Written Answers Nos. 488-512
488. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of on-course bookmakers for existing support packages in view of the fact they have been unable to trade since the advent of the pandemic due to the ban on attendance of racegoers at tracks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34540/20]
View answer489. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an item was passed in budget 2021 that allows taxi drivers to earn an amount of money while in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [34606/20]
View answer536. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to the self-employed who have been forced to cease trading in order to comply with restrictions in which they have no full-year tax returns as they are newly self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35387/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489 and 536 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme is an income support measure that has been introduced for employees and the self-employed who have lost employment as a consequence of Covid-19 .
The recent Budget provided that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a rolling four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses. This measure is already in place. A self-employed person does not need to seek approval from the Department and they do not need to report these earnings to the Department on a regular basis. They do need to keep a record of all income for the period.
Where a self-employed person exceeds this threshold and works up to 24 hours per week they may be eligible for support under the Part Time Job Incentive scheme which, as part of Budget 2021, has been extended to the self-employed who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The weekly rate of payment for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment payment is €128.60. Details of the scheme and the application process are available at Gov.ie.
A person also has the option of applying for means tested jobseeker's allowance where they are engaged in regular employment depending on their individual circumstances. The maximum weekly personal rate is €203 and increases may be paid for qualifying adults and children.
A self-employed person may also be eligible for support under my Department’s COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant which provides support of up to €1,000 with business re-start costs where a person transitions from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment back into employment. Further information on these supports are available on www.gov.ie
Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims from self-employed people who have closed their business and apply for the support are checked against 2018 and 2019 Revenue returns. If a person has made a return for either of those two years they receive a payment based on the greater of the two. Where a person is newly self-employed, evidence of registration with the Revenue Commissioners will be accepted.
I hope this clarifies the position.
490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports in place or that will be put in place for a person experiencing long-term Covid-19 given the significant additional medical and other costs that will be incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34622/20]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
In March of this year, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government, provided for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 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, 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.
The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit was brought in as a short-term public health measure and is not a long-term income support payment. It 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. The purpose of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is to encourage people to not go to work due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation.
In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children
Apart from these income supports, my Department also provides a support under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The Department may make an 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.
491. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to remedy the difference between the level of the pandemic unemployment payment and the return-to-education allowance and VTOS training allowance in order to encourage and incentivise those out of work to retrain or reskill. [34876/20]
View answer508. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the disparity between the level of the pandemic unemployment payment and the return-to-education allowance and VTOS training allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34875/20]
View answer509. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason new first year students at third level cannot claim the pandemic unemployment while other full-time students are entitled to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34878/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 491, 508 and 509 together.
On 5 August the Social Welfare (Covid-19)(Amendment) Act 2019 introduced the Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme as a statutory scheme. All recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment including students, who lost their job as a consequence of the pandemic, must continue to satisfy all of the qualifying conditions of the scheme to maintain their payment.
The Back to Education Allowance has been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period before being eligible to apply for the scheme when pursuing training or education and these periods have been waived for those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Similar arrangements apply for further education or VTOS delivered by SOLAS. This ensures that those who have lost their employment during the pandemic have immediate access to a range of educational options.
A person seeking access to full time further education and retain income support will be required to make an application for a jobseeker's payment. The Back to Education Allowance is payable at the jobseeker's rate, currently €203 for the weekly maximum personal rate and increased allowances may be paid for qualifying adults and child dependents. The Back to Education may be payable for the duration of the course depending on the individual circumstances and entitlement to the payment. The Deputy will be aware that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is scheduled to close on 31 March, 2021.
A person who is engaged in part time education may continue to avail of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment while they continue to satisfy the conditions of the scheme.
I would advise any person seeking to return to education to engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
492. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if student nurses disbarred from other work due to their placement can apply for the pandemic unemployment payment. [34880/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 put the pandemic unemployment payment on a statutory basis since 5th August. Applicants must satisfy all of the qualifying conditions of the scheme to be eligible for the payment. If the Deputy has the details of an individual in the situation he outlined including details of their placement, I will arrange to have the specific case examined.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education.
I trust this information is useful.
493. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity in relation to the cases of persons (details supplied). [34530/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to the individuals referred to by the Deputy. Letters issued on 3rd November 2020 with details of their PPSNs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
494. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing a PPSN application by a person (details supplied) in County Tyrone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34630/20]
View answerI can confirm that the representatives of the individual referred to by the Deputy have been contacted by officials of my Department regarding his application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) so that we may proceed to progress his application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
495. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing a PPSN application by a person (details supplied) in County Tyrone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34631/20]
View answerI can confirm that the Deputy's office has been contacted by officials of my Department regarding this individual's application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) so that we may proceed to progress his application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
496. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has initiated the provision of additional social protections for victims of domestic violence as committed to in the programme for Government. [34685/20]
View answerThe programme for government includes a commitment to investigate provision of paid leave and social protection to victims of domestic violence.
The provision of statutory leave is not a matter for my Department. Family leave, force majeure leave and other similar provisions fall under the Department of Justice, which is also the lead department for the policy response to issues related to domestic violence.
Since August, I have introduced changes to the rent supplement scheme to make it more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence. This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic violence are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial or accommodation difficulties.
I remain committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and will continue to review this particular aspect of my Department’s services for further improvement in line with the Programme for Government.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
497. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pandemic unemployment payment applicants who were refused due to difficulty in determining PRSI contributions by county in tabular form; the efforts being made to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34700/20]
View answerThe Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was put on a statutory footing with effect from 5 August 2020 as a social welfare benefit to help mitigate the adverse economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is available to employees who lost their employment on or after 13 March 2020 as a direct consequence of Covid-19. It is also available to self-employed people whose income from self-employment ceased or reduced as a direct consequence of the pandemic to the extent that they would be available to take up full-time employment.
It is a long-standing feature of social welfare legislation that individuals who are engaged in employment or self-employment are liable to pay PRSI on those activities. In those circumstances, persons claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment should have no difficulty satisfying these conditions.
In the case of employees, the Department uses earnings data supplied by the Revenue Commissioners for 2019 and 2020 in the case of employees, and 2018 and 2019 in the case of self-employed people. Data is updated as often as practicable, and in the case of employees on a daily basis. For self-employed individuals, my Department has recently received an update from the Revenue Commissioners on 2019 self-assessment returns. However, as returns are filed on an annual basis and the deadline for filing these returns is 10 December 2020, some returns will still be outstanding.
Where the Department cannot find any record of contributions or earnings in the reference period, it contacts the people concerned and asks them to submit evidence of employment in the form of recent payslips etc. It is important to stress that claims are not refused. The individuals concerned are advised that their claims cannot be processed, based on the information to hand, and they are asked to supply any information which they have to resolve the matter.
The Department’s experience is that some people do not provide any evidence but allow their claim to lapse – this in itself highlights why it is important to have some level of checks in place.
In general, the numbers concerned are relatively low. This week, for example, just under 343,000 claims were paid, while just over 4,800 (just over 1%) were held where the Department could not validate entitlement using Revenue records or where the information provided by the applicant was incomplete or where it is clear that the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria. My Department has contacted the people concerned and asked them to submit evidence of employment or other information required.
In total, just under 10,000 cases where my Department could not validate entitlement using Revenue record were resolved over the last two weeks by a combination of officer review and enhanced system checks. Of these, 288 were found to require formal disallowance. A detailed breakdown by county is not available at this time.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
498. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a claim by a person (details supplied) will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34738/20]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care
I can confirm that the person concerned was awarded CA from 18 January 2018.
The customer contacted the Department in June 2020 to request to change their PPS number. Unfortunately, there was a technical problem updating their record which affected the client's CA payments from then on. Work is underway to resolve the issue with the client's record and the Department put in place arrangements with the local Community Welfare Officer (CWO) to make payments of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) until payment of CA was reinstated.
CA has been reinstated for the person concerned from 12 November 2020 at the full rate. Arrangements are being made to issue arrears due as quickly as possible. The person concerned has been notified of same, via phone and letter.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
499. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on a disability allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34739/20]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 14 July 2020. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this lady was substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 September 2020 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). No request for an appeal or review has been received.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if entitlement to a pandemic unemployment payment from March 2020 can be examined in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34740/20]
View answerThe person concerned is not eligible for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from March as she became unemployed prior to 13/03/2020, the qualifying date when the PUP was introduced. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned ceased self-employment on 21/01/2020 and was awarded a Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) payment from 23/01/2020 to 15/07/2020.
The person concerned subsequently applied for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 23/10/2020, stating her date last worked as 21/10/2020. She received her first PUP payment into her nominated bank account on 03/11/2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
501. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 539 of 6 October 2020, if her Department is reimbursing providers for the free travel scheme that are also operating the same services under the LocalLink or rural transport programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34748/20]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 980,000 customers with direct eligibility. The 2020 funding allocation for the Free Travel scheme is €95 million.
The provider concerned was a participant in the Free Travel scheme during the period 2015 to 2019 for the routes outlined and has been paid accordingly for the carriage of Free Travel passengers.
Free Travel passengers are entitled to use their free travel pass on Local Link services. Local Link services are administered by the National Transport Authority. Queries relating to Local Link services should be directed to the National Transport Authority, Dún Scéine, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2 D02 WT20.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34750/20]
View answerThe customer's Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance application was received by the local Community Welfare Service on August 28th last. On September 18th, the local Community Welfare Service disallowed the application as the Community Welfare Officer was not satisfied that the customer was residing at the stated address, and consequently was not in a position to complete a means test for Supplementary Welfare Allowance purposes.
The customer’s letter of appeal was received by the local Community Welfare Service on October 19th last and was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for their attention on the same day. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has confirmed that a decision on the customer's One Parent Family Allowance appeal is due to issue in the very near future
503. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a payment for illness benefit will be processed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34799/20]
View answerThe person concerned does not qualify for Illness Benefit as he does not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions.
One of the qualifying conditions for Illness Benefit is that a person must have 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions at class A, E, H or P. Alternatively, a person may have 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year with all such contributions at class A, E, H or P.
The person concerned was self employed and paying class S contributions in the relevant tax years, which is not a qualifying class of contribution for Illness Benefit. Therefore, he does not satisfy the contribution conditions for payment of Illness Benefit.
A letter issued to the person concerned on the 4th November 2020 giving him the full details of this decision.
Should the person concerned be in need of urgent financial assistance, it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at her local Intreo Centre.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); the reason eligibility for the person has been denied on the basis of full-time care requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34809/20]
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.
I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10 June 2020.
Additional information in relation to the person’s financial information was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 15 June 2020. Following receipt of information received from the person concerned it was determined that the matter should be referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
On foot of the SWI report the DO decided that although the person concerned is providing a certain amount of care, the level involved did not amount to full-time care. Therefore, her application for CA was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 9 October 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 19 October 2020 and submitted additional evidence in support of her application.
Following this review the decision has remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified on 22 October 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of appeal.
To date the person concerned has not appealed the decision of 22 October 2020 to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
505. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out for the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2019 in Intreo offices (details supplied). [34817/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy on expenditure for this scheme cannot be segregated to local office level. The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department reports on the total expenditure in respect of schemes under its remit over the previous 10 years annually in its Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is published on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/02f594-annual-sws-statistical-information-report/.
506. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot qualify for a disability payment or an invalidity pension. [34833/20]
View answerTo qualify for a Disability Allowance (DA) payment a person must: be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment; be aged between 16 and 66; satisfy a means test; and be habitually resident in the State.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for DA, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.
This gentleman submitted an application for DA on 28 May 2019. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on the grounds that he had means in excess of the statutory limit. He was notified in writing of this decision on 20 August 2019. The person concerned was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). No request for an appeal or review has been received.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 28 September 2020. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 02 November 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The medical eligibility criteria for DA and for IP are not the same. To qualify for DA, a person must, amongst other things, be considered to be substantially restricted in undertaking employment suitable to his/her age, qualifications and experience. The medical eligibility criteria for IP specify that the person must be permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity. Based on the evidence submitted in support of both applications, the person concerned satisfies the medical condition for DA but does not satisfy it for IP.
When deciding on entitlement to DA and IP, a deciding officer has no discretion regarding the application of this legislation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
507. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34862/20]
View answerI can confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy has been contacted regarding his application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) by officials of my Department from Letterkenny Intreo centre so that they may proceed to progress his application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
510. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a pandemic unemployment payment will not be paid to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34879/20]
View answerThe person concerned applied for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 24/09/2020, confirming his date last worked was 14/09/2020.
In assessing the claim the person concerned did not meet the eligibility criteria for a PUP as my Department had no record of any PRSI contributions. Following a review of the person’s claim with the Revenue Commissioners it was found that he had self-employed returns in 2018 and 2019 with zero PRSI liability in both years. A PUP has since been awarded at a rate of €203 to be paid into his nominated bank account on 10/11/2020. Any arrears due will be paid next week.
In the interim, the person concerned received 2 Exceptional Needs Payment for €335.70 and €1,000 on 6/11/2020 and 9/11/2020 respectively.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if employees paid under the temporary wage subsidy scheme from March to September 2020 are entitled to receive the short-time work support payment from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34891/20]
View answerThe Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme are different schemes meaning that entitlement to a concurrent jobseeker payment under the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme does not imply the same entitlement under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Section 28(5)(h) of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides that where the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) applies in relation to a specified employee for any week, the specified employee shall not be entitled to any benefit or payment, related to Covid-19, from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for that week. This has been the case since the TWSS was first introduced at the onset of the pandemic.
Decisions around individual entitlements to jobseeker's claims for periods where the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was being availed of by the employer will depend on meeting the eligibility conditions, including satisfying the Department with regard to weeks/days of unemployment, including that no remuneration was payable for any such day of unemployment.
Applications in respect of this period are assessed on an individual basis involving a detailed examination of the specific work patterns and remuneration arrangements in place.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
512. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if legal advice has been received in relation to applications by an airline’s (details supplied) employees for short-time work support or ‘X’s and O’s’ supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34892/20]
View answer532. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether there is no legislative impediment to workers in a company (details supplied) to retrospectively apply for short-time work payments while the company was in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme as has been indicated in previous parliamentary question replies; the steps an employee needs to take to claim this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35286/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 532 together.
It is open to any individual to apply for support under the jobseeker's scheme from the Department in respect of periods of unemployment.
The priority at this time is to ensure that payments are being made and to date over 3,200 claims have been put into payment in respect of employees at the company referred to by the Deputy. Applications in respect of the period pre-September when the TWSS was in payment will be assessed on an individual basis involving a detailed examination of the specific work patterns and remuneration arrangements in place.
Decisions around individual entitlements to jobseeker's claims for periods where the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was being availed of by the employer will depend on meeting the eligibility conditions, including satisfying the Department with regard to weeks/days of unemployment, including that no remuneration was payable for any such day of unemployment.
The matter of legal advice is privileged.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
