Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. To date, more than €8.7 billion has been spent supporting workers impacted by the pandemic through the PUP. Since the lifting of restrictions and the success of the vaccine roll-out, the numbers on the payment have fallen dramatically - to 101,470 payments this week from a peak of more than 602,000. It is important, therefore, as the economy reopens and in the interests of equity and sustainability, to restore standard social welfare payments.

In line with the Government’s economic recovery plan, the PUP is gradually being wound down using a tapered approach over a six-month period from last month until February 2022. As PUP customers move to the €203 rate, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms. The process of moving to a standard jobseeker’s term for the first group on the €203 rate of payment was due to begin in early September. I deferred this process until after all sectors start to reopen in line with the recent roadmap, Reframing the Challenge: Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting. This means that affected customers will continue to receive their PUP payments until 26 October, when the process of their transition to jobseeker’s payments will begin.

The Department has written to all affected customers to outline the details of the transition and the options that will be available to them. Customers entitled to jobseeker's benefit will be automatically transferred to this payment after 26 October. Where an application for jobseeker's allowance is submitted, the person will remain on PUP until their entitlement to jobseeker's allowance is determined and their application is processed.

Unfortunately, not all people in receipt of PUP will be able to return to their former employment. Even though we know that the economy is recovering and employment is growing strongly, some people will need support to move into new jobs or different sectors of employment. Under the pathways to work strategy, my Department will be working to ensure that people on PUP receive all the support they need.

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