Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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820. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if high risk persons, that is, those cocooning on medical grounds, will no longer be eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment once their workplace reopens; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this contradicts the stated health advice for such high risk persons to stay at home; her plans to rectify this anomaly; the status of her discussions with the Minister for Health on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12974/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The overall approach to Covid-19 is the position as agreed at Government which involves discussion among all Government Ministers including the Minister for Health.

There are a range of income supports in place to support high risk persons that are cocooning and are in line with the stated health advice.

The enhanced illness benefit payment, payable to €350 per week, is available where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer of health diagnoses a person with COVID 19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection. 

Where an employee is unable to return to the workplace as they are medically vulnerable and are considered very high risk or they need to cocoon for longer on the advice and certification of their medical practitioner as they may be more susceptible to contracting the COVID-19 virus they may apply for standard illness benefit which is payable at €203 per week for a single person.  Increases may also be paid for qualifying adults and children.  

Employees who cocoon without a medical certificate may approach their employer in relation to taking annual or other paid leave - this is at the discretion of the employer.  The government has encouraged employers to support workers with leave requests at this difficult time and clearly those with underlying conditions should be facilitated where possible.  The Return to Work Safely Protocol provides that if an at-risk or vulnerable worker cannot work from home and must be in the workplace, employers must make sure that they are preferentially supported to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres.  However, employers should enable vulnerable workers to work from home where possible.

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for financial support under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which includes access to exceptional and urgent needs payment.  

I trust that this clarifies the position.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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821. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when more than four weeks' outstanding pandemic unemployment payments will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12975/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware that many people are due some arrears and that each person’s case is unique. This means that each person’s application may need to be individually reviewed to accurately calculate any arrears.  

Unfortunately the current circumstances mean that it will be a number of months before my Department will be able to fully resolve the arrears issue.  While this is not ideal I can assure you that all cases will be examined and where arrears arise they will be processed and applicants will be notified. 

In the case of the person concerned there is no need for him to do anything further as my Department will contact him when his arrears are processed.  Further updates will also be available on www.gov.ie/deasp.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties in the interim, it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth where his circumstances will be assessed.  Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.  There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.  The contact details for this service are by phone at 01 6016360.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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