Update on Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26 March 2020 to provide income support to eligible employees where the employer’s business activities have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

The aim of the scheme is to maximise staff retention and firm viability by maintaining the link between the employer and employee. The rate is set with respect to previous average net wage levels.

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Many employers (over 43,000 as of 15th April) have registered for the scheme and over 26,000 of these have already received a refund. The Revenue Commissioners have advised that over 255,000 employees have already received at least one payment under the scheme, and that approximately 84% of employees have also received a top-up payment from their employer.

Section 28 of the relevant legislation, the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 makes provision for the Minister for Finance to determine the amount of the temporary wage subsidy, including in relation to those earning in excess of €586 per week (€38,000 pa). Furthermore, it is acknowledged that as the scheme has been developed at speed there are imperfections and anomalies arising, including for lower-paid employees.

Therefore, on 15th April, Minister Donohoe announced some further changes to the Scheme which apply to those earning less than €500 per week (approx. €31,000) as well as those earning in excess of €586 per week (€38,000).

Employees with net pay less than €586 per week (€38,000)

• for those employees with previous average net pay up to €412 per week (equivalent to almost €24,400) the subsidy will be increased from 70% to 85% of their previous net weekly pay

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• for those employees with previous average net pay between €412 and €500 per week (equivalent to €24,400-€31,000), the subsidy will be up to €350 per week.

In addition, where an employer wishes to pay a greater level of top-up - beyond the outstanding 15% of previous pay - (in respect of employees with net pay less than €412 per week) in order to bring the employee’s pay to €350 per week then tapering would not be applied to the subsidy.

There are no changes in respect of those whose previous average net pay was between €500 and €586 per week (equivalent to €31,000-€38,000), who will continue to receive a subsidy of up to 70% of previous net income, up to a maximum of €410 per week.

These changes mean that more employees will now receive a subsidy of €350 per week, and those with previous net pay below €412 per week will now receive a greater level of subsidy.

Employees with net pay in excess of €586 per week (€38,000)

For employees with previous net pay in excess of €586 per week (equivalent to €38,000), a tiered approach will apply. The maximum subsidy payable for these remains €350 per week. The tiered approach takes into account both the amount paid by the employer and the level of reduction in pay borne by that employee as follows:

Gross Amount paid by Employer Subsidy

• Up to 60% of employee’s previous average net weekly pay                           Up to €350 per                                                                                                                                             week
• Between 60% and 80% of employee’s previous average net weekly pay    Up to €205 per                                                                                                                                              week
• Over 80% of employee’s previous average net weekly pay                          No subsidy payable

Tapering of the subsidy will apply to all cases where the gross pay paid by the employer and the subsidy exceed the previous average net weekly pay. This is calculated by subtracting the amount paid by the employer from the previous average net weekly pay. This is to ensure that no employee would be better off under the scheme.

Minister Donohoe has also determined that the wage subsidy is now available to support employees where the average gross pre-COVID-19 salary was greater than €76,000, and their gross post-Covid salary has fallen below €76,000. The tiered arrangement applicable to gross incomes in excess of €38,000 will apply in such circumstances.

Therefore, if an employee was earning over €76,000 gross and has now been reduced to below €960 net pay a week, and their reduction is more than 20% then a subsidy of up to €205 would be payable and if the reduction was more than 40% a subsidy of up to €350 would be payable. To calculate the level of subsidy payable, current gross pay will be compared with previous average net weekly pay for January/February. This subsidy will be tapered so as to ensure that the total net income (employer contribution + wage subsidy) does not exceed €960 net per week.

Minister Donohoe said:

"The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was designed and introduced with great speed. This was done to ensure the greatest number of employees maintained the link with their employee during this difficult time. It stood to reason that there were anomalies that needed to be ironed out to ensure greater fairness and implementation of the scheme. The whole world is facing a time of unprecedented difficulty. Here in Ireland we are working hard to ensure the impact and fallout from what is happening is minimised for our people to the greatest extent possible. Today’s measures serve to reinforce that message and to offer additional comfort to employer and employees in the period ahead."

Effective date

These determinations have been made by the Minister for Finance [with the consent of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection], in accordance with Section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. The determinations will apply for payroll with a pay date on or after the 4 May and received by the Revenue Commissioners on or after that date (no back-dating of increased subsidy will apply).

Revenue are currently making the necessary changes to their systems to implement these changes and move to phase 2 of the scheme. This phase will see a personal subsidy amount paid in respect of each employee and recoupment of any amounts overpaid to employers during the introductory interim phase.

Qualification Criteria

There is no change to the qualification criteria for employers.

The Subsidy Scheme is open to employers who self-declare to Revenue that they have experienced significant negative economic disruption due to COVID-19. They should be able to show that they meet the criteria laid out in Revenue’s published Guidance on Employer Eligibility and Supporting Proofs www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/documents/guidance-on-employer-eligibility-and-supportingproofs.pdf.
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