DUBLIN: The Government has decided to phase out the Pandemic Unemployment Payment brought in to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The plan is to reduce the PUP by €50 a week from September. The government plans to phase out the PUP completely by February next year.
A €50 cut will be introduced in mid-September, followed by another €50 reduction in mid-November, and a final €50 cut in February of next year. The move has been agreed in principle by the ruling parties and a final decision will be taken during today’s cabinet meeting.
New applicants will not receive PUP from July. The government is also considering removing third-level students from the PUP beginning September 7.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys said the number of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has dropped to 309,000. The number has dropped by around 100,000 since the economy began to partially reopen, the minister said.
Ms. Humphreys minister said that with today’s cabinet meeting, there will be more clarity on the phasing out of PUP payments. She added that it is not sustainable to keep payments up in the long-term.
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