With the majority of Covid restrictions being lifted, many people will be returning to the office and full-time work within the hospitality sector.
Due to this, the Government has announced an official end date to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The PUP is a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people that was set up for those who had lost their employment due to the Covid-19 public health emergency.
At the peak of the pandemic, over 800,000 people a week availed of the payment. However, the application process for new applicants closed on January 22.
And people who are currently in receipt of the PUP will see an end to the scheme on March 29.
This date will come even sooner for some people as the rates gradually reduce over the coming two months.
From March 8, those who were earning over €400 pre-pandemic, currently getting a PUP payment of €250 per week, will see their payment reduced to €208.
People earning between €300 and €399.99, getting a PUP payment of €208 a week, will see their payment cease.
All people who are yet to have found alternative work are advised to apply for a Jobseeker's Allowance.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a payment to people who are unemployed.
It is a means-tested payment, so your income must be below a certain amount to get JA.
If you are parenting alone, you can apply for the Jobseeker's Transitional payment (JST). It provides support to lone parents who have young children aged between 7 and 13.
To get JA, you must be aged 18 or over and under 66. You must also:
- Be fully unemployed (or work for three days a week or less)
- Be available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work
- Be capable of work
- Pass a means test
- Meet the habitual residence condition
Announcing the changes to the PUP earlier this month, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the support was "absolutely vital" for people during the pandemic.
She said: "The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been an absolutely vital support for workers and their families.
"What was originally intended to be just a six-week short-term payment will now last for over two years with over €9billion in payments issued to workers."
The Minister added: "In line with the widespread lifting of restrictions from tomorrow, the Government has today approved plans for the winding down of the PUP over the coming months.
"The decision to lift restrictions represents a hugely positive step which will see tens of thousands of people return to work over the coming weeks as the country begins to return to normal."
