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THE DEPARTMENT OF Social Protection has issued the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) to 350,072 people this week.
There are 7,500 more people on the PUP this week compared to last week, and the cost has increased to €103.8 million, up from €99 million last week.
The sector with the highest number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is accommodation and food service activities (102,682) followed by wholesale and retail trade (57,015) and other sectors eg, hairdressers and beauty salons (31,048).
This week’s figures are in addition to the 203,172 unemployed people who are on the Live Register as of the end of October.
All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow.
Commenting on this week’s figures, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said:
“While the number of people receiving PUP has increased again this week, it is heartening to see the rate of increase reduce.
“The overall number is also much smaller than during the first period of Level 5 restrictions in March and April.
This reflects the fact that a wider range of sectors have been able to continue trading, such as in construction and manufacturing.
“As Minister for Social Protection, I will continue to ensure that our welfare supports are available to the people who need them most during this difficult time.
Earlier this month, Cabinet approved to extend the 2020 earnings reference for employees to September 2020.
This means that people who only commenced employment after February 2020 but have now been laid-off due to increased restrictions can have their payment rate fixed by reference to their earnings from January to September.
As a result of this change, some 37,430 people receiving PUP this week will see an increase in their rate of payment. No one will have their weekly rate of payment reduced as a result of this re-assessment of their earnings.
The PUP is paid at four rates (from 2 October):
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BANK BAILOUT. 80M. MIDNIGHT MEETING. NO QUESTIONS.
NEVER FORGET.
The PUP is helping somewhat to feed and house our citizenry, nothing to see here.
@longstrides: Incorporeal cabinet meeting, it was that urgent
@longstrides: FAI bailout, no questions asked, health service has been on its knees for as long as I remember
@Damo: on it’s knee’s. Billions extra pumped in with no extra output to be seen. Look at covid since the start 2 billion added to hse but the waiting lists continue to grow ? Under funded bull
@longstrides: Billion i think you mean .
@john s: where is the money going? Who is accountable?
That’s nearly 27 printers
Every paye worker still paying the USC charge , so paying the pup back to those who have already paid handsomely is hardly a point of news.
@Sean Quinn: u still selling insurance sean and terrorising them yanks
Never mind the PUP how many are on the furlough……..that’s the real economy buster
HOW MUCH IS OUR OVER PAID GOVERNMENT COSTING THE TAX PAYER?
flatten the curve protect the HSE now there will be more debt and less money for health care!
have your say