Written Answers Nos. 1245-1264
1245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for farm assist by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36167/18]
View answerTo date, my Department has not received an appeal from the claimant in this case.
Farm Assist is a means-tested payment and, as such, any capital held is assessed as means. Should an appeal be lodged, my Department will look at any matters raised that the claimant considers should be taken into consideration.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36168/18]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 16 March 2018.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 18 July 2018 with effect from 22 March 2018. The first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 9 August 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 22 March 2018 to 8 August 2018 have also issued to her on 16 August 2018.
The person concerned was notified on 18 July 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36169/18]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 23 April 2018. Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 23 July 2018 and 21 August 2018.
Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are circumstances in which a community employment placement may be extended beyond three years such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [36193/18]
View answerThe person concerned has completed 3 years on a Community Employment Scheme (CE) which is the maximum amount for a mainstream participant, as per the government strategy of July 2017. The participant has asked for their case to be re-examined for an extension to cover a fourth year on C.E. Merchants Quay project.
Under the Programme Framework for CE Drug Rehabilitation Schemes, three years is the maximum allowed for Support Workers. However, I will ask my officials to review this case having regard to the circumstances outlined.
I hope this clarifies the position for you.
1249. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for State redundancy by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36207/18]
View answerIt is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy and other wage related payments to all its eligible employees in the first instance. In the event that the employer cannot pay due to financial circumstances or if the company has gone into liquidation, my Department can step in to pay the statutory amounts from the Social Insurance Fund. In cases of liquidation, the liquidator takes the place of the employer and is the relevant officer under legislation to submit the claims on behalf of the employees.
A liquidator was appointed over Arravasc Limited on 18th May 2018. The liquidator submitted Redundancy and Insolvency claims to my Department in respect of eligible employees, including the person concerned, in mid-July 2018.
My officials have confirmed that a significant number of claims have already been authorised and payment has issued. All outstanding claims are currently being processed and it is expected that these claims will be authorised and paid in the coming weeks, subject to all conditions being satisfied.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1250. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of plans to alter the State pension qualification criteria to ensure that all persons who have had periods outside of the PAYE system or have been homemakers for a period are entitled to a full State pension. [36252/18]
View answerAs a general policy, the Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards. I launched a public consultation on this proposal earlier this year in May. This closed last Monday, the 3rd of September. My Department has now started studying the submissions. Following examination and consideration of the submissions to the consultation, my officials will prepare proposals for the design of the new approach for consideration by the Government in due course.
Separately, I announced on 23rd January an interim TCA for those affected by the 2012 rate-band changes. Under this approach, a person who reached pension age after 1 September 2012 (i.e., who is among those affected by the new ratebands introduced from that date) and who has a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits, will qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.
Up to 20 years of HomeCaring credits, and/or 10 years of other qualifying credits (e.g., when unemployed or ill) may be used, subject to the total number of credits not exceeding 20 years. This approach is expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role. It will make it easier for pensioners assessed under the yearly average model, to qualify for a higher rate of the State Pension (contributory). This interim TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them - determines a final pension outcome.
Legislation has to be drafted and enacted to enable implementation of these arrangements, and a number of options regarding the best approach to passing that legislation are being considered. In addition, an information technology system has to be developed in line with the legislation. My Department is currently working on both of these. As I've said previously, it is still planned to commence the reviews before the end of this year, with the first payments being made in the first quarter of 2019. In this regard, the commitment we made in January for the payments to be backdated to the end of last March still stands.
It is not necessary for people to contact the Department on this matter. Once the legislation is enacted and the systems and processes are ready, my Department will write to the people impacted and provide them with the opportunity to have their pension calculation reviewed.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1252. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date on which it was decided to change the application forms for illness benefit; the consultations that took place; the persons or bodies with which consultation took place; the dates on which consultations took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36257/18]
View answerMy Department recently introduced a new claim form (called “IB1”) and a new medical certificate (called “MED1”) to replace the previous MC1 and MC2 forms for certification of the Department’s Illness and Injury Benefit schemes. This change is part of a programme of modernisation in the Department’s Illness Benefit section which took effect from Monday 6 August. The Department’s intention in implementing this modernisation programme - including the changes to forms - is to improve the certification processes and to make claim and payment procedures more efficient for everyone involved – GPs, patients and the Department. The introduction of the new forms was discussed with the Irish Medical Organisation in advance.
The majority of certificates and claim forms being received each day by the Department are the new scannable versions and these claims are being processed without any delays.
Some GPs have continued to use the old forms after this changeover date. In order to facilitate the continued payment of Illness and Injury Benefit to our customers, my Department has, to date, continued to accept old MC1 and MC2 forms where provided by GPs. While the continued use of old forms is causing delays to our processing times, my Department is doing everything possible to ensure that customers are paid as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1253. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for all social welfare payments. [36258/18]
View answerThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement.
Social Welfare claims by average waiting times 31 July 2018
|
Scheme |
Average Waiting Time - (weeks) |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
4 |
|
State Pension Contributory (Domestic claims) |
7 |
|
Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension |
2 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
1 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
10 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
2 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1 |
|
Child Benefit (Domestic) |
3 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Working Family Payment |
3 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
18 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
12 |
|
Disability Allowance |
11 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1 |
1255. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish a cross-departmental and cross-party working group to examine child maintenance and issues in regard to these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36260/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department is reviewing the maintenance and liable relative procedures, insofar as they relate to the one-parent family payment scheme.
This review is nearing completion, and my officials will shortly be liaising with the Department of Justice and Equality, which is the Department responsible for Family Law Acts, with a view to jointly considering the next steps in relation to family maintenance arrangements.
1256. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to the introduction of illness benefit for self-employed persons, that is, if the class S contributions being paid by the self-employed could become reckonable for illness benefit purposes. [36265/18]
View answerSelf-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity benefit, adoptive benefit, paternity benefit, treatment benefit (from March 2017). Entitlement to invalidity pension was extended to the self-employed from December 2017.
This compares favourably with employees who, in general, are liable to the PRSI Class A rate of 4%. In addition, their employers are liable to PRSI at the rate of 8.6% on weekly earnings up to and including €376 or at the rate of 10.85% where weekly earnings exceed €376. Accordingly the combined rate of PRSI rate paid in respect of Class A employees is 12.6% or 14.85%, depending on the level of weekly earnings. These Class A employees are entitled to the full range of social insurance benefits.
The issue of extending additional social insurance benefits to the self-employed paying Class S PRSI was considered in the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance fund as at 31 December, 2015, which I published in October 2017. The review, required by legislation, was carried out by independent consultants, KPMG. It examines the projected income and expenditure of the SIF over the course of the 55 year period from 2016 to 2071.
The review found that the fund currently has a modest surplus of income over expenditure. In 2016 there was a surplus of €0.4 billion on expenditure of €8.8 billion and receipts of €9.2 billion. However, this will reduce over the next two years and will return to a small shortfall in 2020. The annual shortfalls are projected to increase from 2021 onwards as the ageing of the population impacts. Projections indicate that, in the absence of further action to tackle the shortfall, the excess of expenditure over income of the fund will increase significantly over the medium to long term. The shortfall in expenditure over income is projected to increase from €0.2 billion in 2020 to €3.3 billion by 2030 and to €22.2 billion by 2071. It should be noted that as self-employed workers were to be eligible to apply for invalidity pension from December 2017, the cost of this introduction has been factored into the actuarial review’s findings.
As part of the review the independent consultants were required to project the additional PRSI expenditure if invalidity pension and illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits were extended to Class S self-employed workers and the PRSI contribution rates required to provide these benefits on a revenue neutral basis.
The review found that the combined cost of introducing the invalidity, illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits for PRSI Class S contributions is estimated to be €118 million in 2018, rising steadily to €223 million in 2020. By 2025 the projected cost is €413 million and, over the period of the review the cost would rise to €1.3 billion in 2071.
The review indicates that, where these benefits are extended to the self-employed, the Class S rate of PRSI contribution would need to increase substantially in order to ensure that the benefits are delivered in a revenue neutral manner. It estimates that when expenditure on the additional benefits is considered over the entire projection period, PRSI rates would need to increase by 94% under a scenario of no subvention from the exchequer. This is equivalent to an increase of the Class S contribution rate from the current 4% rate to 7.8%.
This increased contribution is attributable to the costs of extending these additional benefits to PRSI Class S contributors. It does not take account of the value to PRSI Class S contributors of access to the range of existing benefits, and in particular State pension contributory. The consultants estimated that the typical cost of State pension (contributory) on its own is of the order of 10% to 15%, depending on other factors including rate of average earnings and date of commencing paying PRSI. Adding in the other benefits referenced the total Class S rate of contribution to ensure revenue neutrality would be of the order of 20% per annum.
The Actuarial Review provides government with a timely and evidence-led opportunity to undertake a full review of our social insurance system and to consult with stakeholders. The review will take account of the financial sustainability of the Fund given the expected demographic challenges and consideration of extending the scope of benefits for workers generally, including the self-employed.
1257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the appeals process regarding a jobseeker's allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36266/18]
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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1258. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36270/18]
View answerI confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 19 July 2018.
The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and this lady will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1259. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36273/18]
View answerThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 10 May 2018. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 13 September 2018. Any arrears due from 10 May 2018 to 12 September 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on the 30 August 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1260. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a social welfare appeal by a person (details supplied) in regard to their claim for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36274/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th May 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15th May 2018 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
1261. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a social welfare appeal by a person (details supplied) in regard to their application for a domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36275/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th July 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
1262. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a social welfare appeal by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36276/18]
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 gentleman referred to on 22 December 2017. He was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 8 March 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The gentleman concerned subsequently appealed the decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of his appeal. Following a review of all the evidence available to the department, a submission is being prepared and will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for determination as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36277/18]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 13 June 2018. The first payment was made by her chosen payment method on 22 August 2018.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1264. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person will still qualify for tax relief on the contributions they have invested through the auto-enrolment scheme under the strawman proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36289/18]
View answerThe Government recently published a 'Strawman' proposal for an Automatic Enrolment (AE) system for Ireland. This document has been drafted to underpin a consultation process, to help improve the decisions that need to made in terms of the operational structure and design of AE for Ireland. However, the Strawman should not, in any way, be construed as a confirmation of what form AE will ultimately take or as a document that is intending to provide ‘all of the answers’. It is a high level draft intended to generate and prompt discussion and improve ideas.
In the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, the Government confirmed that under an AE system, the State will support employees by financially incentivising retirement saving. Moreover, the Government believes that any financial incentive for AE should be effectively communicated, easily understood and appreciated. For the purpose of the Strawman, the State’s incentive for people to participate in the system is presented as a contribution worth €1 for every €3 that the employee contributes towards their retirement savings account. Under the Strawman proposals, any AE contributions made by the State will replace, rather than augment, existing tax reliefs.
The Strawman makes clear the value and the mechanism for providing this incentive will only be finalised following the public consultation. The Strawman also refers to a separate review of the cost of funded supplementary pensions to the Exchequer, which is currently being carried out by the Interdepartmental Pensions Reform and Taxation Group, chaired by the Department of Finance. The outcomes of these processes, together with further detailed analysis and evidence building, will inform future Government decisions relating to the level of financial incentive for AE and the most appropriate manner in which this incentive should be delivered.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
