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# PUP
# ESRI
Young people argued with parents and siblings more during first year of the Covid pandemic
The ESRI findings are based on an online survey that was carried out in December 2020.
# Fraud
Man arrested in Swords as part of scam email and PUP fraud probe
Approximately €49,500 was stolen in the PUP fraud and an estimated additional €120,000 was stolen in an online fraud.
# PUP
PUP and Live Register numbers rose by 5.8% in December
The number of PUP recipients recorded last month has fallen by 82% compared to the 308,357 recipients in December 2020.
# PUP
Slight rise in unemployment in December, with the PUP reopening due to Covid restrictions
The unemployment rate in December 2021, adjusted due to the PUP, stood at 7.5%.
# Economic Recovery
PUP and EWSS Covid supports discussed at Cabinet Sub Committee - but no change made
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs had only recently seen restrictions start to relax.
# PUP
'People can't be expected to live on fresh air': McDonald hits out at decision to cut PUP payments
Cuts to the PUP took effect yesterday as the government announced new Covid-19 restrictions.
# PUP
No plans for rollback of cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates
From today, the €250 PUP rate will reduce to €203 per week.
THE MORNING LEAD
ICTU: Scrap 'inadequate' unemployment welfare system and link payments to past earnings
With the PUP set to be cut again this week, politicians are being urged to reform the social welfare system.
ICTU general secretary says higher PUP rate highlight paltry nature of Jobseeker's Benefit, Ian Curran writes.
Calls to move to European-style system, where welfare benefits are based on a percentage of past earnings.
Irish flat-rate system dates back to period before independence.
# PUP scam
Men plead guilty to PUP scam which cost state €150,000
The email addresses of 74 HSE and Tusla employees were used for fraudulent claims
# budget 2022
Pandemic wage subsidy scheme to be extended to April 2022, Donohoe confirms
The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme will be closed to new entrants in January.
# Covid PUP
Number of people getting Covid PUP falls below 100,000 for the first time
The Department of Social Protection said that 97,130 people got a payment this week.
# income support
Number of PUP recipients falls below 110,000 for the first time this year
A total of 106,245 people received the payment this week.
# Redundancy Package
Redundancy scheme announced for workers laid off during pandemic
The State will make a special payment of up to a maximum of €1,860 under the scheme.
# pandemic payment
Number of people receiving PUP drops over 25,000 since last week
It’s the least amount of people on the payment since the scheme was introduced in March 2020.
# income support
Top Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates cut by €50 from today
The process of moving some PUP recipients to jobseeker’s payments has been deferred until late October.
# income support
First cuts to Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates take effect from today
Students who have been availing of the scheme will receive their final payments today.
# live events
Music industry warns of 'ticking time bomb' as PUP cuts set to kick in next month
Today the Cabinet sub-committee is meeting to discuss the roadmap for the next phase of reopening.
# spend spend spend
Government spent €30.6 billion on social welfare payments in 2020, up 46% from 2019
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys described the increase as “extraordinary”.
# New low
Number of people receiving PUP dips below 200,000 for the first time
The overall bill for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment now stands at over €8.3 billion.
# evening fix
Here's What Happened Today: Thursday
Here’s your round-up of what made the headlines today.
# PUP
Returning workers face being overtaxed unless they cancel their Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Thousands of hospitality workers are expected to return to work over the coming weeks.
# PUP
Today is the last day people can sign up for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment
All recipients of the payment have to confirm their continued eligibility by 20 July.
# Work
Over 220,000 people receive PUP as payment closes to new applicants tomorrow
Under 25s are the age group with the largest number of PUP recipients.
# pandemic payments
Over 95% on PUP would be financially better off in employment – ESRI
The payment is not a disincentive to employment, new research has found.
# PUP
Number of people receiving PUP dips below 300,000 for the first time this year
This is the lowest number of people in receipt of the PUP since December.
# Social Welfare
Tánaiste expects number of PUP recipients to fall to a third of current level by end of the year
The payment is due to be abolished next February.
# Social Welfare
Government plans to link unemployment payments to past working history and PRSI contributions
With the phasing out of the PUP, government is keen to bring in pay-related unemployment payments.
# PUP
Government announces €3.5 billion plan to get the economy through Covid
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be phased out as part of the Covid-19 stimulus plan.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be phased out as part of the Covid-19 stimulus plan
The Covid wage subsidy scheme will be extended until the end of the year
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the pandemic caused "the most rapid and dramatic recession recorded outside of the world wars"
# recovery plan
Government to begin reducing the Pandemic Unemployment Payment by €50 from September
The PUP will be closed off to new applicants from July as the country begins to emerge from the Covid pandemic.
# PUP
Government considering phasing out pandemic supports in the final quarter of the year
Leo Varadkar said there would be no dramatic changes. An announcement will be made on Tuesday.
# Social Protection
Gardaí in Cork arrest and charge man for alleged PUP and social welfare fraud
The man is alleged to have claimed €8,000 in fraudulent claims spread across the PUP and social welfare system.
# Job Losses
Younger workers have been hit hardest by pandemic, according to new research
New research by the ESRI shows employment is 14% below pre-pandemic levels for people aged 15-34.
# Work
Number of PUP recipients falls below 400,000 for the first time this year
Over 12,000 people have closed their claim in the last week because they have returned to work.
# PUP
Over 420,000 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
Construction is the sector that saw the largest decrease in the number of people receiving the payment.
# PUP
Over 437,000 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
Construction is the sector that saw the largest decrease in the number of people receiving the payment.
# Cork
Man arrested for allegedly making fraudulent PUP claims whilst living in Asia last year
It is understood the man allegedly claimed in the region of €6,000 last year.
# Phishing scam
Second man arrested in relation to Pandemic Unemployment Payment fraud scheme
Personal data was collected through a phishing email and used to make applications for the pandemic unemployment payment.
# pup payments
Slight dip in number of people receiving Pandemic Unemployment Payment support
This week’s PUP payments are valued at €139 million.
# covid payment
469,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week
The total value of the payments is €140.34 million.
# PUP
Low-income families faced losing up to 30% of earnings without lockdown supports, CSO says
A new CSO report says that supports such as the PUP prevented significant falls in household income.