![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/covid19_07132020.png\")
The number of people claiming the Government\u2019s Covid-19 payment has fallen by over 67,000 \u2013 its largest weekly drop since the introduction of the scheme.<\/p>\nThe number of people claiming the Government\u2019s Covid-19 payment has fallen by over 67,000 \u2013 its largest weekly drop since the introduction of the scheme.<\/p>\n
The number of people depending on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has dropped by 42% since its peak on May 5.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at \u20ac106.8m to 345,600 people for the PUP.<\/p>\n
In the past week, 44,400 people have closed their claim and some 19,800 will be receiving their final payment on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are accommodation and food services as well as hairdressers and barbers, wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.<\/p>\n
The largest cohort returning to work is aged 35 to 44.<\/p>\n
Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, Heather Humphreys, said: \u201cIt is heartening to see that the phased approach set out in the Roadmap to Recovery is now being reflected in the number of people returning to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s figures are reassuring for employees, businesses and communities throughout the State as they clearly show people getting back to work with a significant fall in the number of people in every county receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.<\/p>\n
\u201cA further 44,400 people have closed their claims in the past week with 36,600 of these confirming that they are returning to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am particularly pleased to see the number of employees in the accommodation and food service area who are back in work again being supported by the Government\u2019s Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis number has increased from 8,100 last week to 22,000 this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government is now finalizing its work on preparing the July economic stimulus package that will drive the way for an economic recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as those availing of the PUP, there are now over 66,900 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).<\/p>\n
An estimated 405,000 employees are currently being supported by the scheme having received a subsidy in their most recent pay period.<\/p>\n
This is the second week of the two-tiered payment structure for people receiving the PUP.<\/p>\n
Employees whose average weekly earnings in 2019 or January and February 2020 were less than \u20ac200 gross will receive a weekly PUP of \u20ac203 a week.<\/p>\n
Employees with average earnings of \u20ac200 or more a week will continue to receive \u20ac350 PUP.<\/p>\n
Three in four recipients will continue to receive \u20ac350 per week.<\/p>\n
Some 95,800 people will receive the \u20ac203 rate of payment this week. The majority of people, some 249,800, will continue to receive the \u20ac350 rate of payment.<\/p>\n