Pandemic unemployment payment
The government has done a u-turn on its position on the pandemic unemployment payment.
Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed people won't lose access to social welfare payments if they travel abroad to greenlist countries.
After days of controversy around people losing their social welfare payments, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announced a u-turn on government policy in the Dáil this morning.
Here’s the Heather Humphreys statement on the welfare payments and travel pic.twitter.com/U0wxmQhEDT
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 29, 2020
People also won't have their payments stopped if they travel to countries not on the greenlist for essential reasons like a bereavement, as long as they inform their welfare office.
There will also be a review of all the cases to date where people had their payment stopped.
The government's approach to this issue and the mixed messaging was strongly criticised by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
The u-turn is just the latest change of policy from this government.
