Written answers

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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863. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who was self-employed, pays tax but does not make PRSI contributions is eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32651/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a statutory benefit provided for in the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020. The scheme is available to a self-employed person of working age who is a self-employed contributor and has suffered a reduction in their trading income as a consequence of the pandemic to the extent that they are available for full time work.

A social insurance contribution record is based largely on contributions paid into the social insurance system from a person in either employment or self-employment – with allowance made for periods spent out of the workforce through unemployment, illness and/or caring responsibilities. The social insurance system links access to social protection directly to participation in the labour force and thereby provides an effective mechanism for financing social protection through the collection of contributions based on earnings or income.

Where a person is not a self-employed contributor, they may be eligible for support under the means tested jobseeker's allowance.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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864. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of and position regarding the new PUP arrangements; the number of persons in receipt of the payment by band in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32676/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On Tuesday, 27th October, Pandemic Unemployment Payments were issued at four rates. Individuals whose prior earnings were €400 or over per week received a €350 payment; individuals who earned between €300 and €400 per week received a €300 payment; individuals who earned between €200 and €300 per week received a €250 payment, and individuals who earned less than €200 per week received €203.

My Department does not hold data at constituency level. Figures for PUP recipients by band rate in the county of Dublin for the week ending 1st November 2020 are provided in the table below.

- 203 250 300 350
Dublin 19,105 17,759 17,629 44,664

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