Covid-19 Ireland: PUP Update As Major Changes See Payment Cuts For Thousands Today

Thousands of people will see their Pandemic Unemployment Pay (PUP) cut today.

Workers who previously earned more than € 300 a week will now receive a PUP rate of € 300, while those who earn between € 200 and € 300 will now receive € 250 a week.

There will be no cut for those who earned less than € 200 a week, as their payment will remain at the equivalent of a full € 203 jobseeker subsidy application.

A total of 206,341 people have received the payment today, 65% less than the numbers that claimed assistance in May.

Bríd O’Brien from the Irish National Organization for the Unemployed confirmed that people who previously earned more than € 200 a week will be affected by the latest changes.

She told Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One: “Everyone will receive a reduction of between 50 and 100 euros, that’s what is going into effect today, it’s the changes that are being made.

“A good number will see a reduction.”

Ms. O’Brien also stated that the government must increase the minimum payment before plans to make further cuts next year.

She added: “The government has a challenge around how to square the circle. Any changes they make to the Pandemic Unemployment Pay, given that they ultimately plan to move people early next year, they also need to move up that floor. because that the floor is not suitable.

“And that is also an issue that they must address. That we address the poverty that still accompanies us, and that in many ways this pandemic is going to get worse.”

“Also in many cases the support services that people usually access, many of them are restricted due to health measures, so there are very important challenges facing the State.”