The Government’s planned transition away from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) begins this month - so most people will notice a reduction in their weekly sum.
The biggest change will affect some students in Ireland, who will receive their final payment on Tuesday, September 7.
Those in education who are currently getting the PUP and who have informed the Department of Social Protection that they are or will be full-time students in the upcoming 2021/2022 academic year will be effectively cut off.
In line with these changes, the top three rates of PUP will reduce by €50 in September.
The maximum weekly rate of €350 will reduce to €300, the current rate of €300 will reduce to €250, and the current rate of €250 will reduce to €203.
The final full payments will go through on September 7, and these new payment rates will be reflected in payments sent out on Tuesday, September 14.
For those who are on the lower rate of €203, their transition from the PUP to jobseekers has now been deferred until the end of the month rather than from early September as was previously announced.
This change will mean that people on this rate, including those in the music and entertainment sector, will not be reclassified as jobseekers until after their sector has started to reopen in line with the Roadmap announced on Tuesday.
The next two phases of rate changes are due to take place from November 16, 2021, and then once again on February 8, 2022.
As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms - for which they will have to reapply.
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €42.5 million to 143,606 people in receipt of the PUP.
Meanwhile, gardai are continuing to assist the Revenue in their efforts to cease fraudulent payments in Ireland.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officials are verifying data against Revenue records, examining cases where the same bank account is used multiple times, examining cases where an employer or members of the public report concerns, and the use of data analytics to identify and check claims.
