Written Answers Nos. 747-750
747. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to delays in the processing times of working family payment applications; what measures are being taken to have these times reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14080/24]
View answerThe Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment. Once awarded WFP is payable for 52 weeks. At the end of the 52-week period a customer must reapply (renew) to determine ongoing eligibility.
Currently, new applications for Working Family Payment have an average processing time of 8 weeks, with 78% of new applications decided within 6 weeks. There has been an increase in claims following the Budget 2024 changes to the weekly income thresholds. Additional resources have been allocated to deal with the increased volume of claims and the average processing time is expected to decrease.
WFP renewal claims continue to be processed prior to the expiry of the current claim where all the relevant information has been provided by the customer.
The easiest and fastest ways for customers to make an application for Working Family Payment is online via mywelfare.ie
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
748. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14137/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
CE projects are in diverse areas and include the development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, environmental maintenance, early years, and after-school supports, heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport, recycling and repair of equipment, visitation, friendly call, and befriending programmes for older people.
In response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions, a set of new pension measures were approved by Cabinet in September 2022. The set of reforms agreed include maintaining the State pension age at 66 and introduced a new flexible pension model, with effect from January 2024, whereby people have the option to continue working up until the age of 70 in return for a higher pension.
The new measures are specifically for people in standard employment situations and do not apply to State supported schemes like CE, where the participant qualifies due to being on a specific social welfare payment in advance of their placement on the scheme. Accordingly, the position regarding funding for CE participants remains as heretofore.
Should participants wish to continue to work after they reach 66, it is open to them to apply for positions that are not state funded. There may also be the option to continue to support and work with their CE scheme in a voluntary capacity.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
749. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to carry out a review of the pension contributions of a person (details supplied). [14138/24]
View answerThe person concerned reached 66 years of age on 5 March 2012.
A person must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has 475 reckonable contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for State Pension (contributory).
The person concerned has been in receipt of the Increase for a Qualified Adult on their spouse's State Pension (contributory) payment since 18 January 2008. This is currently paid at a weekly rate of €220.40.
It is open to the person concerned to apply for the State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested, residency-based payment for people of pension age. The maximum personal weekly rate is €266.00 which is approximately 96% of the maximum rate of contributory pension.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
750. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will issue on a carer’s allowance application (details supplied). [14139/24]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that an application for CA was received from the person concerned on 22 December 2023.
The application was subsequently referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector to confirm that all criteria for CA were satisfied.
Based on the evidence available to the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) and the Deciding Officer (DO), CA has been awarded with effect from 28 December 2023.
The first payment issued to the nominated financial institution on 28 March 2024.
The person concerned was notified on 22 March 2024 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
Arrears of €3,460.00 due for the period 28 December 2023 to 27 March 2024 issued on 22 March 2024.
I trust this clarifies the position for you at present.
