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A TOTAL OF 19,000 people have closed their pandemic unemployment payment because they’re still employed, a senior government official said today.
To date, there are 507,000 recipients of the emergency payment.
The Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment is payable to people who have become fully unemployed (including self-employed people). People who have had their hours reduced can apply for the short-time work support.
Assistant Secretary at the Department of An Taoiseach Liz Canavan said a number of recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment have contacted the Department of Social Protection to say that they claimed this payment of €350″ in error”.
“This may have occurred because they were not aware that their employer had also claimed the temporary wage subsidy scheme,” she said.
The department has now put facility in place where recipients who want to refund the payment can do so. The details of the new mechanism can be found on the Gov.ie website.
“The department is carrying out the necessary checks to ensure that claims are valid, and the payments are warranted. If anyone has claimed the payment in error or wishes to make a refund, they should do so the earliest opportunity by accessing the refund facility,” she said.
The department also wishes to inform customers that the post office network will be open as normal on Good Friday so payments can be collected on that day.
The current measures to tackle the virus are in place until 19 April – but the government has already suggested that restrictions could last beyond that date.
The government also wanted to address concerns raised in relation to tax and the wage subsidy scheme.
“Today we want to provide clarity on that issue. In order to ensure speedy payments, and minimise hardship on people in the short-term, the temporary wage subsidy subsidy scheme is not being taxed at the time at which you receive it,” said Canavan.
She added that the tax will be collected however at a later date in the year.
“As is the case with most income, the payment is liable to income tax, USC and pay-related social insurance. The amount of tax you pay depends on the amount of income you earn, and under personal circumstances. And not everyone who receives a temporary wave subsidy will end up owing tax.
“If f you do end up owing tax, it will generally be collected in manageable amounts over the course of the next tax year,” she said.
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I didn’t do my homework because my Granny died.
@John Smith: hahaha I was literally just gonna write something very similar. Classic school homework excuse territory here
@John Smith: classic.
@John Smith: The queen made me do it, ffs take responsibility.
@John Smith: more like, I didn’t do my homework because someone else’s granny died. Someone I’ve never met cause me to crash the countries economy
Good man blame the dead, how low.
Kwami-Kwazi Kwashed the United Kwingdom because he felt kwushed by the Kween’s Death…
Seriously!?!? If this is true that actually makes it worse. It means that not only was it not thought through it was based on an emotional response. He and Truss almost ruined the British economy based on a snap decision not based on economic logic. This is crazy that he somehow thinks that makes it OK. The man really seems to be on the spectrum from what I’ve seen of him. Not that that’s a bad thing but not great when you are in charge of a countries finances.
Is he for real?
No comeback blaming a dead woman!
Queen’s passing is very fresh in the UK’s electorates mines… It’s a aparticularly bad idea to mention her death and his stupid mistake in the one sentence. Cant seeing him being in the job past halloween.
Ah yeah, blame poor Liz. Honestly the excuses are getting more ridiculous. None of them have a clue what they’re at
Glad he’s holding firm on the benefits. Working has to outweigh claiming the scratcher.
@Danny Gibson: what, like kwatengs work?
@Danny Gibson: Benefits? Hardly means you should start squeezing the poor because you’ve just discovered benefitting the rich isn’t working. Besides, some of the poor have jobs – it just doesn’t pay the bills any more, and not all the rich work do they, some are just lazing about letting the old dosh do the work for them. So what’s fair? The answer’s not always straightforward.
He is absolutely shameless. It must be something they learn at Eton. Arrogant posh boys blame everyone but themselves.
Just as well she didn’t arise after 3 days…could have cost him his head.
@Donal Desmond: Well at least he didn’t deny that he knew her before the rooster crowed.
@Mick Tobin: The thirty pieces of silver would have gone to the rich. It would eventually trickle down to the remaining eleven.
What a t__t
Pathetic
As thick as two short planks.
Almost makes you pine for Boris, Dorries and Patel…..
@Insider at RTE: almost though Patel was particularly toxic on many levels.
Big boys made me do it.
Will they ever stop telling lies…
And the bankers need extra bonuses
have your say