PUP likely to be phased out from September or October

The plan for PUP is due to be approved by cabinet tomorrow.

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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is likely to be phased out starting in September or October.

Cabinet Ministers will meet tomorrow to sign off on the National Economic Plan for recovery post-COVID.

Decisions are expected over how emergency supports for people and businesses will be unwound.

It's expected the government will phase out the Pandemic Unemployment Payment over a number of months into early next year. That's predicted to start in September or October of this year.

Part of the thinking in government circles is people losing their jobs later this year won't be losing them because of the pandemic. However, a push is expected from some to increase the base rates of social welfare payments like jobseekers.

It's also likely the EWSS Wage Subsidy Scheme will be kept on longer than the pandemic payments as businesses get back on their feet.

The plan is due to be approved by cabinet tomorrow. It's expected to also set out targets for getting people back to work over the next few years, and increasing employment to pre-pandemic levels.