Minister Humphreys secures approval on PUP Benefits
Recipients of Jobseeker’s payments who lost employment since March 13 and who were in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment and employees on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will also benefit from this measure.
Newly appointed Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys, has secured approval to introduce a new Bill ensuring PRSI contributions are attributed to people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or whose salaries are supported by the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
When enacted, this legislation will ensure people who lost their jobs, or were temporarily laid-off, during the Covid-19 pandemic will be credited with full or ‘paid’ PRSI contributions on their social insurance record equivalent to if they remained in work.
“I am very pleased that I secured approval from Government this afternoon to go ahead and legislate to ensure that the social insurance record of workers who lost their jobs arising from the health crisis is maintained,” the Cavan-Monaghan TD said after approval was given on Monday afternoon.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, the legislation will provide for the award of paid contributions for employees at the same PRSI contribution class as when they were in employment immediately before being laid off.”
Minister Humphreys added that the legislation is important in order to protect a person’s entitlement to future payments - both long-term payments, such as pensions, but particularly shorter term payments such as Illness, Maternity and Paternity Benefits.
“It is a fair and right approach and I hope to ensure this legislation is passed by the Dáil in the coming period.”
Recipients of Jobseeker’s payments who lost employment since March 13 and who were in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment and employees on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will also benefit from this measure.
The new PRSI measure was confirmed as it emerged over 66,000 fewer people are in receipt of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment compared to last week. This represents the single largest weekly drop since the payment was introduced by the Government.
Welcoming the figures, Ms Humphreys said: “It is heartening to see that the phased approach set out in the Roadmap to Recovery is now being reflected in the number of people returning to work. These figures are reassuring for employees, businesses and communities throughout the State as they clearly show people are getting back to work with a significant fall in the number of people in every county receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.”
She added: “The Government is now finalising its work on preparing the July Economic stimulus package that will drive our economic recovery. I am confident this will help the thousands of workers and businesses who were badly impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.”