Taxi driver's PUP case shows Department 'making up rules as they go along'

A taxi driver who had been in receipt of the controversial Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and closed his claim voluntarily was informed a month later that his payment had been stopped as social welfare inspectors had “observed” him operating his taxi.

The man in question, who is based in Dublin, had first claimed the PUP one week after it was first introduced on March 16 at a lower rate of €203 per week, in line with standard jobseeker’s benefit.