A new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is being established.
The government has asked employers to stay paying their staff during the Covid-19 outbreak, even if they can just match the jobseeker rate of €203 each week.
As part of the government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak, a temporary refund scheme is being established to help employers – who have ceased trading due the impact of social distancing – to continue paying their staff.
Minster for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty said the refund will be for €203 per worker, per week.
“This means that workers retain their link with employers and there is no need for them personally to submit a jobseekers claim,” she said.
Doherty said while refunds will take some time to process, banks will provide working capital finance in the form of overdrafts or short-term loans to cover costs for employers.
“Ireland has entered unchartered territory as a consequence of the spread of Covid-19. This is now both a public health and economic issue,” she said.
“In light of the significant volumes of jobseeker applications expected this week, the Department will from [Monday] be introducing a new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment specifically designed to get thousands of people into payment as quickly as possible.”
The new payment will be available to all employees and self-employed who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak.
It will be a one page application form and it will be paid for a period of six weeks. But to apply for the payment, individuals need to apply for the normal jobseekers payments within the six week period.
Once the application is is received and processed, payments will be made/backdated.
“I want to reassure our clients that the Department will process all applications for income support as soon as possible,” Doherty said.
“The new payment will speed this process up and ensure that our customers receive a payment from the Department in as short a time as possible. Payments will issue based on date of application, not date of processing, meaning that all payments will be back dated.
“We would ask customers to please keep checking your Bank Account as payment may issue in advance of us formally notifying you.”
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said there is no need for individuals to attend your local Intreo Centre, as social distancing means long queues and delays, but you can apply in the following ways:
1) An application form for the new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be downloaded here and returned to Free Post, PO BOX 12896, Dublin 1
OR
2) You can apply for another income support through their online portal www.MyWelfare.ie (you will need a Public Services Card)
OR
3) Phone on 1890 800 024 or 01 2481398 and they will send you the relevant application form for the new payment.
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