COVID-19 wage supports announced today will see more than half a billion euro pumped into the Christmas economy in the next week alone.
Today will see the payment of €104 million in Pandemic Unemployment Payments (PUP) to people who still can’t work because of coronavirus.
On top of this there will be arrears owed totalling €129million winging their way into bank accounts today.
And following hot on the heels of both of these will be the annual Christmas bonus for welfare recipients which will see an extra €390million doled out this day week.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, said: “This week’s Pandemic Unemployment Payment figures are showing a steadying off of new claims with some 4,500 people having closed their claim in the past week as they return to work.
“The overall number of claimants has also fallen slightly.
“This is expected to be followed by a much more significant drop next week as a result of some sectors of the economy reopening.
“While all of these signs are positive, it is not the time to drop our guard.”
Minister Humphreys added: “As we make arrangements for Christmas, I would strongly appeal to everyone to continue to adhere to the public health guidelines in order to suppress the virus further.
“Let’s also remind ourselves of the frontline health workers who will spend Christmas in our hospitals caring for people who have contracted the virus.
“We owe it to them, who have been on the frontline from the very start of the pandemic, to make a special effort to act responsibly over the coming weeks.”
This week, the Department of Social Protection has issued weekly payments valued at €103.65 million, down from €104 million last week, to 351,424 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week represents a decrease of 654 on the 352,078 people paid last week.
The sector with the highest number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (102,321) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (56,893) and Other Sectors e.g. hairdressers and beauty salons (31,361).
The arrears have been paid today ahead of the payment of the €390 million Christmas Bonus next week to over 1.6 million social welfare recipients, including approximately 311,270 PUP recipients.
