Welfare payment boost for high earners

Higher income earners will initially get enhanced social welfare payments if they lose their jobs, under plans being developed by Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar.

Under the scheme, higher income earners who have made significant contributions to the PRSI system, will stand to receive higher state welfare payments than those on lower incomes and those who have never paid PRSI.

The Irish Examiner understands that on losing one’s job the first elevated payment above the standard job seekers rate of €188 per week would apply for a period of three months, before being reduced to another rate about the basic rate.