There has been a slight reduction in the number of people receiving the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment this week, according to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

The department said it had issued payments valued at €201.8 million to 585,000 people in respect of their application for the payment, down 5,000 from last week. Around 7,000 people are receiving a payment for the first time.

Drop

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty said the figures confirmed that we had reached the peak and she expected the numbers receiving the payment to gradually drop over the coming weeks.

The department is advising workers who may be returning to work today (Monday) to close their claim for the pandemic payment today to make sure that they will not lose out in getting their payment for the previous week – due to be paid on Tuesday.

Claim

Those who return to work any time after today (Monday) must close their claim for the payment on the actual date they start back at work.

Workers closing their claim can do so online at MyWelfare.ie.