Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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416. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those with reduced hours on the EWSS can access short-time work support from March to September; if some applicants have already received it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31528/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy (TWSS) scheme from 1 September 2020. My Department has advised that subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual or part-time jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the EWSS for days of employment. The normal scheme rules and application processes apply, including completion of the relevant forms by the employer to certify days of employment and unemployment.

The TWSS and the EWSS are different schemes meaning that entitlement to a concurrent jobseeker payment under the EWSS does not imply the same entitlement under the TWSS.

Section 28(5)(h) of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides that where the TWSS applies in relation to a specified employee for any week, the specified employee shall not be entitled to any benefit or payment, related to Covid-19, from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for that week.

Decisions around individual entitlements to social welfare claims for periods where the TWSS was being availed of by the employer depends on meeting the eligibility conditions, including satisfying the Department with regard to days of unemployment, including that no remuneration was payable for any such day of unemployment. This requires that the specific work pattern and remuneration arrangement in place for each individual are examined for this period.

Information on the numbers of recipients of short time work support and in receipt of the TWSS concurrently is not available.