Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a support to employees who lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19. It is also available to self-employed persons who can demonstrate that their income ceased, or reduced, as a direct consequence of Covid-19, to the extent that they would be available to take up full-time employment.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was placed on a statutory footing as a social welfare benefit in its own right from 5 August 2020 under the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020.

There is a requirement under social welfare legislation that persons must claim their entitlements within a specific period from the date their entitlement arises. The requirements in respect of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment are the same as those which apply to Jobseeker payments generally. A person must submit their claim on their first day of unemployment. However, reasonable regard is had to issues such as postal delays. In addition, incomplete claims which are received or which cannot be initially processed are always taken from the date of initial receipt. A claim may be backdated for up to six months where a person can prove to the satisfaction of a Deciding Officer or Appeals Officer that they satisfied the qualifying conditions throughout the period and that there was good cause for the delay in making their claim.

The person concerned applied for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 18/08/2020 and her claim was awarded from that date. If she can provide information to the Department as to the reason for the delay in applying, that information can be reviewed at that point. The Deputy may wish to forward this information to the Mid West Divisional Office in Limerick for initiation of the review process.