Over 700 farmers are still receiving the COVID-19 enhanced illness benefit from the Government over the Christmas period.

Figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection show that the €350/week payment is still issuing to 787 farmers and those working in the agriculture sector.

The payment is available for people who test positive for the virus or who have been told to self-isolate if they are a close contact of a case.

Pandemic unemployment payment

Figures also showed that over 3,000 farmers and those working in the agriculture sector are availing of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP).

Although over 3,000 farmers are still on the payment, it is a considerable drop from the start of May, when 8,600 farmers were receiving the payment.

The PUP is paid at four graded rates based on a person's previous weekly earnings.

In the case of a self-employed person, such as a farmer, the earnings are assessed on the 2019 and 2018 earnings returns to Revenue.

In total, over €95m has issued from the Government in COVID-19-related payments this year.

More information can be found on the Department’s website or your local welfare office.