PUP and EWSS rates to remain in place until 31 March

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has confirmed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will remain in place at its current rates until at least 31 March.

These rates had been due to be reduced on 1 February, but as Ireland enters a stricter Covid-19 lockdown, they will stay the same until the end of March.

PUP is open to new entrants and is paid at four rates – €203, €250, €300 and €350. The rate paid is linked to a person’s prior earnings.

Minister Humphreys said that the extension will help to avoid unnecessary anxiety and worry both for those workers already in receipt of PUP, and also for those who will need to access it as a result of the latest restrictions.

“When the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced last March, it was intended to be in place for just a 12-week period,” she said. “As we all know the virus has had a much longer lasting impact both in Ireland and globally that any of us initially anticipated.”

The current rates of subsidy provided by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will also remain in place until 31 March.

“The Government has agreed that additional public health restrictions will be in place for the coming weeks – but it is important that employers have the option of retaining their staff so that they may respond and recover quickly when these temporary restrictions are lifted,” said Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

Nearly €4.5bn worth of payments have been made via wage subsidies to sustain businesses and help people to manage financially in the midst of these very challenging times, he added.