The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has updated the rules around the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), meaning that farmers and other self-employed people can earn up to €960 without affecting their weekly benefit payments.

The €960 can be spread out over an eight-week period and will allow people hoping to restart their business to take on jobs without affecting their PUP payments.

No formal application process

A self-employed person needs to inform the Department if they earn over €960, but there is no formal application process.

Over 3,000 farmers and people working in agriculture are still in receipt of the payment, which is graded on four levels depending on the recipient's previous earnings.

“I don’t want to see people turning down work for fear that it might impact their pandemic unemployment payment,” Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said.

“The change will also increase the flexibility and make life a little easier for our taxi drivers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, beauticians and other self-employed workers across the country.”