Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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921. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to a person over 66 years of age who is impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and self-employed but cannot currently avail of the PUP payment due to current age limits. [33344/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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943. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be made available to persons aged 16 or 17 years of age who meet all criteria for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33936/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 943 together.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable to people between the ages of 18 and 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment.

People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension. A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain their State pension and employment income. If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State pension contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or if it is reduced.

People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance. The fuel allowance and living alone allowance were both increased in Budget 2021 to €19.00 and €28.00 per week respectively.

A person under 18 years of age who has lost their employment and is living in the family home is treated as a dependent in relation to any social welfare payment payable to a parent.

A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

I hope that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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922. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person over 66 years of age who runs a business as a self-employed person and currently does not qualify for a PUP payment can avail of the employment support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33345/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As announced in the July Stimulus package, the enterprise support grant was extended to assist eligible self-employed individuals who exit the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or jobseekers schemes after 18th May 2020 to re-start their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment, similar to existing jobseekers supports, is payable to people of working age up to age 66 years.

Small business owners who may not qualify for this grant as they were not eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, including those over age 66 years, may be eligible for alternativesupports from the Department of Business, under the Micro-Enterprise Assistance.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.