To expedite unemployment payments to individuals not being paid by their employers, a new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been introduced.

The payment is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to the pandemic.

Details and application form can be downloaded here.

The payment has a one-page application form and will be paid for a period of six weeks at a flat rate payment of €350 per week. Individuals applying for the payment will be required to apply for the normal Jobseeker’s payments within this six week period.

Minister Regina Doherty advised laid-off workers should not attend at Intreo centres. “Intreo centres have to apply social distancing recommendations, so queues will be long and people who call may have to wait a long time,” she said.

In Association with

Application forms can be downloaded online and submitted by post. People with a registered MyGovID account can make their claim online. Alternatively, people can call 1890 800 024 or 01 248 1398 to receive the relevant application form for the new payment by post.

Doherty added: “Payments will issue based on date of application, not date of processing, meaning that all payments will be back-dated. We would ask customers to please keep checking their bank account as payment may issue in advance of us formally notifying you.”