Lockdown looks set to be extended by another few months when the original end date finally arrives on March 5 - which leaves many people still without work.
The pandemic unemployment payment has kept many people afloat since Covid arrived here a year ago and many will be depending on it for a while yet.
The good news is that there is every suggestion that the social welfare benefits introduced when Covid came will be here until it leaves in some capacity.
Speaking on RTE Radio today Minister Paschal Donohoe said "we will continue to put in place the strongest schemes that we can" and that there will be "no cliff edge".
Here's all we know about the PUP payment currently;
When is it currently extended until?
The current deadline on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in March 31 but with the lockdown almost definitely going on past that date, the Government have already reassured people it will not end then.
The Minister for Social Protection told Bryan Dobson on RTE Radio One in recent weeks that she intends to extend the payment from March 31 "probably until the summer".
The Fine Gael TD said the Government "will not be found wanting" in helping those who are out of work.
She added: "We have to be realistic and realise these restrictions are going to be with us for some time to come yet."
How many are now on the payment?
This week, the Department of Social Protection has issued weekly payments valued at €143.34 million to 477,665 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week has decreased by 3,666 compared to last week.
These figures are in addition to the 188,543 people who were on the Live Register at the end of January.
Dublin is the county with the highest number of people who are receiving PUP this week at 148,879. It is followed by Cork (48,658) and Galway (25,496).
