix 11 – Enhanced Illness Benefit – Age Profile

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

3rd  November

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

27th  October

Number of people who have been medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit to 20thOctober

 

< 2512,06011,36310,333
25-3420,28219,63918,604
35-4422,71722,05921,085
45-5416,36615,88215,108
55+10,57410,3139,885
Total81,99979,25675,015

 


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