A number of changes have been announced to social welfare that come into place this month.
It comes as the State Pension age has been recommended to stay at 66.
Last week, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, announced that jobseeker payments would return to in-person collection from post offices.
It comes in line with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions here, as well as a bid to tackle welfare fraud.
The change reflects the “pre-pandemic” system and will initially begin with new applicants. Existing jobseekers will be invited to collect payments from post offices over the coming months.
For those aged 25 and over and are signing up for the Jobseeker’s allowance this month, they will collect the weekly sum of €208 in person at their local Post Office.
Any new applicants aged 18-24 that are living independently can collect their €208 at the post office weekly and those aged 18-24 that are not living independently will be able to collect €117.70 each week.
The Irish Postmasters union and An Post had been calling for the payments to be moved back to offices rather than online, which Minister Humphreys acknowledged in the announcement.
She said: “Our post offices provide essential services in communities the length and breadth of the country.
“Even throughout the Pandemic, our postmasters, postmistresses and postal staff pulled out all the stops to meet the needs of their customers.”
This comes as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment closed for new applicants in late January following the re-opening of most businesses in the country without restrictions.
The PUP will move to a weekly rate of €208 in March 8, with recipients later transitioning to the standard jobseeker terms. If eligible, they will move onto jobseeker payment from April 5.
The Enhanced Illness Benefit, which supports people who are diagnosed with Covid-19 or who need to self-isolate, was extended until June 2022 on February 1.
This means a rate of €350 will be paid to those who have been infected and will miss work.
11,680 people were receiving the EIB as of yesterday.
In a statement, Heather Humphreys TD said: “The current payment rate of €350 per week was initially due to cease later this month.
“However, with Covid-19 still circulating in our communities, I believe it is important that we extend the payment until the end of June. I am glad to have secured Government approval to make these changes.
“EIB will be made available to you and the easiest way to apply is via MyWelfare.ie.”
While some systems have been changed, the State Pension age will remain the same.
Today, February 2, the Oireachtas Committee for Social Protection has recommended keeping the State Pension age at 66.
The report published concluded that many people aged 66 or over could not reasonably be expected to continue working due to the stress, both mentally and physically, that their jobs may cause.
