COVID-19: Emergency Payment for Employees and the Self Employed

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment - Emergency Payment for Employees and the Self Employed.

What COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is

This new payment will be available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment has a simple one–page application form and will be paid for a period of 6 weeks at a flat rate payment of €350 per week for jobseekers. It is designed to quickly deliver a social welfare payment to the unemployed and provide income security during this 6-week period.

Individuals applying for the payment will be required to apply for the normal jobseeker’s payments within this 6-week period. Once this normal jobseeker claim is subsequently received, the department will process these claims and reconcile payments at that time. This will involve backdating increased payments for certain customers.

Minister for Employment Regina Doherty stated:

“Ireland has entered unchartered territory as a consequence of the spread of Covid-19. This is now both a public health and economic issue.“In light of the significant volumes of jobseeker applications expected this week, the Department will from tomorrow be introducing a new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment specifically designed to get thousands of people into payment as quickly as possible.”

The new payment that has been put in place will be available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emergency pandemic payment will increase from €203 to €350. Workers who have lost their jobs due to the crisis will receive an enhanced emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 per week (an increase from €203).

How to Apply

There is no need for to attend your local Intreo Centre but you can apply in the following ways:

This guide describes how to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment - Download here.

An application form for the new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be downloaded here and returned to us to PO BOX 12896, Dublin 1

OR

You can apply for another income support from us through our online portal www.MyWelfare.ie (you will need a Public Services Card)

OR

Phone us on 1890 800 024 or 01 2481398 and we will send you the relevant application form for the new payment.

Request a Form By Post - This email address is only for application forms. Email: forms@welfare.ie

Minister Doherty added:

“I want to reassure our clients that the Department will process all applications for income support as soon as possible. The new payment will speed this process up and ensure that our customers receive a payment from the Department in as short a time as possible. Payments will issue based on date of application, not date of processing, meaning that all payments will be back dated. We would ask customers to please keep checking your Bank Account as payment may issue in advance of us formally notifying you.”

We would ask the members of the public to please assist us over the next few days by applying for income support from the department, such as the full Jobseekers Payment, through our online channel mywelfare.ie. See the below information to get started.

COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers here.