The social welfare system is primarily a contingency-based system, with entitlement based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood.
There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system.
Firstly there is the contributory principle. Under this principle there is a direct link between the PRSI contributions that a person has paid and entitlement to a varying range of benefits and pensions. Where a person has sufficient PRSI contributions, then benefits and pensions may be paid as of right, where a particular contingency arises and without a means test.
Secondly there is the solidarity principle. Under this principle the benefits and pensions that are paid are not directly related to the amount of PRSI contributions paid by insured persons. PRSI contribution income is instead redistributed to support contributors who are more vulnerable. In this regard, it should be noted that some PRSI contributors do not experience all of the contingencies during their life. For example, one contributor may never require access to Invalidity Pension whereas it may be a crucial support for another.
In addition, there is a general principle of one person, one 'core' payment, which applies across the whole of the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time. For example, an unemployed person may become sick. As a consequence, if a person experiences more than one of these contingencies at the same time, he or she can receive only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
It is generally only possible to claim one personal social assistance or social insurance payment at a time in Ireland. However, in certain circumstances, a person can keep their personal payment and get half rate of another social welfare payment. A notable example is the situation whereby, if a person receives certain social welfare payments and is providing full-time care and attention to another person, they may keep their main social welfare payment and get half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well.
Not to maintain the underlying principle of entitlement to one payment only at any one time, that is, one person, one payment, could potentially involve very significant and unsustainable additional expenditure in the long-term.
In terms of income support, Social welfare will always provide a safety net for those who most need it. Supplementary welfare allowance, administered by the community welfare service of the Department, is a means tested weekly payment, subject to certain terms and conditions, which provide a basic income support to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of each case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
