PUP Rate of payment - 29 June 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at a flat rate of €350 per week until the beginning of Phase 3 of the Roadmap (June 29) .

From Phase 3 of the Roadmap (June 29) the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at two rates, aligned to prior earnings. :

• For those whose prior employment earnings were €200 per week or higher (about 75% of recipients), the rate will remain at €350 per week;
• For those whose prior employment earnings were up to €199.99 per week (about 25% of recipients), the rate will be €203 per week - the primary rate of payment of the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme.
• For those who were receiving Job Seekers Allowance or Benefit as a part-time or casual worker immediately before this payment their earnings will not be reviewed and will remain on the rate of €350

You do not need to contact the Department about your earnings. The Department has access to this information from the Revenue Commissioners.

However, if you are receiving the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, you must confirm eligibility by 13 July

• From what time period will my earnings be examined?

If your rate changes, you will notice a difference in the amount you receive on Tuesday 7 July .

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is paid in arrears, with the payment week running from Friday to Thursday.

This means that the rate change on the 29 June will take effect in payments from 7 July.

No person on the lower rate of payment will receive less on PUP than they were previously paid by their employer.

Payment is made by electronic transfer (for example, into your bank or credit union account) and only into accounts held in Irish financial institutions. Those applying on or after 8th April can also choose to collect their payment in a post office. They can nominate their local post office when applying online and they will need to bring a form of ID with them when collecting their payment at the post office. Payments will be made into a bank/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.

If you have one adult and one or more dependant children you should claim a Jobseeker's Payment instead of the COVID-19 Pandemic Payment.

This is because you can claim an additional allowance for your adult dependant and child dependants, which will bring your weekly payment to in excess of the €350 weekly payment due under the emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

Courtesy of gov.ie