Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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510. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of the backdated payments due to workers (details supplied) under the short-time work support scheme; if in the process of that review, her Department has had the co-operation of the management of the company in processing short-time work support claims by the workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4029/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A review team has been set up in my Department to review claims from employees of the company concerned for the period between March and end-August when the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was in payment. The Department is reviewing 2,668 claims for a jobseeker's payment and is writing to the individual employees requesting that they contact their employer for the information that is required to complete the review. The employer is required to complete a UP38 form in respect of the employee, providing details for each day in the review period on whether the employee was employed/remunerated.

Entitlement to a casual jobseeker's or short-time work support payment for any day during the review period depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer, including TWSS, for that day. Each case needs to be examined individually to determine if the remuneration paid by the company concerned was in respect of a complete period or only specific days within a period. This will determine if a person may be entitled to a casual jobseeker's payment in respect of the days on which a person did not work and were not remunerated.

My Department has engaged with the company and has made an arrangement that where completion of a UP38 is requested, the company is aware of what is required and will immediately supply it to the employee.

Because of the volume and complexity of claims involved and the need to go back to individuals, the process will take some time.

My staff are working to complete the reviews as quickly as possible. A response will issue to each individual applicant advising them of the decision on their claim. The letter will also provide details of the Appeals process if a person is dissatisfied with the decision and wants to seek a review by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

It should be noted that all of the cases under review are currently in payment and, as only the March to August period when TWSS was in operation is under review, current payments should not be affected.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy