Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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564. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the short-time work support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44935/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Short-Time Work Support is a form of Jobseekers Benefit and is an income support payment for people who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer. The payment is made in respect of the days of work that have been lost.

Short-Term Work must be systematic and demonstrate a clear repetitive pattern of employment. Employees must also work at least one day each week that they would normally have worked. For example. if a person's working week has been reduced from a 5-day work pattern to a 3-day work pattern, the person may receive a Jobseeker Benefit payment for the other two days. This payment would represent two-fifths of the weekly rate of Jobseekers benefit and is not taxable.

To qualify for this payment, the person must, inter alia,  be temporarily working a standard reduced weekly work pattern and be systematically working three days or less per week having previously worked full-time. There must be a clear repetitive pattern of work each week, i.e. 1, 2 or 3 days per week or 2 days in the first week and 3 days in the second week, with this pattern repeated every two weeks.

People who work casually but who do not work a standard reduced weekly work pattern do not qualify for Short-Term Work Support, but may qualify for a Jobseekers Benefit (Casual) payment which is taxable.

The person concerned does not qualify for Short-Term Work Support as the days worked are not systematic.  A decision letter issued on 30th September 2020 informing the person of their entitlements and the right of appeal.

Details of all 'Taxable Social Welfare Payments/Schemes' are available via www.gov.ie. The published guidelines clearly state that my Department makes Jobseeker payments without deducting tax, but does notify Revenue of the taxable amount of the payment to be taken into account for income tax purposes.

If new information comes to light or if the person's circumstances change,  they can reapply for the Short-Term Work Support.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.