Is the Pandemic Unemployment Payment still available?

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is for those who have become unemployed or lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is no longer open to new applications. The PUP scheme will close at the end of March 2022 and all remaining recipients who are not working will be eligible to apply for a jobseeker’s payment.

What is the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment?

The payment is designed to quickly deliver a social welfare payment to unemployed people and provide income security during the pandemic. 

Am I eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment?

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment closed to new applications on January 22 2022. If you lost your job or have had your hours reduced, there are other supports available such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit. Find out if you’re eligible to receive social welfare payments.

Can I receive a payment if I have COVID-19 or am isolating?

If you are looking for income support due to self-isolation or illness from COVID-19 then you must apply for the Enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19.

What will happen to my COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment when restrictions are lifted?

On March 8th 2022, the PUP rate will be reduced. How this will affect you will depend on the PUP rate you were receiving up to this date. 

If you were getting a PUP rate of €250 per week, your PUP rate will reduce to €208 per week. If you were getting a PUP rate of €208 per week, your PUP will stop. If you have not returned to work once your PUP ends, you can apply for a jobseeker’s payment.

The PUP scheme will end for all remaining recipients in March 2022, with the last payment on Tuesday March 29th.

After that, remaining PUP recipients will start transitioning to standard jobseeker terms, and if eligible, will move onto a jobseeker’s payment from April 5th.

What happens when I go back to work?

If you return to work, you will have to stop your payment. To stop your payment, visit MyWelfare.ie under the COVID-19 payment section.

Here are a list of situations where you will be required to stop your payment:

• Your employer is paying you
• You have returned to your job or have found another job
• You did not lose your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• You are not genuinely seeking work
• You are leaving Ireland

If you are returning to work and your hours have been reduced, you might be eligible to receive another social welfare payment. Find out more about what social welfare schemes you can enter if you return to employment.

Support with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment

If you have questions about the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there is support available.

Income Support Helpline

If you need more information or assistance with your social welfare payment, you can contact the DEASP Income Support Helpline for COVID-19 at 0818 800024, or your local Intreo office.

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.

Need more information, advice or guidance?

We offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to you. Our online Youth Information Chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back