Publication
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates until April 2021
From Department of Social Protection
Published at
Last updated
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be in place until April 2021. Payment rates changed on 29 June 2020 and 17 September 2020. There will be further changes 1 February 2021 and 1 April 2021.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at a flat rate of €350 per week.
From 29 June 2020 to 16 September 2020 the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at two rates.
The rate you received depended on the amount you used to get paid:
- if you earned less than €200 per week, the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was €203 per week
- if you earned €200 or more per week, the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment remained at €350 per week
From 17 September 2020 until 15 October 2020 the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was paid at 3 rates.
The rate you received depended on the amount you used to get paid:
- if you earned less than €200 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week
- if you earned between €200 and €300 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €250 per week
- if you earned over €300 per week - you will receive €300 per week
- the Qualified Adult rate for those on Jobseeker's or Illness Benefit will now revert to its normal level of €134.70 from the week commencing 28 September 2020.
From 16 October 2020 until 31 January 2021 the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 4 rates.
The rate you receive will depend on the amount you used to get paid:
- if you earned less than €200 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week
- if you earned between €200 and €299.99 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €250 per week
- if you earned between €300 and €399.99 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €300 per week
- if you earned €400 or more - you will receive €350
From 1 February until 31 March 2021 the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 2 rates.
The rate you receive will depend on the amount you used to get paid:
- if you earned less than €200 the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week
- if you earned between €200 and €300 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week
- if you earned over €300 per week - you will receive €250 per week
If you are receiving a Pandemic Unemployment Payment you will need to apply for either Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed
If you need information or further assistance please contact the DEASP Income Support Helpline below.
Income Support Helpline for COVID-19
Phone number:
