Written Answers Nos. 538-556
538. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons having their State pension rates recalculated; the number of these cases that have been finalised to date; the number of new payment rates that have been issued including arrears; the number of recalculations to be finalised; and the number of cases in which the additional information sought is to be received in tabular form. [14953/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
Reviews commenced from 13 February 2019, the day after I signed the necessary regulations which together with provisions in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Act 2018, which allows the increased payments to be made. As of 28 March 2019, 11,646 of reviews have been completed. Of these, over 8,850 resulted in an increase in payment for the pensioners concerned. The pensioners who did not qualify for an increase in payments will continue to receive their existing weekly rate.
I have stated from the outset that it will take a number of months to complete all of the reviews due to the numbers involved and the individual nature of social insurance records. In some cases it is necessary to engage in correspondence with the pensioner in order to clarify periods of caring, work and contribution histories. To date, over 34,000 requests for information have issued to pensioners. In order to process these reviews one hundred temporary staff have been recruited to the Departments offices in the north- west.
Regardless of when a review is conducted, where an increase in payment is due, the person's rate of payment will be adjusted without delay and arrears issued backdated to 30 March 2018, or the pensioner’s 66th birthday if later. Where a person's rate does not increase following a review, the person will continue to receive their existing rate of payment.
Given the scale (90,000 pensioners) involved, the fact that each case requires close individual examination and that some cases are more complex than others, it would not be reasonable to expect all to be processed immediately. While this work will take a number of months to complete, it will continue until all pensioners have been notified of the outcome of their review in writing.
I would urge anyone who has yet to provide additional requested information to the Department to do so as soon as possible so that their review can be processed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
539. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the composition of the new State pension review section; the number of staff deployed to the section; and her plans to increase the number. [14954/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
To date, 117 temporary staff have been recruited to complete the pension reviews. A further 6 temporary staff are expected to be recruited in the coming weeks. The review work is managed by four managers, who are permanent members of staff within my Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
540. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of State pension recipients that have submitted the additional information sought as part of the recalculation of their State pensions through the online mechanism. [14955/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
Wherever possible reviews will be processed using information already held by my Department. In some cases additional information is being requested to ensure people receive the best rate possible. Over 34,000 requests for information have issued to pensioners.
To date, 6,256 pensioners have provided their requested information using my Departments on-line services at MyWelfare.ie. I would urge anyone who has yet to provide additional requested information to the Department to do so as soon as possible so that their review can be processed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
541. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if applications for carer’s allowance increase for a qualified child, IQC, payments for foster children are linked to child benefit payments; if so, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14963/19]
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.
A recipient of CA is entitled to claim an increase for a qualified child (IQC) where:
- the child normally resides with them and
- the child is aged less than 18 or is aged between 18 and 21 and attending full-time day education
- is entitled to full rate CA
There is no distinction between a recipient who is a birth parent, an adoptive parent or a foster parent. An IQC is payable on CA from the date that the child becomes a qualified child for that parent or the date that CA commences, whichever is the later.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
542. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carer’s allowance IQC payments relating to foster children are paid from the date of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14964/19]
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.
A recipient of CA is entitled to claim an increase for a qualified child (IQC) where:
- the child normally resides with them and
- the child is aged less than 18 or is aged between 18 and 21 and attending full-time day education
- is entitled to full rate CA
There is no distinction between a recipient who is a birth parent, an adoptive parent or a foster parent. An IQC is payable on CA from the date that the child becomes a qualified child for that parent or the date that CA commences, whichever is the later.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a client participating with JobPath secures a place on a community employment scheme, whether JobPath is paid for this placement; if a client is on both JobPath and community employment secures employment, whether Jobpath is paid for this placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14966/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the primary goal of my Department’s activation services including the JobPath service, is to move people from full-time and part-time unemployment to full-time and sustained employment.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment.
In other words contractors are paid if and when the client enters into sustained employment. In this regard employment is defined as work of at least thirty (30) hours per week lasting for at least thirteen (13) weeks.
A CE Scheme placement is not considered a full-time job in terms of the JobPath Contact and the JobPath Providers are not entitled a fee for a CE placement. However, all long term jobseekers who are currently engaged with the JobPath service have the option of applying for a placement on CE Scheme. This will, in particular, enable those people with the JobPath service to not only continue to receive the personalised employment counselling and job search support provided by their JobPath personal advisors but also to avail of a CE placement which will provide valuable occupational activity and work experience.
If a customer gains full-time employment following a placement with a CE Scheme while also engaging and receiving support from the JobPath Service, the JobPath Provider may submit a claim for that employment
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
544. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reduce the entry age to community employment schemes to 19 years of age to align with the age at which persons are referred to JobPath; her views on whether in doing so community employment schemes would have no difficulty in filling places and would give younger persons a greater chance to gain training and valuable work experience at an early age to enable them to obtain permanent employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14967/19]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an employment and training programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists by enhancing and developing a person’s technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace.
The general minimum age criterion of 21 for CE has been set to ensure that, in the first instance, younger jobseekers engage with the range of other activation measures already in place for persons of school leaving age and beyond. As there is limited provision for vulnerable groups (e.g. persons with a disability, Travellers, refugees, referred drug misusers, ex-offenders) who can access CE at 18 years of age, they are permitted to participate.
Schemes operated by my Department are kept under constant review to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and continue to meet the needs of the Department's customers.
545. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address matters (details supplied) regarding the interdepartmental review of community employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14968/19]
View answer546. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether the current review of community employment is a way of culling community employment scheme numbers (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that changes to the current structure would further marginalise these groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14970/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together.
Community employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by my Department. It was initially established to enhance the employability of unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. In doing so, its objective was, and remains, to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce.
Following the review of CE in 2015, the scheme was categorised into two strands, Social Inclusion and Activation. This was to acknowledge that not all placements are the same. Social Inclusion placements are more suited to adults who need additional supports, for example older unemployed workers, people with a disability, travellers, homeless people, refugees, those requiring drug rehabilitation and ex-offenders whereas the activation placements are more directly related to the labour market relevant work experience. The Activation and Social Inclusion placements are currently governed under the same rules, eligibility criteria and period of placement.
I am sure the Deputy will agree that these Social Inclusion placements require a separate focus to ensure that those who are very distant from the labour market and who are interested in working and delivering services in their local community have the opportunity to do so. It is also my strong view that the local services which are supported by these Social Inclusion placements must be safeguarded into the future.
On this basis Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore the most appropriate organisational arrangements, including which Department should host the CE Social Inclusion schemes.
The interdepartmental group will assess the best course of action required so as to protect the governance and successes that we have seen in CE activation whilst also establishing the appropriate structure for the social inclusion placements. The first meeting of the group was held on 26th March. It was agreed at the meeting to undertake a consultation process in the near future with all key stakeholders including Sponsor Organisations. I have received a number of submissions to date and these will be included in the deliberations.
The Group will report to Cabinet Committee B, dealing with Social Policy and Public Services with the outcome of the deliberations of the group prior to a final decision by the Government. It is expected that the IDG will report to Cabinet by end Q2 2019.
547. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan 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. [14976/19]
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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 5 February 2019. The application 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.
548. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied). [14991/19]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 26th March 2019 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.
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.
549. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of reviews conducted and completed to date in respect of the changes made to the contributory pension in 2012; the number of outstanding reviews that remain to be conducted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14993/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
Reviews commenced from 13 February 2019, the day after I signed the necessary regulations which together with provisions in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Act 2018, which allows the increased payments to be made. As of 28 March 2019, 11,646 of reviews have been completed. Of these, over 8,850 resulted in an increase in payment for the pensioners concerned. The pensioners who did not qualify for an increase in payments will continue to receive their existing weekly rate.
I have stated from the outset that it will take a number of months to complete all of the reviews due to the numbers involved and the individual nature of social insurance records. In some cases it is necessary to engage in correspondence with the pensioner in order to clarify periods of caring, work and contribution histories. To date, over 34,000 requests for information have issued to pensioners. In order to process these reviews one hundred and twenty one (121) temporary staff have been recruited to the Departments offices in the north- west.
Regardless of when a review is conducted, where an increase in payment is due, the person's rate of payment will be adjusted without delay and arrears issued backdated to 30 March 2018, or the pensioner’s 66th birthday if later. Where a person's rate does not increase following a review, the person will continue to receive their existing rate of payment.
Given the scale (90,000 pensioners) involved, the fact that each case requires close individual examination and that some cases are more complex than others, it would not be reasonable to expect all to be processed immediately. While this work will take a number of months to complete, it will continue until all pensioners have been notified of the outcome of their review in writing.
I would urge anyone who has yet to provide additional requested information to the Department to do so as soon as possible so that their review can be processed.
The remaining reviews will continue to be processed until all identified pensioners receive their review outcome in writing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
551. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of pensions affected by the 2012 contributory pensions changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14996/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
Reviews commenced from 13 February 2019, the day after I signed the necessary regulations which together with provisions in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Act 2018, which allows the increased payments to be made. As of 28 March 2019, 11,646 of reviews have been completed. Of these, over 8,850 resulted in an increase in payment for the pensioners concerned. The pensioners who did not qualify for an increase in payments will continue to receive their existing weekly rate.
I have stated from the outset that it will take a number of months to complete all of the reviews due to the numbers involved and the individual nature of social insurance records. In some cases it is necessary to engage in correspondence with the pensioner in order to clarify periods of caring, work and contribution histories. To date, over 34,000 requests for information have issued to pensioners. In order to process these reviews one hundred and twenty one (121) temporary staff have been recruited to the Departments offices in the north- west.
Regardless of when a review is conducted, where an increase in payment is due, the person's rate of payment will be adjusted without delay and arrears issued backdated to 30 March 2018, or the pensioner’s 66th birthday if later. Where a person's rate does not increase following a review, the person will continue to receive their existing rate of payment.
Given the scale (90,000 pensioners) involved, the fact that each case requires close individual examination and that some cases are more complex than others, it would not be reasonable to expect all to be processed immediately. While this work will take a number of months to complete, it will continue until all pensioners have been notified of the outcome of their review in writing.
I would urge anyone who has yet to provide additional requested information to the Department to do so as soon as possible so that their review can be processed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
552. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the child benefit payment to children who turn 18 years of age and are in full-time secondary school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14997/19]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to almost 622,900 families in respect of nearly 1.2 million children, with expenditure of more than €2 billion in 2018.
Given the universality of Child Benefit, extending entitlement to parents of full-time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age would not be a targeted approach. The adoption of such a proposal would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement) for low-paid employees with children;
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second-level education rate).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
553. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of an application for a working family payment by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15003/19]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 14 March 2019.
They have been awarded WFP with effect from 10 January 2019 to 08 January 2020.
The first weekly payment and all arrears owing will issue to their nominated bank account on 29 March 2019.
The person concerned was notified on 27 March 2019 of this decision and of the right of review and appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
554. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied). [15065/19]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance ( DCA) was received from this lady on the 7th March 2019. Applications received at the end of January 2019 are currently being finalised. The application will be considered by a deciding officer in due course and the decision notified to her as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
556. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that it is June 2017 since an application was lodged. [15179/19]
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 invalidity pension (IP) from the lady concerned on the 28 April 2017. Her claim for IP was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 26 June 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her rights of review and appeal.
A review was requested and further medical evidence was submitted on 17 July 2017. Following a review of all the information available it was decided that there was no change to the original decision. She was notified on 28 August 2017 of the outcome of the review. A further review was requested on 31 May 2018 and additional medical evidence was submitted on 22 June 2018. Following a review of all the information available a deciding officer has confirmed the original decision to disallow the claim on medical grounds. She was notified on 08 October 2018 of the outcome of the review.
The lady in question lodged an appeal of the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) in November 2018 and submitted additional medical evidence in support of her appeal.
Following a review of all the information available it was decided that there was no change to the original decision and a submission was prepared by the Department and forwarded to the SWAO for determination on 28 March 2019. The SWAO will be in touch with the lady in question directly in relation to the progress of her appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
