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COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
From Department of Social Protection
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Last updated
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job on or after 13 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will now be accepted until the end of 2020.
You can apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment 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 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or
- have been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic or
- were self-employed and your trading income has ceased or reduced due to COVID-19 to the extent that you would be available to take up full-time employment and
- are not in receipt of any income from an employer and
- are genuinely seeking work
- 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 COVID-19 pandemic or
- are living in Direct Provision and have lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic or
- are a part-time worker
- voluntarily left your employment or self-employment
- do not meet the above criteria
You must also inform the department if your circumstances change.
The department can confirm that there are no plans in place to share any data we receive as part of an immigrant’s application for a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment with GNIB or the Department of Justice and Equality.
From 16 October 2020 until 31 January 2021 the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 4 rates.
This rate change was announced on 19 October. It is effective from Friday 16 October, therefore payments made on Tuesday 27 October will include the new rate of €350.
- if you earned €400 or more - you will receive €350
- if you earned between €300 and €399.99 per week - the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is €300 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 less than €200 per week - you will receive €203 per week, which is the same as the primary rate of Jobseeker's Benefit
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is paid in arrears, with the payment week running from Friday to Thursday.
Payment is made by electronic transfer (for example, into your bank or credit union account) and only into accounts held in Irish financial institutions. You can also choose to collect your payment at a post office.
You can nominate your local post office when applying online and you will need to bring a form of ID with you when collecting your payment at the post office. Payments will be made into a bank or credit union account or to a nominated post office every Tuesday once an application is processed.
If you were working and were also in receipt of any social welfare payment such as a Carer's Payment, Working Family Payment (WFP) or One-Parent Family Payment, you can, provided you have lost your job due to COVID-19, also claim the COVID-19 emergency payment, in addition to retaining your existing welfare payment.
The COVID-19 Payment Unemployment Payment will replace your employment income and will be regarded by the department as equivalent to employment income.
New applications for this payment will be accepted until the end of 2020.
The quickest and easiest way to apply for this payment is online at mywelfare.ie.
If you return to work and lose your employment due to the pandemic, you can re-apply for this payment at any time until the end of 2020.
All you need to apply for the payment is a basic MyGovID account.
It is very important to fill in your bank details correctly - you will need your BIC and IBAN to apply.
If you need information or further assistance please contact the Income Support Helpline
To request a form and apply by post please email forms@welfare.ie .
You can earn up to €480 gross through self-employment over a four-week period and retain your full COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The €480 limit is based on gross income (before tax and PRSI) minus expenses.
A new scheme, the COVID-19 Part Time Job Incentive for the Self-Employed is a further support available to self-employed people who are in receipt of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a Jobseeker’s payment and are resuming self-employment part time.
You must stop your payment on your first day back to work.
Learn more about closing your claim.
If you have received a payment for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and you were not entitled to it, you can find out how to refund the department here.
Income Support Helpline for COVID-19
Phone number:
