COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments

 

COVID-19: Social Welfare information

• Applying for a Jobseeker’s payment
• Qualified Adults
• For employees on reduced working hours
• Short Time Work Support Scheme (STWS)
• Latest updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from DEASP
• What if I haven’t received a payment as expected?

COVID-19 and Unemployment

• Staggering of Payments
• Extended time to collect payments at post offices
• Post Office Temporary Closures and Time Changes
• Signing-on or not
• Fuel Allowance
• Qualified Adults
• Revised Intreo Centres Opening Hours

Covid-19 and Community Employment (CE)

• CE Contract Expiry
• CE and Fuel Allowance
• CE and Losing Employment (Covid-19 related)

COVID-19: Social Welfare information

If you have lost your job during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, you can apply for the new social welfare payment called COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (CPUP). The purpose of CPUP is to make available to employees and self-employed people who have become unemployed a flat rate payment of €350 per week for the duration of the pandemic emergency. There is no restriction on people aged between 18 and 66 years applying for CPUP provided they have been in employment up to now and this employment has ceased.

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) now request that you apply for it on-line. You will require an email address, a bank account and a PPSN, and the Department assure us that setting up an account is a simple and straight forward process. If you are new to mywelfare.ie please follow this link for further information https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c87b58-access-mywelfareie/

Otherwise please follow this link and it will bring you to the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on mywelfare.ie https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/covid-19-payments/covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/

CPUP will be paid in to your bank account every Tuesday once your application is processed. The DEASP advise people to check their Bank Accounts as payment may be issued before they let you know.

In response to queries raised with the INOU, the DSP have confirmed that anyone who was working part-time and claiming a Jobseeker’s payment either casually or systematic short-time ( Short Time Work Support) are entitled to claim the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, provided that now they have become fully unemployed. 

The DSP also note that if you are getting another social welfare payment, for example a Carers Payment, Working Family Payment (WFP) or One-Parent Family Payment, and you have lost your employment, CPUP will be paid in addition to this payment.  

Applying for a Jobseeker’s payment

On their website, the DSP are advising people who have adult and child dependents to apply for a regular Jobseeker’s payment. If you are in receipt of a Working Family Payment then it would be advisable to talk to a member of the INOU’s Welfare Rights Information Team on your options. The INOU’s telephone number is 01 856 0088. You will also find useful information on the options available at https://www.inou.ie/information/losing-your-job/

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Qualified Adults

In response to queries raised with the INOU’s Welfare Rights Information Team, the DSP have confirmed that a Qualified Adult who has lost their work and is now fully unemployed can apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment in their own right.

The DSP note that the Qualified Adult should also make a Jobseeker’s application in their own right so, if applicable, their partner’s claim can be adjusted. Given the volume of applications being processed at present, they also say that if any adjustments or amendments need to be made, that these will most likely happen at a later date.

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For employees on reduced working hours

There appear to be no new supports available for employees whose employment has been reduced to part-time or casual working because of the impact of COVID-19. So, if your working hours have been reduced, you can apply for one of the existing supports: the Short Time Work Support Scheme (STWS); or, if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for STWS, a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA). For further information on JA please follow this link https://www.inou.ie/information/jobseekers-allowance/

The Short Time Work Support Scheme (STWS) is available to all employees who are put on short time working week on a temporary basis due to a reduction in their employers’ business. To qualify you must meet all of the qualifying conditions of a Jobseeker’s Benefit payment; be working for 3 days per week or less; and have been previously employed on a full time basis. For further information on this payment please follow this link https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c20e1b-short-time-work-support/

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COVID-19 and Unemployment

If you are already in receipt of a Jobseeker’s Payment then most likely your weekly payment is paid to you by Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) for collection at your local post office.

So what happens is you are unable to collect your payment from the post office due to illness or self-isolation? The Department of Social Protection (DSP) have said that you can do one of the following:

• Leave your social welfare payment at the post office until you can collect it yourself;
• Nominate a temporary Agent to collect your payment. You can get a form for appointing a temporary Agent on the An Post website or at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6aca97-social-welfare-contacts/#direct-payment-to-an-account-in-a-financial-institution
• Ask the DSP to transfer your payment to your bank account, through an alternative method known as Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). The form is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/8ace3a-change-amend-your-bank-details/

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Staggering of Payments

On March 19^th the Minister for Social Protection announced that starting from March 23^rd, people would receive two weeks entitlement in a single payment. People in receipt of a Jobseekers payment will be paid for 2 weeks during the week beginning March 30^th, 2020. The DSP have informed the INOU that this will be kept under review and further announcements may be made depending on how COVID19 evolves.

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Extended time to collect payments at post offices

Given the health and safety requirements that people should maintain a social or physical distance of 2 metres, the DSP have made arrangements with An Post that post offices will hold social welfare payments for an extended period. So, all post office payments will be available for collection for 90 days after they are first due for collection.

Alternatively, you may decide to apply to have your Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance paid into your bank account, which is the main option for people who will receive the COVID19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  As noted in the third bullet point above, the link to avail of the option to have your Jobseeker’s payment paid into your bank account is https://www.gov.ie/en/service/8ace3a-change-amend-your-bank-details/ 

 

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Post Office Temporary Closures and Time Changes

On their website An Post note that their mail, parcel and Post Office service / networks are working as normally as possible across Ireland. However, as a result of Covid-19, they have had to make some changes including temporary Post Office closures and changes to opening times. To find out if your Post Office is affected please follow this link https://www.anpost.com/Media-Centre/News/COVID-19-Customer-Notice

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Signing-on or not

Callers to the INOU’s Welfare Rights Information Team had raised questions about whether or not they were expected to sign-on at or engage with their local Intreo / Social Welfare Office. Given the current circumstances, the demands on the DSP with so many people losing their jobs, the call for people to maintain social / physical distancing, callers were concerned what would happen if they did not turn up for their appointment.

The Department of Social Protection have confirmed for us that:

• All signing has been suspended until further notice; 
• All activation engagements have been cancelled; and
• All Penalty Rates have been lifted. 

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Fuel Allowance

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, on March 31^st, 2020 the Government announced they would extend the Fuel Allowance season by four weeks. So, instead of finishing on Friday April 10^th, 2020, it will run until Friday May 8^th, 2020. The Fuel Allowance is currently paid at a rate of €24.50 per week, and now this year will run for 32 weeks.

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Qualified Adults

In response to queries raised with the INOU’s Welfare Rights Information Team, the DSP have confirmed that a Qualified Adult who has lost their work and is now fully unemployed can apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment in their own right.

The DSP note that the Qualified Adult should also make a Jobseeker’s application in their own right so, if applicable, their partner’s claim can be adjusted. Given the volume of applications being processed at present, they also say that if any adjustments or amendments need to be made, that these will most likely happen at a later date.

Please note that with effect from the week beginning March 24^th, for a twelve week period up until the week of June 15^th, the Qualified Adult payment will be increased from €134.70 to €147.

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Revised Intreo Centres Opening Hours

On Friday April 3^rd the DSP announced that all of their public offices will only be open to the public from 10 am to 1 pm on Fridays, Mondays and Wednesdays. In the weeks of April 6^th and April 13^th it means Intreo Offices will only be open four half days.

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Covid-19 and Community Employment (CE)

 
 CE Contract Expiry:
People currently on Community Employment (CE) who’s contract is due to finish on CE at the current time has been granted an automatic and non-negotiable contract extension by the DSP until 31st July 2020.

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CE and Fuel Allowance:
Fuel allowance extended to 8th May. If you currently receive a Fuel Allowance payment while on CE, this Fuel Allowance payment will contine until 8th May.

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CE and Losing Employment (Covid-19 related):
CE participants that have lost their part-time job will not be paid COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment. However, their part-time employer can apply for the the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) administered by the Revenue Commissioners to assist with the continuation of their part-time wages.

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