A new two-tier payment system will be introduced for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment from 29th June.
The payment will be reduced for part-time workers who earned below €199.99 per week before Covid-19 closures. These workers will receive €203 per week as part of the reduction. This figure is the primary rate of payment of the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme and will be paid to 25% of those on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
All other workers whose employment earnings were €200 per week or higher before Covid-19 will continue receiving €350 per week.
The two-tiers have been brought in to address the anomaly of a minority of recipients who previously only worked a small number of hours receiving significantly more in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment than while in employment.
The new structure will begin from Phase 3 of the Roadmap (29th June).
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today announced that the Government has approved the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until at least Phase 5 of the Roadmap for Re-opening Society and Business – currently scheduled for 10th August 2020.
The Government has also agreed to extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme until the end of August.
So far, over 58,300 employers have registered for the TWSS and over €1.37 billion has been paid out, supporting over 514,700 employees who have received at least one payment.
