Business closures due to Covid-19 affected thousands of workers in Ireland. To help people with lost income, the government launched the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who have lost all their employment due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. You can apply for the payment if you are aged between 18 and 66.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Pay How Much?
- Covid-19 Payment started in March 2020 and was originally € 203 a week.
- It has been increased to € 350 per week for all applicants from 24 March.
- In July 2020, for those who earned less than € 200 per week before the pandemic, the payout was reduced to € 203.
- On 17 September, the highest € 350 PUP weekly flat rate was reduced to € 300. This amount would be paid to those who earned more than € 300 per week before the pandemic.
- On September 17, those who earned between € 200 and € 300 per week before Covid were reduced to € 250 per week. This will remain the same from October 16th.
- From October 16th, a PUP rate of € 300 will be paid to those who previously earned between € 300-400 a week.
How to Claim Covid Unemployment Payment
You can make a request online at MyWelfare.ie.
You will need a basic Mygovid account to do this. All these needs are a name and e-mail address.
Postal applications are possible – to request a form and apply by mail, send an email to [email protected]. Or call the hotline 1 890 800 024
Paper applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can also be downloaded here. To be returned to PO BOX 12896, Dublin 1 via free mail (simply write “Free Mail” on the envelope).