Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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605. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 775 of 14 July 2020, if a directive has been issued to her Department in relation to the processing of applications for the pandemic unemployment payment for sole traders over 66 years of age and in receipt of a contributory or non-contributory State pensions and still working; if not, her plans to issue such a directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18380/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

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.  A person may also be entitled to an increase in respect of a qualified adult, subject to the means of the qualified adult.

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.  A person may be entitled to claim for an increase in respect of a qualified adult up to age 66 years depending on the specific circumstances. 

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.

A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments.

I hope that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of Covid-19 rent supplement claimants that are also on the full rate pandemic unemployment payment and on the reduced rate payment, respectively. [18417/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,600 recipients.

The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.  The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

There are currently 3,008 rent supplement recipients in receipt of pandemic unemployment payment;  2,433 are in receipt of the full-rate, €350; with 575 receiving the reduced rate of €203.

The 3,008 current PUP recipients on rent supplement are a subset of the 6,831 customers who are currently in receipt of rent supplement awarded since the start of the Emergency. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.