Numbers claiming pandemic employment payment (PUP) continue to fall

Some 200 less people in County Cavan and 100 fewer in County Monaghan will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) tomorrow (Tuesday), August 11.

The latest figures released by the Department of Social Protection say 3,600 individuals in Cavan and 3,300 in Monaghan will receive the payments tomorrow - down from 3,800 and 3,400 respectively on the previous week.

At the height of the lockdown on May 7 last, the payments were issued to 9,700 people in County Cavan and 8,200 in County Monaghan.

Nationally, payments valued at €84.4m will issue to 262,500 people tomorrow for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This represents a decrease of 12,100 on the 274,600 people paid last week and a 56% drop on the 598,000 paid at its peak.

The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are Accommodation and Food Services; Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles; and Construction.

The largest cohort returning to work is in the 25-34 age group.

Confirm your eligibility

The Department of Social Protection is issuing a further reminder to people who have failed to confirm their eligibility that they must do so by Friday, August 14, or their payment will be suspended.

Speaking today, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, welcomed the continuing reduction in numbers claiming the PUP.

“Over the past number of weeks, thanks to the efforts of everybody in our community, we have succeeded in reopening significant parts of our society. This is reflected in the continued reduction in the number of people claiming the PUP. However, we cannot take this progress for granted and we have to safeguard the progress made by continuing to follow the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

“Regrettably we have had to postpone some elements of the reopening plan and introduce some limited restrictions in the counties of Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

“I understand that this decision is very disheartening for businesses and employees in those counties many of whom have only recently returned to work. It is critically important however that we do not take any unnecessary risks that could reverse the progress our country has made to date and lead to the re-introduction of further restrictions. This has already happened in a number of other countries."

She's emphasising that workers affected by restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly are entitled to access the Covid-19 Illness Benefit payment and the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This includes people living in Direct Provision Centres and non-nationals whose employment has been temporarily suspended due to a forced closure of a business as a result of COVID-19.

The easiest way to access these income supports is to apply online at www.MyWelfare.ie

Wage subsidy scheme

Meanwhile, there are now over 69,500 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). An estimated 370,000 employees are currently being supported by the scheme having received a subsidy in their most recent pay period.

The above payments are in addition to the 244,600 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of July.