Publication
COVID-19 Information for Employers
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was available to employees and the self-employed who lost their job on or after 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications for this payment closed on 8 July 2021.
As part of the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been extended for those in receipt of the payment on 8 July 2021.
If you are self-employed, you can earn up to €960 gross over 8 weeks and keep your COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Learn more.
If you are returning to work and are currently receiving the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, you must stop this payment on your first day back at work.
The simplest way to do this is online at MyWelfare.ie.
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Arrears are processed every 4 weeks and are paid into the bank account or Post Office where you last received PUP.
The current rates of payment will remain in place until September 2021 and will then begin to gradually reduce until February 2022.
If you are told to self-isolate or restrict your movements by a doctor or the HSE due to being a probable source of infection or you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a doctor, you can apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences.
This is a payment of €350 per week. You can apply for this whether you are an employee or if you are self-employed.
The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme replaced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme from 1 September 2020.
Both schemes were in payment from 31 July 2020 until the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme ended on 31 August 2020. This allowed employers more flexibility with new hires and seasonal workers who did not qualify for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
It is expected to continue until 31 December 2021.
Employers have to sign up to the scheme through Revenue.
If you need to place your employees on a shorter working week or have had to cut their hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your employees can apply for Short Time Work Support.
The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme was replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme from 1 September 2020.
- for members of the public, confidential reporting facilities are available here
- for employers to report cases of suspected mis-claiming, please email C19EmployerReports@welfare.ie
