The number of people receiving the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal has dropped to 7,200 this week.
The figure is 900 fewer than the 8,100 workers on the emergency scheme last week.
This week’s figure also represents a 68% drop on the number of Donegal people receiving the payment at the peak of the lockdown crisis on 5th May.
232,400 people will be receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) nationwide today (Tuesday).
The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are Accommodation and Food Services; Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles; and Construction. The largest cohort returning to work is in the under 25 age group.
Some 28,000 people will have their payments closed this week after not confirming their eligibility to the Department of Social Protection’s integrity checks.
However, anybody who is eligible but did not confirm their eligibility by the deadline can have their payment restored by re-applying online at www.mywelfare.ie.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, T.D., commented: “Our resources are not unlimited and we need to ensure that this money goes to the people and families who genuinely need it.
“My Department has made every effort to contact every person receiving the payment in recent weeks in order to confirm their continued eligibility. The vast, vast majority of people responded and will continue to receive their payment as normal.
“I want to stress if there were extenuating circumstances which prevented any person from responding to confirm their eligibility, all they need to do is re-apply online to have their payment restored. They can also contact the Department’s PUP Helpline at 1890 800 024 or their own local Intreo Centre if they need assistance.”
