Written Answers Nos. 1016-1025
1018. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which a person that requires a verified MyGovID account can set one up during the current Covid-19 emergency in view of the fact that a person must attend the social welfare office as part of setting up a verified account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8216/20]
View answerTo verify a MyGovID account, a person must have authenticated their identity through the SAFE registration process and also verify their mobile phone number.
By verifying their mobile number, a security code can be sent to them to verify their account. They are also sent a security code to their number each time they use your MyGovID account to access government online services.
The Department has temporarily postponed the SAFE registration service. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing.
While the opening hours of Intreo Centres have also been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, offices are still open and anyone wishing to verify their mobile phone by calling to an office is able to do so. Many people have done so over recent weeks.
In addition, my Department has introduced alternative methods of verifying mobile phone numbers. Numbers can be verified by calling my Department at LoCall 1890 927 999 or 071 967 2616. Callers are asked certain security questions to verify their identity and their phone number can then be verified by the person dealing with their call.
A person can also verify their number by accessing their basic MyGovID account and entering their mobile phone number. If they hold a driver's licence and have provided their mobile number to the National Driving Licence Service, both numbers are compared and, if they match, the mobile phone number is verified and they can proceed to verify their MyGovID account.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1019. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the uptake of rent supplement; the number of claims received; the speed with which claims are being processed; the level of approval rates; and the reasons for being refused and so on. [8229/20]
View answer1020. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason rent supplement applicants that are eligible under the rent supplement scheme as prescribed but not seeking nor eligible for the Covid-19 payment are being refused rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8230/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1019 and 1020 together.
Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,400 recipients. The scheme provides short-term income support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.
Since the introduction of Covid emergency response approximately 6,500 have been provided rent supplement. There are currently 1,873 applications awaiting a decision. I am advised by my Department that statistics in relation to overall approval/refusal rates in relation to the Scheme are not currently available.
In the context of the Covid emergency, for persons to be eligible for Rent Supplement, once it has been confirmed that they are a genuine (bona fide) tenant the two principle qualification criteria apply:
- The customer was in receipt of Rent Supplement in the last 12 months before the date of application; or,
- The customer was living in private rented accommodation prior to the Covid emergency (at least 4 weeks), could afford their rent at the beginning of the tenancy and were now unable to continue to pay the rent because of a substantial change in their circumstances.
As part of the pandemic response, given the expected high level of new applications over a short time period, and to ensure customers' needs were being met as efficiently as possible, a revised 5-page application form was introduced.
The timescale for determining individual applications for rent supplement is dependent, among other things, on the availability of the required information including confirmation of the applicant’s income, tenancy documentation and rent details. For the vast majority of cases most applications can be processed within 2/3 days of receipt of the application where the necessary information has been provided and the application form completed appropriately.
If the Deputy has a concern in relation to processing times in a particular area or in respect of an individual, if he provides this detail, my Department will follow up and provide appropriate feedback. I am satisfied that the Department’s staff dealing with these applications continue to make every effort to ensure rent supplement applications are processed efficiently and in a timely manner.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1021. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of deposits issued in respect of HAP tenancies since the commencement of the Covid-19 crisis. [8231/20]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Allowance scheme, the Department may make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. Decisions are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
An application may be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with the a payment of a rent deposit by tenants supported under both the rent supplement scheme and the housing assistance payment (HAP). I am advised that there have been 163 ENPs for rent deposits made from 16 March 2020 to 16 May 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1022. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions that have been made for self-employed persons experiencing reductions in their gross income that are now operating at a loss when operating expenses are taken into account and have no income at present; if self-employed persons will be allowed to avail of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment support; and if not, the support available to them. [8233/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. For self-employed people, they must have experienced a collapse of income and be available to take up other full-time work if it was available to them in order to qualify.
Where a self-employed person does not qualify for this emergency payment they can apply for a jobseekers payment. Jobseekers benefit (self-employed) was one of the measures I introduced in late 2019 which is available for self-employed people who have ceased trading. If a person’s business is operating at a reduced level they may be eligible to apply for support under the means tested jobseeker’s allowance scheme.
The Government recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedentedchallenges for businesses. My colleague, the Minister for the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation has introduced a range of supports and guidance for businesses available on the Department's website at www.dbei.gov.ie. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme administered by the Revenue Commissioners is available to employers who keep employees on the payroll throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning employers can retain links with employees for when business picks up after the crisis.
I trust this clarifies the situation.
1023. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown by profession of working age persons diagnosed with Covid-19. [8235/20]
View answerI am advised that the information requested in respect of the breakdown by profession of working age persons diagnosed with Covid-19 by the Deputy is not available in my Department, it does however fall under the remit of my colleague in the Department of Health.
However estimates of the employment sector for those medically certified for the Enhanced Illness Benefit claim are available each week on my Department's Covid statistics website.
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/
The latest information for May 25th 2020 is attached herein. Note that the sector of those who have a medical certificate for the Enhanced Illness Benefit has been estimated based on the activity of the last known employer.
|
Industrial Sector |
Number of people who are medically certified for meeting the conditions for receipt of a Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, by sector |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying |
400 |
|
Manufacturing |
6,300 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam supply; Water supply; Sewerage, waste management |
200 |
|
Construction |
1,800 |
|
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles |
9,900 |
|
Transportation and storage |
1,900 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities |
1,800 |
|
Information and communication activities |
800 |
|
Financial and insurance activities |
1,900 |
|
Real Estate activities |
400 |
|
Professional, Scientific and Technical activities |
1,500 |
|
Administrative and support service activities |
4,600 |
|
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security |
1,900 |
|
Education |
800 |
|
Human Health And Social Work activities |
10,300 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation |
300 |
|
Other Sectors |
1,400 |
|
Unclassified or unknown |
300 |
|
Total |
46,500 |
1024. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to temporary extensions for those on social welfare payments other than the pandemic unemployment payment which are due to cease in view of the global crisis; and if a freeze on the cessation of illness payments will be considered in view of the Covid-19 crisis (details supplied). [8236/20]
View answerThe Department offers income supports through a range of social insurance benefits and means-tested social assistance payments.
Entitlement to social insurance benefits, such as Illness Benefit, is dependent on a person's Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution history.
Where a person does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a social insurance benefit or reaches the end of their entitlement, they may qualify for further income support through a mean-tested social assistance payment.
Social assistance schemes are means-tested to ensure that resources are directed to those with the most financial need. A maximum rate is payable where a person has no or limited means, and tapering applies to the rate payable to those with modest or more substantial means, as there is an expectation that those with resources can at least partly contribute towards supporting themselves.
In the example outlined by the Deputy, a person may be in receipt of Illness Benefit for up to two years, depending on their PRSI contribution history. If a claimant remains unable to return to work after this period, other income supports may be available, depending on their circumstances:
- If they are likely to be permanently incapable of work and satisfy the PRSI conditions, they may qualify for Invalidity Pension;
- If they have a disability that is expected to last for a year or more, they may qualify for Disability Allowance;
- If they do not qualify for any other payments but remain in need of income support, they may qualify for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
In this way, an individual who has insufficient means, and whose entitlement to a social insurance payment has expired, can access income support through means tested payments
The Department regularly reviews its supports and payment schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Any change to the current eligibility criteria would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
1025. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the decision in relation to an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if the request for a review will be expedited. [8241/20]
View answerFollowing a review of the entitlement of this gentleman, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his original assessment. Based on the information available to my department, an increased rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 16 October 2019.
A letter issued to this gentleman informing him of this on 25 May 2020. Arrears of payment due have also issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
