• 205,593 people receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
  • 4,969 closed their PUP claim in past 7 days to return to work
  • €55.2 million to be paid in PUP payments tomorrow
  • PUP remains open to new entrants who should apply online at www.MyWelfare.ie

Today the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at €55.2 million to 205,593 people for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week represents a drop of 11,549 on the 217,142 people paid last week.

In the past seven days, 7,298 people have closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Of these, 4,969 have reported that they were returning to work. Some 3,378 people will be receiving their final payment tomorrow, 6th October. In addition, payments have ceased for some 4,645 individuals who had been receiving PUP but have failed to confirm their eligibility to continue to receive the payment. Anybody impacted by this who wishes to clarify their position should contact the Department’s Helpline 1890 800 024 for assistance.

The sector with the greatest drop in the numbers receiving PUP payments this week is construction which stands at 15,170, down 1,743 on last week.

The sector with the highest number of people receiving a PUP payment this week is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (51,286) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (29,353) and Administrative and Support Service activities (22,129).

These 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, 6th October.

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

“Some €55.2 million has been paid out in PUP this week, supporting almost 206,000 people.
“For the very reason that additional restrictions was a possibility, the Government kept PUP open for new entrants.
“I really want to emphasise that anyone who is impacted by these new restrictions can avail of PUP via MyWelfare.ie.”

Applying for PUP

To apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, people should 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 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 7,298 people closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 4,969 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 largest number of employees returning to work is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (1,312), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor vehicles and Motorcycles (702) and the Administrative and Support Service activities (417). 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 35-44 group, followed by those aged 25–34. 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

Subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual (i.e. part-time) jobseeker 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 the workers concerned through payment of the PUP. New applications for PUP can be made until the end of this year.

Occasional employment

The Department considers occasional employment to be once-off irregular, infrequent, or isolated events and where there is a clear divergence from previous employment patterns. Where a person has any doubt, they should contact the Department directly to discuss their claim.

Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment

To date 69,266 people under the age of 66 have been medically certified for receipt of the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit.

For the second week in a row, the number of people medically certified to receive the Enhanced Illness Benefit has increased in every county.

There has also been an increase in every sector. The two sectors with the highest number of people medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment are Wholesale and Retail Trade (14,670) and Human Health and Social Work (13,775), followed by Manufacturing (9,711). 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 205,593 people in receipt a Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 94,961 are female and 110,632 are male.

County Breakdown

CountyNumber of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment

Payment on

6th October

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

29th September

Number of people in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

 
Carlow1,9612,1827,800
Cavan2,4302,6889,700
Clare4,1054,51214,600
Cork16,99518,74561,900
Donegal7,9465,94922,700
Dublin83,35685,892174,200
Galway9,56410,46932,300
Kerry5,7696,30122,200
Kildare9,35510,06126,100
Kilkenny2,6692,94110,600
Laois2,4632,7018,600
Leitrim1,1211,1854,100
Limerick7,1227,75622,300
Longford1,2021,3434,500
Louth5,7416,24917,300
Mayo4,0524,53816,400
Meath7,8278,45525,000
Monaghan2,2342,6358,200
Offaly2,5632,8008,900
Roscommon1,8152,0387,100
Sligo2,0312,2337,700
Tipperary4,9105,49118,800
Waterford3,8204,16614,100
Westmeath3,0983,40111,700
Wexford4,6765,12720,500
Wicklow5,8566,30118,700
County not included9129832,000
Total205,593217,142598,000 

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 (51,286) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (29,353) and Administrative and Support Service activities (22,129).

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

6th October

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

29th September

Number of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on

5th May

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying2,6482,9438,600
Manufacturing11,07911,76837,400
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management8308892,100
Construction15,17016,91379,300
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles29,35330,95090,300
Transportation and storage7,4247,90117,900
Accommodation and food service activities51,28651,840128,500
Information and communication activities5,9026,09311,800
Financial and insurance activities5,1375,47012,500
Real Estate activities3,2373,3408,100
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities10,45311,27124,800
Administrative and support service activities22,12923,11145,800
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security3,9054,31414,400
Education8,4779,39422,000
Human Health And Social Work activities7,5487,97222,500
Arts, entertainment and recreation6,1886,34114,200
Other Sectors9,0059,93839,200
Unclassified or unknown5,8226,69418,600
Total205,593217,142598,000

 

Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment – Age Profile

 

Age categoryNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 6thOctoberNumber of people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 29th  September
< 2544,72445,461
25-3448,49150,500
35-4445,47748,533
45-5437,12740,158
55+29,77432,490
Total205,593217,142

  

Appendix 4 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by gender

 

GenderNumber of people in receipt of €300 on

6th October

Number of people in receipt of €250 on

6th October

Number of people in receipt of €203 on

6th October

Male72,25716,45321,922
Female49,36419,61925,978
Total121,62136,07247,900

 

Appendix 5 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates breakdown by age

 

Age category

 

Number of people in receipt of €300 on  6thOctoberNumber of people in receipt of €250 on 6th OctoberNumber of people in receipt of €203 on 6thOctober
< 2518,75011,62514,349
25-3433,4207,3177,754
35-4430,1926,3788,907
45-5423,0035,5848,540
55+16,2565,1688,350
Total121,62136,07247,900

 

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

Around 4,969 people who have closed their account for return to work since 27th September will receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment tomorrow, 6thOctober.   Of these, 2,500 are male and 2,469 are female.

County Breakdown

 

County 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

6th Octoberto return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

29thSeptember to return to work

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

22ndSeptember to return to work

 
Carlow507647
Cavan9312982
Clare11417494
Cork550771529
Donegal123192150
Dublin1,1611,2021,216
Galway285393266
Kerry213250139
Kildare286311305
Kilkenny9910768
Laois7110285
Leitrim334719
Limerick240268216
Longford336941
Louth133195145
Mayo146216107
Meath216269188
Monaghan9528468
Offaly90120115
Roscommon5610957
Sligo818561
Tipperary218267173
Waterford138133117
Westmeath105129113
Wexford185212144
Wicklow138176150
County not included172312
Total4,9696,3094,707

 

Appendix 7 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Sector Breakdown

The top three sectors from which employees closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the week ending 6th October to return to work are Accommodation and Food Service Activities (1,312), Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles (702) and Administrative and Support Service activities (417).

 

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from 6th October to return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from29th September to return to work

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying5191
Manufacturing324314
Electricity, gas supply; Water supply, sewerage and waste management1022
Construction314389
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles702764
Transportation and storage173264
Accommodation and food service activities1,3121,864
Information and communication activities146137
Financial and insurance activities113130
Real Estate activities6071
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities282469
Administrative and support service activities417457
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security140167
Education362486
Human Health And Social Work activities216258
Arts, entertainment and recreation96127
Other Sectors175192
Unclassified or unknown76107
Total 

4,969

 

6,309

 

Appendix 8 – Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments – Age Profile

 

Age category 

Number of people who closed their PUP payment from

6th October to

return to work

 

Number of people who closed their PUP

payment from

29th September to

return to work

< 251,0211,186
25-341,0521,255
35-441,1391,493
45-549911,277
55+7661,098
Total 

4,969

 

6,309

 

Appendix 9 – Analysis of Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit

To date, 69,266 people have been medically certified for receipt of a Covid-19 related Illness Benefit payment, of whom 38,374 are female and 30,892 are male.

Some 2,028 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

6th  October

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

29th September

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

to 22ndSeptember

Carlow990958927
Cavan1,6441,5761,544
Clare1,2311,1891,159
Cork7,3677,0986,952
Donegal1,7261,5331,434
Dublin20,05319,06418,353
Galway4,1403,9123,761
Kerry1,5891,5181,463
Kildare3,6173,5053,432
Kilkenny1,4271,3701,335
Laois1,1871,1621,130
Leitrim302278267
Limerick2,3462,2682,224
Longford580557542
Louth2,0511,9681,910
Mayo1,5911,5341,501
Meath2,5822,4782,411
Monaghan1,2051,0761,029
Offaly1,1751,1221,088
Roscommon1,020978960
Sligo540521513
Tipperary2,5622,4432,389
Waterford2,4002,2812,164
Westmeath1,2211,1681,146
Wexford2,1892,0992,047
Wicklow2,1682,0792,005
Other (NI & Foreign Address)363349343
Total69,26666,084 64,029

 

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 (14,670) and Human Health and Social Work (13,775), followed by Manufacturing (9,711).

Sector Breakdown

 

 

 

Industrial Sector

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

6th October

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

29thSeptember

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

22ndSeptember

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying640615602
Manufacturing9,7119,3429,095
Electricity, gas, steam supply; Water supply; Sewerage, waste management337323315
Construction2,8582,6722,555
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles14,67013,96913,495
Transportation and storage2,5842,4842,421
Accommodation and food service activities3,7073,3863,158
Information and communication activities1,1691,1141,090
Financial and insurance activities2,6602,5662,507
Real Estate activities567536526
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities2,1942,1082,049
Administrative and support service activities6,4446,2206,080
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security2,7742,6292,542
Education1,5521,3951,289
Human Health And Social Work activities13,77513,38513,151
Arts, entertainment and recreation566512483
Other Sectors2,3042,1482,041
Unclassified or unknown754680630
Total69,26666,084 64,029

 

Appendix 11 – Enhanced Illness Benefit – Age Profile

Age categoryNumber of people medically certified to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit to

6thOctober

 Number of people medically certified to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit to

29th  September

Number of people medically certified to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit to

22ndSeptember

 
< 259,0008,3307,925
25-3417,11816,28315,744
35-4419,76718,94218,360
45-5414,07113,49713,160
55+9,3109,0328,840
Total69,26666,08464,029

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