Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

949. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment who previously earned less than €200 a week in wages and were in receipt of a social welfare payment when they became unemployed by scheme type (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10891/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), a person must have been in employment or self-employment in March, and must have lost their employment as a result of the public health emergency. The only jobseeker payment recipients who have received a PUP payment are those who were in part-time or casual employment who lost their employment due to the pandemic.  Jobseeker numbers below refer only to those who were casually employed, who now receive the PUP.

The numbers in the following table are based only on 2018 earnings data, and are not necessarily a count of the number of recipients of these schemes expected to receive a reduced rate of PUP going forward.

Table 1: Current PUP recipients by selected schemes where 2018 Earnings were less than €200 per week

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

950. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment who previously earned less than €200 a week in wages and are in receipt of rent supplement, HAP, or are living in social housing. [10892/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised that my Department does not have data on  persons in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), or of those living in social housing.  The requested figures for recipients of both Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Rent Supplement are presented in the following table.  

This table is based only on 2018 earnings data, and should not be considered a count of Rent Supplement recipients who will receive a reduced rate of PUP going forward.

Table 1: Current PUP and Rent Supplement recipients where 2018 Earnings were less than €200 per week 

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

951. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if cash tips are to be included in assessing the eligibility of a person for the higher rate of the pandemic unemployment payment. [10893/20]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

985. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new lower pandemic unemployment payment is based on earnings before or after tax. [10755/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

988. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the pre-pandemic unemployment payment income is calculated for part-time earners; the monthly earnings that have been taken into account for the assessment of income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10817/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 951, 985 and 988 together.

On Friday 5th June the Government approved the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until 10th August. The rate of payment will remain at a flat rate of €350 until 29th June when a two-level payment structure will be introduced to link the pandemic unemployment payment level to gross prior earnings. This change to the payment structure will ensure that the rate is fair and targeted.

Where a person’s gross weekly earnings were €200 or higher there will be no change to their rate of payment. If a person’s gross weekly earnings were under €200 the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment will be adjusted to €203. This change will take effect in payments made from Tuesday 7 July.

To determine the gross weekly earnings for the purpose of calculating the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment the Department will examine the employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 and January and February 2020, and the higher figure will be used. For example, if an employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 were €195 and €210 in 2020, the figure of €210 will be used. Similarly if the employee’s average gross weekly earnings in 2019 were higher than in 2020, the 2019 figure will be used. Tips are treated as reckonable income and are taxed in the normal way.

For self employed people their gross average weekly income for 2018 will be used to calculate the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment, the last tax year for which verifiable data on self-employed income is available.

I hope that this clarifies the position.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

952. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons due to have their pandemic unemployment payment cut from 30 June 2020 who were earning over €200 a week in wages on that date in 2019. [10894/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The implications of the changes to the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) announced on June 5th 2020 is currently being evaluated by my Department in respect of all recipients of this payment.

I am advised that at this juncture it is not yet possible report on the number of persons due to have their pandemic unemployment payment adjusted from 30 June 2020 that were earning over €200 a week in wages one year previously.  I will however provide the Deputy with the requested information as soon as it is available.

I am advised that based on the Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued on June 9th, a total of 94,377 recipients had weekly earnings of less than €200. Note that the earnings were calculated from Revenue payroll data in early 2020 and that this number would not include PUP recipients who are self-employed.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

953. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons due to have their pandemic unemployment payment cut from 30 June 2020 who are less than and more than 25 years of age, respectively. [10895/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The implications of the changes to the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) announced on June 5th 2020 is currently being evaluated by my Department in respect of all recipients of this payment.

However, I am advised that based on the Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued on June 9th, a total of 43,790 recipients were under 25 years of age and had weekly earnings of less than €200. Note that the earnings were calculated from Revenue payroll data in early 2020 and that this number would not include persons who are self-employed.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

954. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated savings from cutting the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the resulting increases in other benefits for current recipients. [10896/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an emergency payment introduced by the Government for an initial 12 week period for employees and self-employed people who have lost all their employment due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

The 2020 Revised Estimates, passed by the Dáil on 28 May 2020, provides for an allocation of €2.23 billion for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment based on the scheme operating for a 12 week period.  This was part of an overall increase in Departmental funding of €6.8 billion, above that provided for in the original estimate, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Deputy will also be aware that I have announced my intention to extend the availability of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 9th June to 10th August, with adjustments in the rate of payment for those previously earning less than €200 per week.  Given the decision to extend the duration of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the issue of savings does not arise.