2,400 laid-off Kerry workers return to work

OVER 2,400 Kerry workers have cancelled their emergency COVID-19 dole claims and have returned to their jobs.

According to the latest figures published by the Department of Social Protection on Monday more than 2,400 workers in Kerry have ‘closed’ their claims for the €350-a-week Pandemic Unemployment Payment since the lock-down restrictions began to be lifted on May 18.

These ‘closed claims’ all refer to people who told the Department that they are returning to work.

Approximately 200 other pandemic payment claims in Kerry have been closed – by the claimants or by the Department – for unspecified reasons.

The number of workers in Kerry due to receive the emergency payment this week stands at 20,100. However, that figure also includes around 1,000 workers who have already withdrawn their claims.

This is because the payment is made ‘in arrears’, and they are still due to receive their final payments – and then be removed from the list – later this week.

Meanwhile the number of Kerry people in receipt of the ‘Enhanced Illness Benefit’ for COVID-19 remained static and stood at 1,000 on Monday.

This payment – which is different to the Pandemic Payment – is made to people who have or had the virus, or who have been instructed to self-isolate as they were in contact with a known case.

With further restrictions expected to be lifted from Monday, the Department is advising all Pandemic Payment recipients that they must close and withdraw their claim on the actual date they return to work.