The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) is paid to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will close to new applicants on 17 September 2020, and will remain in place until April 2021.
Rates payable
As announced in the Government's July stimulus package, from 17 September 2020 there will be three rates of payment, based on the pre-pandemic earnings of the applicant:
€300 a week for those who earned over €300 a week (down from €350 PUP currently).
€250 a week for those who earned between €200 - €300 a week (down from €350 PUP currently).
€203 a week for those who earned less than €200 a week (unchanged).
Qualifying criteria
To qualify, you must:
be aged between 18 and 66 years old, and
live in the Republic of Ireland, and
have lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic or, if you are self-employed, have ceased trading due to the pandemic.
If you voluntarily left your employment or self-employment or do not meet the above criteria, you cannot claim the PUP.
This payment is regarded as equivalent to employment income. If you were working and also in receipt of any social welfare payment (i.e. Carer's Payment, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment), you can also claim the PUP while retaining your existing welfare payment.
If you have one dependant adult and one or more dependant children you should claim a Jobseeker's Payment instead of the PUP as your weekly payment will exceed the €350 payable under PUP.
Apply
Apply online at mywelfare.ie; you will need a basic MyGovID.
Payment
Payment is made by electronic transfer into bank accounts held in Irish financial institutions. The payment is made every Tuesday once an application has been processed.
More information
See Gov.ie for full details.