Thousands of people currently receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will see their entitlement fall by up to €100 a week from today.
Up to now, the top rate of PUP payment for those laid off due to the Covid-19 crisis was €350 a week, which applied to those who were earning more than €200 a week prior to the pandemic.
The lower rate of €203 was payable to those whose pre-pandemic earnings were below €200. However from today, the top rate will fall to €300 for workers who were previously earning over €300 a week.
A new rate of €250 will apply to those whose pre-Covid earnings were between €200 and €300 a week. The lower rate of €203 for those earning less than €200 remains unchanged.