The IFA has welcomed the clarification from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that full-time farmers can avail of the emergency COVID-19 unemployment payment.
The association’s farm family and social affairs chair Caroline Farrell said it was an important step for farmers and it meant farmers who could not sell their stock and would not have an income could claim the €350/week payment.
She said the IFA had received numerous calls on the matter and farmers had been getting different messages regarding eligibility “even from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection”.
She encouraged all farmers who were not in a position to sell stock as a result of closed marts to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The following clarifications on social welfare schemes were listed by the IFA:
Full-time farmers who had ceased trading (ie unable to sell or buy animals, crops or other produce) as a result of the pandemic are entitled to the payment of €350 per week.Part-time farmers who have lost off-farm employment as a result of the pandemic are entitled to the payment of €350 per week. A farmer in receipt of Farm Assist payments is not entitled to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. However, if their income has deteriorated as a result of restrictions or loss of income, they can look for a reassessment of the Farm Assist. A farmer in receipt of Rural Social Scheme payments is not entitled to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, but the existing payment is maintained. A farmer and/or spouse in receipt of Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit, including those who are working fewer than 18 hours per week who have ‘ceased trading’ or lost their employment can claim the payment of €350 per week.A farmer in receipt of Disability Allowance that has ‘ceased trading’ or lost employment is entitled to the payment. The payment will be adjusted to take account of the Disability Allowance payment. Read more
Allocate extra €100m to ANC – INHFA
Rushes do not need to be sprayed to secure payments – Department
The IFA has welcomed the clarification from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that full-time farmers can avail of the emergency COVID-19 unemployment payment.
The association’s farm family and social affairs chair Caroline Farrell said it was an important step for farmers and it meant farmers who could not sell their stock and would not have an income could claim the €350/week payment.
She said the IFA had received numerous calls on the matter and farmers had been getting different messages regarding eligibility “even from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection”.
She encouraged all farmers who were not in a position to sell stock as a result of closed marts to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The following clarifications on social welfare schemes were listed by the IFA:
Full-time farmers who had ceased trading (ie unable to sell or buy animals, crops or other produce) as a result of the pandemic are entitled to the payment of €350 per week.Part-time farmers who have lost off-farm employment as a result of the pandemic are entitled to the payment of €350 per week. A farmer in receipt of Farm Assist payments is not entitled to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. However, if their income has deteriorated as a result of restrictions or loss of income, they can look for a reassessment of the Farm Assist. A farmer in receipt of Rural Social Scheme payments is not entitled to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, but the existing payment is maintained. A farmer and/or spouse in receipt of Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit, including those who are working fewer than 18 hours per week who have ‘ceased trading’ or lost their employment can claim the payment of €350 per week.A farmer in receipt of Disability Allowance that has ‘ceased trading’ or lost employment is entitled to the payment. The payment will be adjusted to take account of the Disability Allowance payment. Read more
Allocate extra €100m to ANC – INHFA
Rushes do not need to be sprayed to secure payments – Department
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