Important Information Notice

Published: 26 March 2020

From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme is a new scheme introduced to help employers retain workers on their payrolls during a period of reduced trading or temporary lay-off related to the Covid-19 pandemic. This new subsidy will cover 70% the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week. Many employers will ‘top-up’ this salary to pay their workers as close as possible to their normal full wage. If you are self-employed you should apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

Is the scheme open to directors?

If directors are paid through the payroll system and are included in the relevant payroll submissions for an eligible employer, then they are eligible to receive the wage subsidy.

For more information and to apply for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme click here.

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an emergency payment of €350 per week introduced by the Government for a 12 week period and intended to compensate those workers whose employers cannot retain them on their payroll. The payment will also be made to people who are self-employed but whose trade has temporarily ceased.

Do not claim the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if your employer has not laid you off or if you were not previously in employment or if you are still in receipt of employment income, or if your employer takes you back onto their payroll.

If you think you inadvertently applied for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or if your employer has re-employed you under the new Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, you must close your Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment claim now. Claims can be closed via the Department’s online portal at MyWelfare.ie under the Covid-19 payment section.

You are eligible to apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if…

• You were in employment or self-employment immediately before Friday 13 March

and

• You have been temporarily laid-off from work or asked to stay at home from work

and

• Your employer is not in a position to retain you on their payroll

and

• You are not in receipt of any employment income.

You are not eligible to apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if…

• You were not in employment immediately before Friday 13 March

or

• You were not laid-off from work by your employer

or

• You are continuing to receive income from your employment

or

• You voluntarily left your employment.

The payment also applies to:

• non EU/EEA workers who have lost employment due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic
• students (and non-EU/EEA students) who have lost employment due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic
• part-time workers

The Department will review all claims. It is engaging with Revenue Commissioners to identify those workers not eligible to avail of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and will take steps to recover any incorrect payment. Any person who knowingly claims the payment in circumstances where they are not entitled to the payment will be prosecuted.

The co-operation of the public in ensuring that only correct claims are submitted is greatly appreciated. This ensures that we can process claims for people who really need the support as quickly as possible.

For more information and to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment click here.

Payment Update for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Jobseeker Claims

Published: 26 March 2020

From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has experienced unprecedented demand for income supports including the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Jobseeker payments since 13 March.

The level of demand equates to 10 months normal claim-load in just 10 working days.

The department wishes to assure its customers that it is processing these claims as fast as possible and that staff have been working long hours, over weekends and the bank holiday to ensure that claims are processed as quickly as possible.

The first COVID-19 related payments, for approximately 90% of claims received from 13 – 19 March were issued last Friday, 20 March and were in customer’s bank accounts on Tuesday, 24 March.

Some payments did not go forward for various reasons. This is normal. For example some claims may not have met eligibility criteria. Other payments may have been held back due to an error with an IBAN number or an inconsistency between PPSNs. The department is working very hard to resolve these issues and is contacting the customers concerned directly.

Again this week nearly all claims received since 19 March and up to close of business today (Thursday 26 March) will be processed for payment tomorrow, Friday and will be in customer's bank accounts on Tuesday 31 March.

The department is processing payments into Irish bank accounts and via the Post Office network only. We wish to reassure people that where they are entitled they will receive a payment from the department as soon as possible. Should there be any issues with individual payments the department will contact the claimants directly.

COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are medically certified to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19, you can apply for Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences which is higher than the standard rate. You can apply for this whether you are an employee or if you are self-employed.

If you are a worker affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) there are various payments that you can claim from the department.

As well as this, you do not need to sign on or attend back to work courses for as long as the Coronavirus pandemic lasts. Weekly dockets must still be signed, however.

Helpful Information

• What to do if you are diagnosed with COVID-19
• What to do if you are not diagnosed with COVID-19 but have been told by a doctor to self-isolate
• What to do if you are laid off temporarily or put on to short-time working
• What to do if you are a student who has lost your job because of Coronavirus
• What to do if you're a casual worker on Xs and Os during Coronavirus
• What to do if you are receiving your social welfare payment into the Post Office
• How to get a social welfare payment into your bank
• Temporary Social Welfare payment arrangement