Potential legal challenge to influence ‘tapering’ of Covid-19 jobless payments

The Government will try to stave off any potential legal challenges to the fairness of its Covid-19 welfare payments by raising the standard weekly unemployment payout even as it starts cutting the Covid-19 pandemic payments, according to a trade union think tank.

1.24 million people have lost their jobs or been forced to avail of some type of Covid-19 jobless payment. The Government has talked about “tapering” the level of the €350 pandemic payment to rein in the €1.5bn monthly cost of the schemes, as parts of the economy start-up again in coming months. It has committed to extending the schemes when the current 12-week programme ends at the end of June.