Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18588/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is currently paid at two rates, depending on the amount a customer earned prior to receipt of PUP.

If a customer earned €200 per week or more, the rate of payment is €350 per week. If a customer earned less than €200 per week, they will receive €203 per week, which is the same as the primary rate of Jobseekers Benefit.

My Department is currently managing requests from customers in relation to reviews of rates of payment. The payment of the person concerned is under examination as part of this process.  I am advised that, that on an initial examination of this case, Department records currently show no earnings in either 2019 or 2020 for the person concerned.  As this produces a weekly earnings figure of below €200 per week, the lower weekly rate of €203 is the maximum possible rate currently applicable in the circumstances.

A formal reply will issue to the person concerned when a final review of the case has been completed.

If a customer believes that the earnings information held by the Department is inaccurate, or wishes to provide further details of recent employment or self-employment income, the relevant documentation should be supplied to the Department. 

If, pending the completion of a review of her entitlements, the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties at the moment, she may wish contact her local Community Welfare office to make a claim for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.