Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide support to seasonal workers who were denied the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the fact they were not yet back to work on the week of 6 to 13 March 2020 and in further view of the fact many of their stamps have now run out and they are unable to get any other payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17604/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment is that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and lost their income from employment. Where a person was due to take up seasonal employment but they were not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People who do not qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment are eligible to apply for a jobseekers payment. Jobseeker's benefit is a weekly payment to people who have lost their employment and who satisfy the scheme's statutory conditions including the requirement to have sufficient social insurance contributions paid. This benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid. Where a person does not re-qualify or has used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide supports to the workers aged 66 years of age and over that were not entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17607/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to people aged between 18 and 66 years, and the age range is consistent with other jobseeker and social protection income supports paid to people of working age. People aged 66 years and over are provided for within the Social Protection income support framework through the State Pension, either the contributory State pension based on PRSI contributions or the non-contributory means tested pension. The maximum weekly rate of payment for a person in receipt of the State Contributory pension in a two person household with an adult dependent who is over 66 years is €470.80. The maximum rate of payment for the non-contributory pension for a two person household is €393.60.

A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain all of their State pension as well as their employment income and retain that pension payment if they lose employment income, thus guaranteeing an income support. If a person is not in receipt of the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory, they may be eligible for an increased weekly rate of payment on the State non-contributory means tested pension, depending on their circumstances.

People in receipt of the non-contributory or means-tested pension who are also in receipt of an employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose that employment income or it is reduced. Similarly, if a person aged 66 or over who did not previously qualify for or make an application for a means-tested pension may qualify for a pension payment if their circumstances change – including if they lose any employment income or if that employment income is reduced.

People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to a range of ancillary supports that are aligned to the particular circumstances of older people and are significantly more valuable than those generally available to people of working age. These include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package (gas/electricity) and living alone allowance.

It should be noted also that employers may claim the temporary wage subsidy for all of their workers who pay Irish PAYE income tax from the Revenue Commissioners. In this way workers who are aged over 66 can continue, with the co-operation of their employers, to receive income from employment.

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment where the need is demonstrated. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.