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The number of people claiming pandemic unemployment payment has dropped to just under 210,000, 64% less than at the peak in May, when nearly 600,000 were dependent on the income support payment.
Last week, 219,900 people claimed the PUP, but in the past seven days, 9,959 people have closed their claims, bringing the number of current claimants to 209,941.
The PUP figures do not include the 225,844 people who are currently on the Live Registry and who receive payments from job applicants.
This is the last week during which PUP recipients will receive the maximum rate of € 350 per week.
Starting September 17, that € 350 fee will be reduced to € 300 for those who earned more than € 300 gross per week before the pandemic.
A new average rate of € 250 will be applied for those who earn between € 200 and € 300 gross per week before the coronavirus.
The lower rate of € 203, for those earning less than € 200 gross before Covid-19, remains unchanged.
The sectors with the highest number of employees leaving the PUP to return to work this week were accommodation and food services (1,304), followed by education (1,091) and wholesale / retail / motor vehicle repair (892).
The Department of Social Protection also confirmed that to date, 60,977 people under the age of 66 have been medically certified to receive the Covid-19 enhanced disease benefit of € 350 per week.
Since the beginning of September, approximately 80 people have been certified with coronavirus, while another 1,720 are self-isolating as a precaution.
The sectors with the highest number of employees with medical certification to receive sickness benefit are wholesale / retail trade (12,890) followed by human health and social work (12,787) and manufacturing (8,582).
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that while this week’s PUP decline was encouraging, it was clear to all that Covid-19 continues to be active and can resurface in communities without warning.
“As more businesses prepare to reopen and schools and universities return, it is now more vital than ever that we take every possible precaution to protect ourselves, our families and our co-workers,” he said.
He noted that the Government, with advice from NPHET, was currently finalizing the new plan to ‘live with Covid’ to be released tomorrow, adding: “In order for the roadmap to work as effectively as possible, we must lead our lives daily as if the virus is among us. “
He also paid tribute to frontline workers, who for many months risked their own lives to combat this “terrible” virus.
The department reminded parents and guardians to verify if they were eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, a means-tested payment that has been extended to PUP recipients.
Meanwhile, Commissioners of Revenue have confirmed that as of this morning, 33,015 employers have enrolled in the Employment Wage Subsidy Plan, which replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme on September 1.
However, statistics on the number of covered employees and the ongoing cost of the plan will not be available until mid-October.
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