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The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty has announced today that, in line with the latest HSE and WHO advice around social distancing and in order to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to get people into payment as quickly as possible, the Department has taken the decision to temporarily postpone all SAFE registration appointments with immediate effect to reduce footfall to offices in the best interests of customers and staff.
Over the last number of days the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has experienced unprecedented levels of demand on our services. In particular the online appointment services for SAFE registration in connection with the authentication of a person’s identity and the issuing of a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) as well as a Public Services Card (PSC) have been in high demand. Fulfilling these appointments involves a visit to its offices and a face-to-face interview with an officer of the Department. The online appointments service is being temporarily postponed on mywelfare.ie. The Department is making arrangements to email each customer who have an appointment, to advise them their appointment has been postponed. Minister Doherty stated: “We are currently facing an unprecedented challenge with Coronavirus but my Department is determined to meet it with agility and flexibility to ensure we get assistance to all who need it. The measures we are taking today will re-enforce social distancing in line with HSE and WHO guidelines.”Temporary process for PPSN allocation Customers who require a PPSN can apply directly to the Department via email. The customer will be required to submit scanned images or photographs of the each of the following:
Alternatively, scanned copies or photographs can be posted to PPSN Allocation, CIS Registration, DEASP, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, N41 KD81. Customers should ensure that all the documents they are sending are legible. The Department will issue the PPSN by post to the customer’s address. Authentication of mobile phone number This service is available to people who have previously authenticated their identity in a SAFE interview and, as a result, have already been issued with a Public Services Card and want to set up a verified MyGovID account. The telephone number for this service is 1890 927 999. Further information Public Service Cards Where a person has lost their Public Services Card, they can still request a replacement card by calling 1890 837 000. Customers who already hold a Public Services Card and become entitled to Free Travel will continue to receive their new card by post. The new payment that has been put in place will be available to all EMPLOYEES and the SELF-EMPLOYED who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Please find attached the emergency COVID-19, Sign on, 1-page social welfare application form to help speed up applications and payments. Application form https://assets.gov.ie/…/a026043e90cc4d03bdfb1f3a58f3d7af.pdf Social Welfare offices open at 9.30am this morning. The payment will have a simple one – page application form and will be paid for a period of 6 weeks at a flat rate payment of €203 per week. Individuals applying for the payment will be required to apply for the normal jobseeker’s payments within this 6 week period. Once this normal jobseeker claim is subsequently received, the Department will process these claims and reconcile payments at that time. This will involve backdating increased payments for certain customers. Application forms can be downloaded online and submitted by post. Those people with a registered MyGovID account can make their claim online. People are asked to assist the Department over the next few days by applying for income support from the Department through our online channels. Information for people claiming a payment There is no need for to attend your local Intreo Centre but you can apply in the following ways: 1) An application form for the new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be downloaded here and returned to us to PO BOX 12896, Dublin 1 OR 2) You can apply for another income support from us through our online portal www.MyWelfare.ie (you will need a Public Services Card) OR 3) Phone us on 1890 800 024 or 01 2481398 and we will send you the relevant application form for the new payment. Minister Doherty: “I want to reassure our clients that the Department will process all applications for income support as soon as possible. The new payment will speed this process up and ensure that our customers receive a payment from the Department in as short a time as possible. Payments will issue based on date of application, not date of processing, meaning that all payments will be back dated. We would ask customers to please keep checking your Bank Account as payment may issue in advance of us formally notifying you.” If you need a printed form posted to you please pm or email me with your address .  Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien has said that help must be given to homeowners struggling with mortgages, renters unable to pay bills and landlords who must meet re-payments during the Covid-19 crisis.
It also means addressing cramped conditions for those in emergency accommodation. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups such as homeless people. Deputy O’Brien said: “Covid-19 is an unprecedented crisis and demands a whole of society response. The steps to slow down the disease have effectively pressed the pause button on large parts of the economy. “We need to respond compressively to this. In housing, this means helping homeowners struggling with mortgages, renters unable to pay bills and landlords who have to meet re-payments. “We need to see joined up thinking and a co-ordinated response between banks, landlords and tenants will be needed to alleviate the pressure on households and ensure we do not generate additional homelessness. Frontline services need to be supported in helping homeless people and ensuring best practise is followed. “Many people have concerns about how they are going to pay their mortgages or rent during this crisis and this is why a moratorium is needed so that people struggling get the necessary helps if they are struggling,” concluded Deputy O’Brien. If your employer asks you to stay at home as a precaution or puts you on a period of pay-off and does not continue to pay your wages, you can apply for income support in the form of Jobseeker's Payment or Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Any person requested to stay at home by their employer as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19 will, in situations where the employer cannot continue to pay their wages, can be considered to have been temporarily laid-off and can apply for an income support in the form of a Jobseekers Payment or Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Laid off temporarily or Reduced Hours: Employees who are laid off temporarily, without pay, due to a reduction in business activity, can apply for a Jobseekers Payment. This application can be made online at mywelfare.ie or in person at Intreo Offices. Employees who are put onto short-time working by their employer due to a reduction in business activity related to Covid-19 may apply for a Short Time Work Support payment. This application can be made in person at Intreo Offices. When a worker is told to self-isolate by a doctor or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by a doctor, they can apply for an enhanced Illness Benefit payment of €305 per week. To be eligible for this payment a person must be confined to their home or a medical facility. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are introducing measures to provide income support to people affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus). 3 major changes have been announced: •The current 6-day waiting period for Illness Benefit will not apply to anyone who has COVID-19 (Coronavirus) or is in medically-required self-isolation. •The personal rate of Illness Benefit will increase from €203 per week to €305 per week for a maximum of 2 weeks medically-required self-isolation or for the full duration of absence from work following a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) •The normal social insurance requirements for Illness Benefit will be changed or the means test for Supplementary Welfare Allowance will be removed. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch: 📧 [email protected] 📞 01-6183802 The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are introducing measures to provide income support to people affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
3 major changes have been announced:
Government has now urged all employers to support national public health objectives by continuing, as a minimum, to pay employees who cannot attend work due to Covid-19 illness or self-isolation the difference between the enhanced Illness Benefit rate and their normal wages. This may be achieved through the employer considering a range of flexible working arrangements with their employees such as:
In considering how to respond to questions arising as a consequence of Covid-19 employers and employees are directed in the first instance to the public health advice issued by the HSE, available on their website www.HSE.ie . It is essential that all individuals and employers abide by this advice. Who the enhanced arrangements are intended to support (COVID-19). Availability of the enhanced payment (COVID-19). Workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19. Workers who are not diagnosed with COVID-19 but who self-isolate. Workers whose employers do not supplement/top-up the State Illness Benefit payment (COVID-19). Workers who are requested to stay at home by their employer (COVID-19). Workers who are laid off temporarily or put on to short time working (COVID-19). Workers who need to take time off work to care for a person affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus). People already in receipt of Social Welfare Payments (COVID-19). How to apply for Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences |
NEWSArchives
June 2026
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