Tánaiste indicates that PUPs may not be eliminated in February if the pandemic does not improve



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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said that the Government is not committed to cutting the Pandemic Unemployment Pay (PUP) early next year.

The PUP will be reduced again in February and the pay rate will be reduced from € 250 to € 203 for people who previously earned between € 200 and € 300 per week.

The pay rate will be reduced from € 300 to € 250 for people who previously earned more than € 300 per week.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Varadkar said the 2021 Budget provides funding for the February deadline to move “if the pandemic is not in a much better place by then.”

“We will make more trials as we move forward, things are unprecedented as we have had to make important decisions every six weeks,” he said.

The PUP will end on April 1, 2021. Persons receiving payment will need to request payment from a job applicant if they have not found work by that date.

When asked yesterday if the PUP could be spent beyond this time, Social Protection Minister Humphreys said “there is no crystal ball” in the pandemic.

He said the pay will be reviewed in January and the government will weigh whether people are still out of work.

As part of the 2021 Budget, a new scheme is being implemented for the companies most affected by the pandemic, such as pubs and hotels.

The scheme, which will operate when Level 3 or higher of the Covid roadmap is implemented, will see companies receive weekly payments of up to € 5,000 if they are forced to effectively close or close due to prohibited or restricted assessments by the clients.

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Refunds will be based on 2019 average weekly business volume and will be paid in addition to the Work Wage Subsidy Plan (EWSS).

Those who meet the criteria have been urged to contact the Commissioners of Revenue as soon as possible, with the first cash payments expected to be made in mid-November.

Varadkar said today that companies can apply for the scheme starting next week with the first payments due in November.



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