Social welfare payments and COVID-19

• COVID-19 Pandemic UnemploymentPayment
• COVID-19 enhanced Illness Benefit
• Statutory sick leave and sick pay
• Illness Benefit

COVID-19 Pandemic UnemploymentPayment

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who lost all their employment due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Scheme is closed.

COVID-19 enhanced Illness Benefit

The enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences ended on Friday, 30 September 2022.

Statutory sick leave and sick pay

If you have COVID-19, have a medical certificate from your GP, and your illness is for less than 5 days, you may be entitled to statutory sick leave and pay.

Illness Benefit

If you are not entitled to statutory sick pay, or your illness lasts more than 5 days, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit if you have enough PRSI contributions.