Written Answers Nos. 530-556
530. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/16]
View answerIt is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
All the evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided it did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 13 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
531. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) was lodged; when he will schedule an oral hearing; how long it takes to determine an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10213/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3 May 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
532. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the award of a widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (non-contributory) pension to a person (details supplied), including the person's entitlement to a full pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10221/16]
View answerWidow's (Non-Contributory) Pension is a means-tested payment payable to a widow aged under 66 years of age who does not have dependent children and who does not qualify for a contributory widow's payment.
The person concerned has applied for Widow’s (Non Contributory) Pension. A request for information has issued to the person concerned and the response is awaited.
The person’s entitlement to Widow’s (Contributory) Pension is also being examined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
533. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has made a decision on an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the State pension (contributory) scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/16]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
534. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has made a decision on an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10223/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
535. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection why the rent allowance scheme contact telephone line and e-mail address have been down for over two months; and to reactivate this facility as a matter of urgency in order for persons to be able to make enquires regarding payments. [10229/16]
View answerOver the last two months the Dublin Central Rents Unit phone line and email address have been available, as per norm, on a daily basis during that period. However, this rent unit deals with high volumes of work and some aspects of processing Rent Supplement applications are, of necessity, complex and time consuming. This can generate associated volumes of telephone calls and email queries, both ways, between clients and the staff in the unit.
The high volumes of telephone calls dealt with can be an issue at times and the existing telephone system is currently being upgraded to allow it handle higher volumes of calls and to provide better levels of customer service.
Every effort is made to ensure that all telephone and email queries to the Dublin Central Rents Unit are dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
536. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the operation of the JobBridge programme, given the consistent rumours that unscrupulous employers are abusing it to avail of cheap labour and to add to their profits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10244/16]
View answerThe aim of the scheme is to help unemployed people break the cycle whereby they cannot get a job without experience, but cannot get experience without a job. It caters for a wide variety of jobseekers - those with no previous work experience and unemployed workers who might want, or indeed need, to change career direction to avail of the job opportunities emerging in post-recession Ireland.
Since the scheme was introduced almost 19,000 Host Organisations have provided internship opportunities to over 46,500 unemployed jobseekers. There are at present c 4,000 jobseekers engaged in JobBridge internships. Independent research indicates that circa 60% of these went on to get paid employment within a short period (5 months) of completing an internship. This compares very favourably with similar schemes across the EU where the average rate is 34%. The independent research also indicated that just 10% of participants rated the scheme negatively and that over two thirds of participants would recommend the scheme to a friend or family member.
It should also be noted that JobBridge is entirely voluntary. In order to attract potential interns, Host Organisations must provide opportunities that appeal to jobseekers, if they don’t jobseekers simply won’t apply. Jobseekers are not under any obligation to participate in JobBridge and those who commence an internship can finish their internship at any time with no penalty of any type.
There are a number of measures in place to minimise abuse of the scheme. First, potential Host Organisations must meet strict terms and conditions in order to participate in the scheme. All applications are screened on receipt and those that fail to meet the requirements are rejected.
Second, a Standard Agreement outlining the key duties and hours of the internship placement along with the associated skills, knowledge and learning development to be acquired by the intern. This must be agreed and signed by both the Host Organisation and intern at the outset of the internship.
Third, compliance reports/checks must be completed by the Host Organisation and submitted to the Department.
Fourth, to ensure that Host Organisations are abiding by the terms of the scheme, the Department operates a monitoring regime. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random monitoring inspection visits.
Over 12,500 monitoring visits have been conducted and 98% of these have been satisfactory. In a small number of cases (86) the Department was of the view that non-compliance by certain organisations warranted a decision to debar them from further participation in the scheme, or to suspend them participation for varying durations depending on the nature of the transgression. This represents less than 0.5% of Host Organisations participating in the scheme.
A second independent evaluation of JobBridge is currently underway to examine the effectiveness of scheme to date and to inform if and how it should be modified to improve outcomes and/or address any issues which are identified in the evaluation. The evaluation comprises a detailed econometric study and comprehensive surveys of host organisation and intern experience. The Department expects the full evaluation to be completed and report published in September 2016.
537. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department ever received an application from a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; the date the most recent application was received; if a decision was made on this application, and the date and nature of the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10245/16]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 17 February 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 20 April 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal. The person in question did not request a review or seek an appeal of the disallowance decision.
It is open to the person in question to submit a new application for Invalidity Pension to the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
538. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 14 April 2016, when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/16]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 27 January 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on means grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 12 May 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
539. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 14 April 2016, when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10287/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 October 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 17 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of his application. The review outcome is that the original decision has been confirmed. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
540. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will finalise an application for a person (details supplied) under the old age mixed insurance contributory pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10307/16]
View answerAn application for state pension (contributory) from the person concerned was received on 22 April 2016. As the person has been self-employed, the S-class social insurance element of their contribution history is currently being examined and verified. On completion, the application will be decided by a Deciding Officer and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome, in writing, without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
541. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will finalise an application for a person (details supplied) under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10318/16]
View answerThe person concerned contacted the Social Welfare Inspector on 29 April 2016 and withdrew her Family Income Supplement (FIS) claim.
This FIS claim is now closed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
542. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite payment to a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10319/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 13 November 2015.
Additional information that was omitted from the application was requested by the deciding officer on 10 February 2016. The person concerned submitted further evidence on 19 April 2016. A deciding officer will review the case and a decision will be made, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10330/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 11 January 2016.
Additional information that was omitted from the application was requested by a deciding officer and is still awaited. Once this information is received the application will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
544. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider a person who is receipt of a State pension and a carer's allowance for a full rate of payment under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10334/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people with disabilities who require full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits.
When an applicant is getting certain social welfare payments and providing full-time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main social welfare payment and get a half-rate CA as well.
The person concerned was awarded a State Pension contributory from 15 August 1997 and is currently in receipt of €243.30 weekly. In line with legislation, when CA was awarded to her from 25 June 2015, it was awarded at the half-rate of €126.00 weekly in addition to her State Pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
545. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the State pension by €5 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10337/16]
View answer546. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €2.50 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10338/16]
View answer549. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of fully restoring the Christmas bonus to recipients of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10341/16]
View answer552. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the carer's support grant from €1,700 per year to €2,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10434/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 545, 546, 549 and 552 together.
The cost of increasing the weekly rates of payment for all pensioners aged 66 and over (State Pension Contributory, State Pension Non-Contributory, Widow’s, Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pensioners aged 66 and over, Carer’s Allowance recipients aged 66 and over, Death Benefit Pension recipients aged 66 and over, Incapacity Supplement recipients aged 66 and over, and Deserted Wife’s Benefit recipients aged 66 and over) is estimated at €154.4 million in a full year. The cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory by €5 per week, from €233.30 to €238.30 per week, is estimated at €105 million. The cost of increasing the State Pension Non-Contributory by €5, from €222 to €227 per week, is estimated at €25.1 million. These costs include proportionate increases for qualified adults, and those on reduced rates of insurance-based payments, where applicable.
The cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €2.50 per week, from €9 to €11.50 per week, is estimated at €25.2 million in a full year.
The cost of paying a 100% Christmas Bonus to recipients of the State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) in 2016 is estimated at €109 million. The cost of paying a 100% Christmas Bonus to all pensioners aged 66 and over is estimated at €130 million.
The cost of increasing the Carer’s Support Grant by €300, from €1,700 to €2,000 per annum, in 2016 is estimated at €25.7 million.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.
The Programme for Government contains the commitment to “increase the State Pension and the Living Alone Allowance above the rate of inflation”. Improvements to welfare weekly rates of payment will be considered in the context of the next Budget.
547. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the telephone allowance to €9.50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10339/16]
View answer548. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the telephone allowance to its original value of €22.50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10340/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together.
The overall concern in recent years has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approx. €6.976 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2016, representing approx. 35% of overall expenditure. Because of demographic changes, the Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on year. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.
The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that the Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 418,000 customers.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen each year with the number of eligible customers also increasing significantly. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013, an increase of 25%, or an average increase of nearly 4% per annum. Each year almost 10,000 extra customers became eligible for the allowance because of the increased number of pension recipients.
In relation to estimating the cost of restoring the allowance for 2017, and approximating the average number of claimants in the region of 421,000, it is estimated that the cost would be in the region of €48m for €9.50 per month, and €114m if €22.50 per month.
The Government is keenly aware of the impact of Budget decisions on the Department’s clients, and strives to ensure that the money available is targeted in the most effective way. In Budget 2016, the first increase in the basic rate of the State pension in seven years was given. This has increased the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €222, and that of the contributory pension to €233.30. There was also a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance, from €20 to €22.50 per week. I believe that, taken together with other changes, such as increasing the Christmas Bonus to 75% of weekly rate, the impact of the last Budget has been very positive for older people.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
550. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings accrued by changing the PRSI contribution eligibility criteria for the State pension in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10342/16]
View answerThe State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. State pensions account for the single largest block of social welfare expenditure, and while expenditure on pensions is increasing by approximately €1 billion every five years because of demographic pressures, this is being successfully managed within the overall welfare budget. In 2016, €6.976 billion will be spent on pensions, which represents approx. 35% of the Department’s total current expenditure. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.
As provided for in Budget 2012, new rate bands for State pension (contributory) were introduced. These additional bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions. Those with a yearly average of 48 or more contributions receive a 100% pension, whereas, for example, those with only a yearly average of 20 contributions may qualify for a pension at 85% of the maximum rate.
The net savings from this change would not be the same thing as the gross reduction in State pension (contributory) payments, as in some cases the person would instead qualify for a State pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is 95% that of the contributory pension.
At the time this measure was introduced, the net exchequer savings arising were estimated to be in the region of €2.8 million in 2013, €5m in 2014 and €8m in 2015.
551. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10384/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11 May 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
553. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the details regarding the pro rata contributory pension and the requirements to meet such a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10442/16]
View answerThe State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement.
To qualify for a state pension (contributory) a person must have at least 520 paid contributions and satisfy a yearly average condition (a yearly average of 48 contributions paid or credited is required for a full rate State pension (contributory), and reduced rates of payment may be payable for pensioners with lower averages). Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes.
There is no single Pro Rata Contributory Pension. However there are arrangements which operate on such a basis. A mixed insurance pro-rata State pension is one of a number of alternative qualifying methods introduced to ensure that as many people as possible qualify for a State pension contributory. This was introduced in 1991 and was designed to ensure that people who have contributed to the social insurance system at different rates receive a pension which reflects the proportion of full rate contributions which exists in their overall insurance record. This pension is calculated by taking the total number of contributions (modified and full rate) a person has paid over their working life and applying the average contributions test to arrive at the rate which would be paid if all contributions were at the full rate. The actual rate to be paid is determined by the proportion of full rate contributions in the overall record. There are also pro-rata arrangements which may apply when calculating pensions due under international social security agreements. The requirements to qualify for such pensions may depend upon the circumstances of the person and their insurance record in Ireland and abroad.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €222.
554. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if parents with joint custody and an entitlement under the rent supplement scheme should also be entitled to receive payments under the scheme to provide accommodation that facilitates overnight stays with their children; and the guidelines he provides to his officials make decisions on these cases. [10462/16]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 56,800 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016.
Persons seeking a rent supplement must first satisfy a decision maker that they have a housing need that they are unable to meet from within their own resources. In addition, the decision maker must be satisfied that the residence is reasonably suited to the residential and other needs of the claimant and that the rent payable is reasonable having regard to the nature, character and location of the residence.
Where the children’s housing and other basic needs are being met by the primary carer and the payment of a qualified child allowance is also being made to that individual, rent supplement would normally be payable at a single person’s rate to the other parent. However, in exceptional circumstances a supplement payable to the non-primary carer at a higher family rate may be considered, having regard to the particular circumstances of the family using statutory discretionary powers.
In making a decision, Department officials are advised to consider any documentary evidence supporting the extent of the parent’s involvement with the children, and consider the extent of the claimant’s accommodation need, having regard to the custody arrangements and whether the children are dependent on the claimant for financial or material support.
The Department engaged an external consultant to undertake a technical review of the rent supplement scheme in regards to its policy regarding separated parents. The policy implications of the resultant report are under consideration by the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
555. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an adult dependant under the disability allowance scheme can qualify for an internship under the JobBridge programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10466/16]
View answerJobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy - particularly the sharp increase in unemployment.
The aim of the scheme is to provide unemployed people with the opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective employers, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of “no work, no experience; no experience, no work”.
To be eligible to participate, candidates must be in receipt of one of a number of specified social welfare payments immediately prior to commencement; and for at least 3 of the preceding 6 months.
In order to target scarce Exchequer resources, eligibility was initially confined to unemployed people on the Live Register but has since been expanded beyond those in receipt to Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance (or signing for credits) to include persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory/Non-Contributory Pension, Deserted Wives Benefit, Deserted Wives Allowance, Blind Persons Pension and Disability Allowance.
People who are registered as a Qualified Adult, on another person’s payment are not eligible to participate, but may make an application for a jobseeker payment in their own right and thereafter apply for JobBridge.
An evaluation of JobBridge is currently underway, the results of which will facilitate consideration of how the scheme might best be further developed.
Additional information on eligibility criteria is available on the JobBridge website at www.jobbridge.ie.
556. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection to grant a person (details supplied) an appeal in respect of a disallowance under the disability allowance scheme, given that at the time of the disallowance the person did not have the required documentation to lodge an appeal and was also in court during this period. [10467/16]
View answerAn application for Disability Allowance by the person concerned was allowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 30 April 2014 at a reduced rate based on her means. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no trace of any appeal against this decision having been received from the person concerned.
In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. This limit is not rigidly enforced but in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the person concerned was notified of the decision and in the absence of any explanation for the failure to submit an appeal within the prescribed timeframe, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that it is unlikely that an appeal would be accepted at this late stage.
The person concerned could request a review of her means by the Department and if she is unhappy with the decision she would then have the right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
