Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 68O

Rate of payment

Section 68O establishes how the weekly payment rates for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) are determined.

• Payment rates are set in Schedule 2 Part 6, with two bands: Band A pays €203 weekly to those who previously earned less than €200 per week, while Band B pays €350 weekly to those who earned €200 or more
• The method for calculating a claimant's average reckonable weekly income is prescribed by ministerial regulations made under this section
• The Minister may increase or decrease the weekly rates and introduce different payment levels, subject to consent from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
• When making regulations, the Minister must consider government Covid-19 economic policies, alignment with other income supports and activation measures, and efficient use of resources