Nearly 7,000 fewer people receive weekly PUP cash

Almost 7,000 fewer people received the weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payments last week as the subsidy nears its end.

Latest figures supplied by Government showed just over 221,000 recipients receive a total of €65.4 million as the spread of the delta variant places renewed stress on the economy’s ability to bounce back.

The number of recipients has decreased by 6,894 compared to the previous week, with the largest decline recorded in the accommodation and food services sector.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys noted the decline came despite the Government's controversial decision to defer the reopening of indoor hospitality as public health officials brace for a new surge in infections.

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“On top of the decrease in numbers, a further 8,000 people closed their PUP claims in the past seven days. This will be reflected in next week’s figures,” she said.

The greatest decrease recorded in this week’s figures was in the under-25 age category with 50,437 receiving PUP compared with 52,231 last week.

Unsurprisingly, major urban centres continue to dominate payments – Dublin at 80,789, followed by Cork (19,925) and Galway (11,805).

Although they represented the largest weekly reduction, employees in the accommodation and food services area still account for most payments, with 54,518 recipients, followed by those working in wholesale and retail (33,610) and then administrative and support services (23,824).

Beware of scams

While the PUP has been a financial lifeline for thousands over the course of the pandemic, it officially closes to new applicants from Thursday.

The department said that as and from then, anyone who loses their job should apply for the normal Jobseeker’s payment.

Tuesday’s figures also show there are 1,073 people in receipt of an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, compared with 1,012 last week. That payment is for employees or self-employed people who contract Covid-19.

Officials have also re-emphasised the need for people to be aware of scams phone calls and text messages intent on defrauding them of money.

“These calls and texts display a range of numbers, including some which may appear to be from the department’s phone numbers,” it said. “The department will never seek personal information from customers via text message and will never ask a customer for their bank details over the phone.”