Written Answers Nos. 661-680
661. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if supports will be put in place for seasonal workers (details supplied) that are out of work as a direct result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10076/20]
View answer663. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding payments for seasonal workers and old age pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10106/20]
View answer665. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the pandemic unemployment payment to persons over 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10121/20]
View answer670. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the situation many students face due to the lack of income and employment available to them over the summer months which may otherwise have been available; if she is considering income supports for such students; and if she has had discussions with the Minister for Education and Skills in connection with this issue. [10181/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 661, 663, 665 and 670 together.
The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. The conditions for receipt of this payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13th March and have lost their income from employment.
The age range for entitlement to the pandemic unemployment payment is consistent with other Social Protection income supports paid to working age persons. The primary State income support paid by my Department in respect of people who are aged 66 years or over is the State Pension – either the Contributory State pension or the non-contributory (means-tested) pension.
A person in receipt of the State contributory pension, which is based on PRSI contributions, can retain all of their State pension as well as their employment income and retain that pension payment if they lose employment income. If a person is not in receipt of the maximum rate of State pension contributory, they may be eligible for an increased weekly rate of payment on the State non-contributory means tested pension depending on their circumstances.
Persons in receipt of the non-contributory means-tested pension who are also in receipt of an employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose that employment income or if that employment income is reduced. Similarly if a person aged over 66 who did not previously qualify or make an application for a means-tested pension may qualify for a pension payment if their circumstances change – including if they lose any employment income or if that employment income is reduced.
If a person was in not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment, which could include a seasonal worker who had not yet taken up employment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Any person, of any age, who are experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial support under the supplementary welfare allowance.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for persons pursuing third level education. The matter of supports for students for the forthcoming academic year should be referred to the Minister for Education and Skills.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
662. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the situation by which persons are unable to access services on the MyGovID.ie portal due to the fact they are unable to secure a public services card at this time; if consideration has been given to allow certain services such as access to their PRSI contributions history without a requirement to obtain a card can be availed of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10088/20]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face-to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). Once a person has authenticated their identity in this manner, they can set up a verified MyGovID account, which allows them access to high-value Government online services, including those delivered through the MyWelfare service.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing and, as a result, it has not been possible for those who wish to obtain a PSC to obtain one.
In the meantime, and to ensure that people can access the services of my Department in a timely manner and at the same time ensure maximum social distancing, my Department introduced online services that can be accessed using a Basic MyGovID account to facilitate the acceptance of online applications.
The MyWelfare service to access contribution statement history is available as a Basic and Verified service to customers . The Basic service requires email and password details and requires the customer to answer some security questions. If successful, the statement can be posted to the customer's postal address.
My Department is moving towards a resumption of the SAFE registration process over the coming weeks on a phased basis and this will be done in accordance with all relevant HSE and Government guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the Department's customers and staff.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
664. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an invalidity allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [10111/20]
View answerThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 26 March 2020. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 18 June 2020. Any arrears due from 26 March 2020 to 17 June 2020 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue as soon as possible. The lady in question was notified of this decision on 03 June 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
666. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will not be subject to forms of clawback in the future. [10148/20]
View answerThe Department, in line with the overall Government response to this public health emergency, moved swiftly to put in place enhanced and new supports for existing customers and new customers who, as a result of COVID-19, are working reduced hours or who have lost their employment entirely – even if on a temporary basis. A priority from the outset has been to ensure that income still flows into the households which need it most. For example, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be paid concurrently with key supports for low income and lone parent families such as the Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.
As we gradually move through all the phases of reopening our society, we need to review the nature of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment - how it has been applied and how it fits into cross-Government plans to keep Ireland healthy and get the country working again. We are currently considering all of this but I would emphasise that any future decisions will be based on our commitment that everyone who needs help will get the most appropriate assistance.
673. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the enhanced illness benefit for more than two weeks to those that cannot return to work due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that they have a serious underlying condition that precludes them returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10243/20]
View answerUnder the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1), and subsequent regulations, the Government, having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19, made exceptional provision in the public interest and to mitigate the effect of the spread of the disease to amend and extend the Social Welfare Acts to provide for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with, or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.
The rate of payment of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of COVID-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with COVID-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of COVID-19, that the person can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.
Medical practitioners are only authorised to submit medical certificates in respect of COVID-19 in respect of two very limited circumstances under the legislation. These are for a person:
- who is diagnosed with COVID-19, or
- who is a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and is self-isolating – such persons will have either been certified by their Doctor or will have received personal HSE notification (that is, where they are contact-traced or otherwise personally identified and advised by the HSE as being a probable source of infection).
The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit is payable for 2 weeks where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Any changes to the current temporary scheme would need to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
Where an employee is unable to return to the workplace because they are still ill with Covid-19 they may apply for standard illness benefit which is paid at a maximum weekly personal rate of €203. Increases may also be paid for qualifying adults and children. Illness benefit claims require medical certification of illness that a person is incapable of work.
Where a person is not eligible for the enhanced rate, standard Illness Benefit payment may be payable subject to normal certification and eligibility criteria to a person with a serious health condition, where a medical practitioner certifies that a person is incapable of work due to the medical condition. This may be paid for an extended period, depending on the person’s continued eligibility.
Employees who cocoon without a medical certificate may approach their employer in relation to taking annual or other paid leave - this is at the discretion of the employer. Many employers can, and do, agree leave arrangements with staff who need to take short periods of time off. These include arrangements to enable employees to work remotely from home, to alter shift patterns, to work-up time taken, or to bring forward annual leave entitlements from future work periods. The government has encouraged employers to support workers with leave requests at this difficult time and those with underlying health conditions should be facilitated where possible.
Where it is not possible to make appropriate compassionate leave arrangements, employees can call on some statutory entitlements including supplementary welfare allowance.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
678. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the progress of the judge-led group announced as part of Budget 2020 to examine and make recommendations in relation to child maintenance payments. [10347/20]
View answerI established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine a number of issues regarding child maintenance. Specifically, the group is tasked with examining whether there is a case for the establishment of a child maintenance agency in Ireland. It will be chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy.
The purpose of the Child Maintenance Review Group is to consider and make recommendations on:
- The current treatment within the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection of child maintenance payments;
- The current provisions relating to the liable relatives regarding child maintenance; and
-The establishment of a State Child Maintenance Agency.
The Child Maintenance Review Group's work will get underway shortly.
A number of issues regarding child maintenance have arisen during the Coiv-19 pandemic. Where a One Parent Family recipient is no longer receiving their usual maintenance payment, for example because the liable relative concerned has lost their job, they should contact their local Intreo Centre to to provide a declaration to that effect. This will allow their means will be reassessed on that basis for a period of 12 weeks, following which the situation will be reviewed.
Given that the family courts are not hearing maintenance cases during the pandemic, this situation will be carefully monitored on an ongoing basis, to ensure that there are no difficulties or hardship for this group of customers.
679. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 payment will be reinstated to asylum seekers in direct provision; if an increase to the rate of the daily expenses allowance will be reconsidered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10359/20]
View answerApplicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of Direct Provision operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services of the Department of Justice and Equality are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities and services. People in direct provision receive a daily expenses allowance payment from my Department payable at the weekly rate of €38.80 for adults and €29.80 for children. In this situation, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is not payable where the person’s needs are being met through the services provided by the accommodation centre and the daily expenses allowance payment.
Where applicants for International Protection live in the community outside the direct provision system, they are eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they meet the conditions for the payment.
Applicants for international protection may receive assistance under the Exceptional Needs Payment scheme to meet with any costs that cannot be met from their weekly allowance.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
