WRC rejects age discrimination complaint over PUP cutoff

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Diana Walsh’s age discrimination complaint against The Minister for Social Protection over the Pandemic Unemployment Payment age limit. The decision was dated 14 March 2023. Walsh had been laid off during the pandemic and received PUP until she turned 66 in April 2020. She argued that stopping the payment at that age was discriminatory and pointed to people who could receive both the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the State pension. The Minister said PUP was an emergency payment for people aged 18 to under 66 who lost work during the pandemic, while people aged 66 and over could receive the State pension. The WRC found the scheme was established under legislation and fell within an exemption in the Equal Status Act. It concluded the complaint was not properly founded and failed.