Arrangements are in place for workers who will be temporarily laid-off over Christmas to access the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
With most hospitality businesses set to close from Christmas Eve, there will be another jump in the number of workers signing on for Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
Payments were issued to 9,853 people in Donegal today. With this figure set to rise, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, TD has announced that measures are in place to ensure that those who require PUP income support will, provided they are eligible, receive this as quickly as possible.
Anybody who applies for PUP online via www.MyWelfare.ie anytime up to and including Christmas Eve will receive that payment within a week of their application.
- A person who makes a new application for PUP in the period from the 18th December up to and including close of business today the 22nd will receive their payment on the 24th of December.
- A person who makes a new application for PUP by close of business on Wednesday 23rd December will receive payment on Wednesday 30th December.
- A person who makes a new application for PUP by close of business on Thursday 24th December will receive a payment on Thursday 31st December.
- A person who makes a new application for PUP on any date from the 25th to close of business on 31st of December will be paid on the normal PUP payment date of Tuesday the 5th of January.
Minister Humphreys commented: “My priority is to ensure that the businesses and workers impacted by these new restrictions are supported.
“I want to assure all workers that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment remains open for applications and will be available to assist people who lose their job in the coming days.
“I have put arrangements in place for people who will be losing their jobs at this very difficult time and officials in my Department will be working throughout the Christmas period so that applications will be processed without delay.
“In order to process applications as quickly as possible, I would urge everybody to apply online. The quickest and easiest way to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via MyWelfare.ie.
“These are not easy decisions but people’s health is the key priority and the measures being taken by Government are essential to protect lives and keep people safe.
“This will be a Christmas like no other and we all need to take personal responsibility for our behaviour. Make no mistake – your actions over the next few days will make a difference. We cannot sacrifice all the hard work of the last nine months or put the lives of our loved ones at risk just as vaccines are about to arrive.
“The best Christmas gift that we can give to our family, friends and especially our frontline workers this year is a safe Christmas.”
