Service
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The COVID -19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme was closed to new applicants in July 2021, but it will reopen for a limited time to support people who lose their employment as a result of the new COVID-19 public health restrictions from Tuesday 7 December 2021.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is open to you if you are an employee or self-employed and lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you were getting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 8 July 2021 and are still eligible - your payment will continue until you move to standard jobseeker’s terms.
If you have lost your job due to the COVID-19 restrictions introduced in December 2021 you can apply for a payment if you:
- are aged between 18 and 66 years old and
- are currently living in the Republic of Ireland and
- have lost your job on or after 7 December 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions introduced on that date or
- have been temporarily laid off on or after 7 December 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions introduced on that date or
- are self-employed and your trading income has ceased or reduced on or after 7 December 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions introduced on that date (you must be available to take up full-time employment) and
- are not in receipt of any income from an employer and
- are genuinely seeking work
You also qualify for this payment if you:
- worked in the Republic of Ireland or were a cross-border frontier worker or
- are a non-EU/EEA worker who has lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic or
- are a student (or a non-EU/EEA student) who has lost employment due to the new restrictions introduced on 7 December 2021 or
- are living in Direct Provision and have lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic
You cannot qualify for this payment if you:
- voluntarily left your employment or self-employment
- do not meet the above criteria
You must also inform the department if your circumstances change.
| Previous weekly earnings | Your payment |
| €400 or more | €350 |
| Between €300 and €399 | €300 |
| Between €200 and €299 | €250 |
| Between €151.50 and €200 | €203 |
| Less than €151.50 | €150 |
| Previous weekly earnings | Your payment |
| €400 or more | €250 per week |
| Between €300 and €399.99 | €203 per week |
| Between €200 and €299.99 | Moved to standard jobseeker’s terms on 9 November 2021 |
| Less than €200 | Moved to standard jobseeker’s terms on 26 October 2021 |
If you have lost your job on or after December 7 2021, you can apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment here.
If you apply before close of business on Thursday 9 December 2021 and are eligible you will be paid on Tuesday 14 December 2021.
You should apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on or as soon as possible after your first day of unemployment.
You are only eligible for this payment from your first day of unemployment.
Please only apply when you become unemployed, as we can only process your application when you become eligible.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is paid in arrears, with the payment week running from Friday to Thursday.
You will get your payment into your bank or credit union account every Tuesday. You can also choose to collect your payment at a post office. You will need to bring a form of identification when collecting your payment.
Records are examined to see if you didn't get a payment for a week you were eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. If you didn't get paid for a week when you were meant to - then you are entitled to what is called an 'arrears payment'.
Any arrears will be paid to you at a future date.
If you have received a payment for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and you were not entitled to it, you can find more information on how to refund the department here.
If you need information or further assistance, please contact the Income Support Helpline below.
Income Support Helpline
Phone number:
