Update on payments awarded for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enhanced Illness Benefit
- Foilsithe: 18 Bealtaine 2020
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 7 Meán Fómhair 2020
Today, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection issued payments valued at €204.6 million to 585,000 people in respect of their application for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Around 7,000 people are receiving a payment for the first time. This is a reduction of 5,000 on the number of people paid at the same point last week.
There are now over 54,000 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) with at least one subsidy being paid in respect of over 464,000 people under that scheme.
The payments are in addition to the 214,700 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of April.
All COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May.
Advice for people returning to work
As announced by the government the first phase of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business begins today. Taking this into account, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is advising workers who may be returning to work today, 18 May to close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) today in order to make sure that they will not lose out in getting their payment for the previous week - that payment is due to be paid tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May.
Similarly, workers who will be returning to work any time after today, Monday 18 May must close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start back at work.
The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via MyWelfare.ie. Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the department’s dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
The department has begun a public information campaign today to inform workers receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment who may be returning to work on when and how to close their claim for this payment.
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said:
“Built for speed and impact, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has provided families throughout the country with immediate assistance following the overnight loss of hundreds of thousands of incomes. As an emergency response, it has successfully allowed us to prevent a health and economic emergency from turning into a social crisis. It is also very unlikely that we would have had the high level of public compliance with the health restrictions introduced to tackle the virus without the relief provided by the payments.
“Today, Ireland takes the very first tentative steps back towards normality – or the new normal whatever that may look like. While today’s figures confirm that we have reached the peak in terms of those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Payments, I would expect over the coming weeks for those numbers to continue to gradually drop as more and more people return to work. Today, my department has begun an advertising campaign advising those who return to work on how to close their payment.
“Not everyone is going to be able to return to work so quickly and the Pandemic Unemployment Payments will continue for now. Future decisions regarding the nature of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be based on our commitment that everyone who genuinely needs help will get the most appropriate assistance and also based on the evidence we receive from the reopening of the economy.”
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
In total and excluding duplicate claims the department processed applications from 658,000 people for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a jobseeker’s payment.
As is the case, for all social welfare schemes, the department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks.
For example:
- integrity checks are made against records already held by the department including Public Service Information data and cross checks with payments on other schemes. These help to verify if a person is who they claim to be and that they are entitled to claim payment
- each week when the department processes the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payments (PUP), a reconciliation takes place between the department’s payment file and Revenue’s payment file for the COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. This results in claims from those who are being paid by their employer being withheld and therefore not processed by the department’s payment process. These people are then contacted by the department to inform them of the position
- a prior employment status check is made by comparing all claims for PUP against prior earnings and employment records from Revenue data. Where this check indicates that a person may not have been employed, as claimed, the person is contacted and asked to submit corroborating information. Failure to submit corroborating information leads to the claim being closed
- as with other welfare schemes, the department contacts recipients to ensure that they continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
- data analytics is also used to identify claims where a person may not satisfy other conditions – for example residence in Ireland - and department inspection staff check these cases
- the department’s inspection staff also participate with Garda and Customs staff, in security checks on major transport routes and transport hubs
- confidential reporting facilities are available to the public (1890 927999 and at this page online) and to employers (email to: C19EmployerReports@welfare.ie ) to report cases of suspected mis-claiming
Following the application of these checks and controls the department has this week paid 585,000 people out of the 658,000 unique claims processed, with no payment due to the remaining claims. The vast majority of the claims were paid within a week of receipt. This indicates the efficiency of using data analytics to both identify incorrect claims and ensure prompt processing of valid claims.
To date, over 105,000 people have contacted the department to close their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Many of these requests are because employers are taking people back onto their payroll under the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme
There are now over 54,000 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). Workers whose employers have registered them on the scheme are not eligible to receive a pandemic unemployment payment. In addition workers who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment but who have now been registered by their employers on the TWSS are no longer eligible to receive a payment pandemic unemployment payment
The department is aware that some workers may be incorrectly registered as part of the TWSS or may face difficulty in transitioning back from the pandemic unemployment payment to the employer payroll. Such a situation may arise, for example, because a worker has been registered in error by their employer, or because an employer having registered for the TWSS has since ceased operating their payroll, or, due to differences in the weekly payment pattern of the pandemic unemployment payment as compared with a monthly or fortnightly payroll from the employer. Any worker affected by these issues can contact the department and arrangements will be made to restore their payment or provide them with interim income support as appropriate.
COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment
There are now 44,600 people medically certified for receipt of the COVID-19 enhanced Illness Benefit. This predominantly relates to applications in respect of people who have been advised by their GP to self-isolate together with a smaller number in respect of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Please apply online at MyWelfare.ie
The department wishes to thank its customers for submitting the majority of applications through our online portal MyWelfare.ie. This is the quickest and easiest way to submit an application and enables the department to allocate resources to contacting those who submitted invalid applications.
Individuals can close their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment online at MyWelfare.ie.
In the interests of the public health advice and the restrictions on movements please if at all possible do not attend your local Intreo Centre as opening hours have now been restricted. Instead please apply through MyWelfare.ie.
County and Sectoral breakdowns
Details on county breakdown and sectoral breakdown are in listed in the attached Appendix.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an emergency payment for employees and the self-employed who have lost their income and are fully unemployed due to the pandemic. It is paid at a rate of €350 per week into a customer’s bank account. The quickest and easiest way for everyone to apply for this emergency payment is online at MyWelfare.ie.
Jobseeker’s Payments
Those individuals who have an adult dependant and at least one child, or if they are single and have four or more children, after applying for the emergency payment should also apply for a Jobseeker’s payment to receive their full social welfare entitlements. The quickest and easiest way for everyone to apply for a Jobseeker’s payment is online at MyWelfare.ie.
Enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19 Cases
The government introduced an enhanced Illness Benefit payment for all cases where individuals have been medically certified to self-isolate or have been diagnosed with COVID-19. It is paid at a rate of €350 per week. Please note that it is not possible to be paid a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the enhanced Illness Benefit payment concurrently. If you have lost your employment or are diagnosed with COVID-19 and you apply for income support you will be paid €350 per week from the department.
The quickest and easiest way for everyone to apply for this emergency payment is online at MyWelfare.ie.
Appendices follow
Appendix 1 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments by County
Appendix 2 – Pandemic Unemployment Payments by Sector
Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payments Age Profile
Appendix 4 – Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by County
Appendix 5 – Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments by Sector
Appendix 6 – Enhanced Illness Benefit Payments Age Profile
Appendix 1 - Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments
There are 584,600 people in receipt a Pandemic Unemployment Payment, of which 252,800 are female and 331,800 are male.
| County | ||
| Carlow | 7,500 | 7,600 |
| Cavan | 9,300 | 9,400 |
| Clare | 14,400 | 14,400 |
| Cork | 60,500 | 61,100 |
| Donegal | 22,200 | 22,400 |
| Dublin | 171,100 | 171,900 |
| Galway | 31,800 | 32,000 |
| Kerry | 21,700 | 21,800 |
| Kildare | 25,500 | 25,800 |
| Kilkenny | 10,300 | 10,500 |
| Laois | 8,400 | 8,500 |
| Leitrim | 4,000 | 4,100 |
| Limerick | 21,600 | 21,900 |
| Longford | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| Louth | 17,000 | 17,100 |
| Mayo | 16,000 | 16,200 |
| Meath | 24,400 | 24,600 |
| Monaghan | 8,100 | 8,100 |
| Offaly | 8,800 | 8,800 |
| Roscommon | 6,900 | 7,000 |
| Sligo | 7,500 | 7,600 |
| Tipperary | 18,100 | 18,500 |
| Waterford | 13,800 | 14,000 |
| Westmeath | 11,300 | 11,500 |
| Wexford | 19,900 | 20,200 |
| Wicklow | 18,200 | 18,400 |
| County not included | 1,800 | 1,700 |
| Total | 584,600 | 589,600 |
Appendix 2 - Pandemic Unemployment Payments - Sector Breakdown
The highest sector with people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is Accommodation and Food Service activities (124,500), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (87,600) and Construction (76,600).
| Industrial Sector | ||
| 8,600 | 8,600 | |
| Manufacturing | 35,000 | 35,900 |
| 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| Construction | 76,600 | 78,100 |
| 87,600 | 88,400 | |
| Transportation and storage | 17,100 | 17,300 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 124,500 | 125,700 |
| Information and communication activities | 11,800 | 11,800 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 12,500 | 12,500 |
| Real Estate activities | 8,100 | 8,100 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 24,400 | 24,700 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 45,600 | 45,700 |
| 14,200 | 14,300 | |
| Education | 21,900 | 21,900 |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 21,700 | 21,800 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 14,200 | 14,200 |
| Other Sectors | 39,100 | 39,200 |
| Unclassified or unknown | 19,700 | 19,400 |
| Total | 584,600 | 589,600 |
Appendix 3 – Pandemic Unemployment Payment Age Profile
| Age category | ||
| < 25 | 120,300 | 120,800 |
| 25-34 | 133,700 | 135,100 |
| 35-44 | 139,800 | 141,400 |
| 45-54 | 110,500 | 111,700 |
| 55+ | 80,300 | 80,600 |
| Total | 584,600 | 589,600 |
Appendix 4 - Analysis of COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit
There are 44,600 people medically certified for receipt of a COVID-19 related Illness Benefit payment of which 25,200 are female and 19,400 are male.
County Breakdown – Enhanced Illness Benefit
| County | ||
| Carlow | 600 | 600 |
| Cavan | 1,150 | 1,100 |
| Clare | 900 | 800 |
| Cork | 5,000 | 4,800 |
| Donegal | 1,050 | 1,000 |
| Dublin | 12,700 | 11,900 |
| Galway | 2,700 | 2,600 |
| Kerry | 900 | 900 |
| Kildare | 2,100 | 2,000 |
| Kilkenny | 900 | 900 |
| Laois | 800 | 800 |
| Leitrim | 200 | 200 |
| Limerick | 1,600 | 1,500 |
| Longford | 350 | 300 |
| Louth | 1,400 | 1,300 |
| Mayo | 1,100 | 1,000 |
| Meath | 1,800 | 1,600 |
| Monaghan | 650 | 600 |
| Offaly | 750 | 700 |
| Roscommon | 600 | 600 |
| Sligo | 350 | 300 |
| Tipperary | 1,600 | 1,400 |
| Waterford | 1,400 | 1,400 |
| Westmeath | 800 | 800 |
| Wexford | 1,500 | 1,400 |
| Wicklow | 1,450 | 1,300 |
| Other (NI & Foreign Address) | 250 | 200 |
| Total | 44,600 | 42,000 |
Appendix 5 - Enhanced Illness Benefit – Sector Breakdown
The highest sector with people medically certified for receipt of a COVID-19 Illness Benefit payment was Human Health and Social Work (9,800), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (9,500) and Manufacturing (6,000).
| Industrial Sector | ||
| 400 | 400 | |
| Manufacturing | 6,000 | 5,600 |
| 200 | 200 | |
| Construction | 1,700 | 1,700 |
| 9,500 | 9,000 | |
| Transportation and storage | 1,800 | 1,700 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 1,700 | 1,700 |
| Information and communication activities | 800 | 800 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1,900 | 1,800 |
| Real Estate activities | 400 | 400 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical activities | 1,500 | 1,400 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4,400 | 4,200 |
| 1,900 | 1,800 | |
| Education | 700 | 600 |
| Human Health And Social Work activities | 9,800 | 9,100 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 300 | 200 |
| Other Sectors | 1,300 | 1,200 |
| Unclassified or unknown | 300 | 200 |
| Total | 44,600 | 42,000 |
Appendix 6 - Enhanced Illness Benefit Age Profile
| Age category | ||
| < 25 | 5,100 | 4,800 |
| 25-34 | 10,600 | 10,000 |
| 35-44 | 12,700 | 11,900 |
| 45-54 | 9,600 | 9,000 |
| 55+ | 6,700 | 6,300 |
| Total | 44,600 | 42,000 |