Farm Finance: am I entitled to COVID-19 payments?

Q: I’m a farmer over 66 receiving the State Pension. My farm income has been hit by mart closures. Can I claim the €350/week COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment?

A: No. If you are a self-employed farmer over 66 in receipt of the State Pension the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has said that you will not be eligible for the payment.

Q: I am a part-time farmer under 66 who has lost their off-farm job. Am I entitled to the €350/week COVID-19 payment?

A: Yes. Depending on your circumstances the Department has said that most part-time farmers who have lost their off-farm job should be eligible for the payment provided that they were working before Friday 13 March.

“Part-time farmers who have lost off-farm employment and who would be available to take up alternative full-time employment can qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment,” the Department has said.

Q: I am a self-employed farmer under 66 who has lost income as a result of the pandemic and mart restrictions. Am I entitled to the €350/week unemployment payment?

A: It will depend on whether you meet the Department’s criteria to be available “to take up other full-time work.”

While the Department has said that all self-employed workers, including farmers are able to apply for the scheme, their eligibility will depend on their availability to do some other form of work.

“Most farmers who are continuing to farm will not be eligible to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment - this is because they will not they satisfy the conditions for receipt of the payment which are that they must have experienced a collapse of income and be available to take up other full-time work,” the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“Where a farmer, who is continuing to farm and is therefore not available to take up other full-time work, is in financial difficulty they can apply for welfare support in the form of Farm Assist or Supplementary Welfare Allowance.”

Q: I am a farmer on Farm Assist and have lost my off-farm job and had my income impacted by the pandemic. Can I claim the emergency payment?

A: No. Similar to the State Pension, the Department is limiting the number of multiple welfare payments recipients can receive at this time. Therefore, if you are in receipt of Farm Assist – even if it is less than the full weekly payment of €203/week – you are not eligible for the €350/week emergency payment.

Q: My farm business is a registered company. Can I claim the Government’s COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme?

A: Yes, as long as you meet the criteria for the scheme you should be eligible.

To qualify you must:

Farmers should check with gov.ie or phone their local welfare office for more information on all schemes.