Written Answers Nos. 513-537
513. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason decisions on applications by the employees of a company (details supplied) for short-time work support between March and September 2020 are still on hold in local Intreo offices pending instruction from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34893/20]
View answer529. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department is continuing in its refusal to issue short-time work support payments to workers (details supplied) who were in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme payment from March to August 2020. [35272/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 529 together.
The priority for my Department at this time is to ensure that payments are being made currently and to date over 3,200 claims have been put into payment in respect of employees at the company referred to by the Deputies. This work is almost completed and work will commence later this week on applications in respect of the period pre-September when the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme was in payment will be assessed on an individual basis for each employee involving a detailed examination of the specific work patterns and remuneration arrangements in place.
Entitlement to a casual jobseeker's or short-time work support payment for any day during that period depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer for that day. Each case needs to be examined individually to determine if the remuneration paid by the company concerned was in respect of a complete period or only specific days within a period. This will determine if a person may be entitled to a casual jobseeker's payment in respect of the days for which a person did not work.
My Department will notify each individual of the outcome of its decision and it will be open to any person who is not satisfied with this decision to seek a review or to appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
514. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration was given to a partnership between a person (details supplied) and their late spouse with a view to enabling them to qualify for a State pension (contributory) given that throughout the person's lifetime they assisted their spouse in the course of their work, including veterinary visits; if this was taken into account in the determination of their subsequent entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34907/20]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned entered insurable employment after the age of 56. They have a social insurance record of 156 contributions from self-employment for the tax years from 1991/92 to 1993/94 inclusive. They do not satisfy the qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory).
The matter of a business partnership between the person concerned and her spouse was investigated by the Scope section of my Department in 2010 and a formal Scope decision issued on 12 October 2010. Based on the result of the investigation, it was determined that while the person assisted her spouse in the business, a partnership did not exist. The person concerned was not considered to be insurably employed or self-employed and additional contributions could not be awarded.
Since there was no change to the person's contribution record, they remain ineligible for State pension (contributory).
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the class of PRSI contributions that do not count towards dental, optical or medical appliance benefit; the category of workers who pay these types of PRSI contributions; the benefits from such PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34922/20]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides certain dental, optical and aural services to insured persons who pay class A, E, H, P or S social insurance contributions.
Social insurance contributions paid at either class B, C, D, J, K, M and V (voluntary contributions) are not reckonable for entitlement to treatment benefits. A brief description of each of these categories of workers or contributors follows:
Class B applies to civil servants and Gardaí recruited before 6 April 1995, and registered doctors and dentists employed in the Civil Service;
Class C applies to Commissioned Army Officers and members of the Army Nursing service recruited before 6 April 1995;
Class D applies to permanent and pensionable employees in the public service, other than those mentioned in classes B and C, recruited before 6 April 1995;
Class J applies to people earning less than €38 per week; people aged over 66 or people in subsidiary employment, regardless of the level of earnings as well as people insurable at either classes B, C, D or H in their main employment and who have a second job which is of a subsidiary nature;
Class K applies to certain office holders whose annual office holder income exceeds €5,200; the self-employed income of civil and public servants recruited prior to 1995; and unearned income received by employees and early retirees, where that unearned income is their only non-employment income;
Class M is recorded where there is no liability to contribute to social insurance such as employees under 16 years of age;
Class V are voluntary contributions paid by contributors who are under pensionable age and who were but are no longer compulsorily insured.
The following table sets out the social insurance benefits associated with these categories of workers and contributors.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
PRSI Class |
B |
C |
D |
J |
K |
M |
V (Voluntary Contributions) |
|
Carer's Benefit |
X |
X |
X |
||||
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
X* |
X |
X |
X** |
|||
|
Parent's Benefit |
X |
X |
X |
||||
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
X*** |
||||||
|
Widows', Widowers' and Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* Class B - limited benefit; ** Class M - limited circumstances; *** Not applicable to former Class B, C and D contributors.
516. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34923/20]
View answerJobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who meet the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
It is open to the person concerned to make an application for a JA payment. The quickest and easiest way to submit an application is online at www.mywelfare.ie. Alternatively the person concerned can apply through her local Intreo Centre in Newbridge.
Information about my Department's schemes, including qualifying conditions, is available at www.gov.ie/DSP.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when supplementary welfare will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34949/20]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department the person concerned submitted an application for a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payment on 02/09/2020 pending a decision on her Disability Allowance (DA) application. The SWA application was processed by a designated person and was disallowed as the applicant failed to provide sufficient documentation to support her application. A decision letter dated 18/9/2020 issued to the person concerned informing her of the outcome of her application and affording her the option to submit the necessary documentation or to appeal the decision of the deciding officer to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned submitted an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and her appeal was assigned to an appeals officer on 2/11/2020. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of her appeal on completion of the appeals process.
An application from the person concerned for DA was received by my Department on 14/9/2020. The processing time for a DA claim may vary in accordance with it's relative complexity in terms of the qualifying criteria, the person's circumstances and the information provided in support of the claim. The application has been disallowed on medical and means grounds. A decision letter issued on 09/11/2020 to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of her application and informing her of the option to appeal the decision to a deciding officer or to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
518. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if an online oral hearing will be facilitated in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34951/20]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 11 June 2020.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that additional evidence was subsequently submitted and the Appeals Officer agreed to review the appeal of the person concerned on foot of this additional evidence. The legislation provides that an Appeals Officer may decide a case before him/her on the basis of the documentary evidence. This course of action was taken in this case as it was considered that an oral hearing was not warranted. The outcome of the review was that the Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of the earlier decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer's decision on 28 August 2020.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
519. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment will be made in respect of a child benefit claim by a person (details supplied). [34974/20]
View answerChild Benefit is payable to the child's own mother (or father, if the mother is not available) in the first instance, or otherwise can be paid to the person who has custody of the child.
While the child in this case is resident with her grandmother, her parents still retain custody even though they are abroad. According to the details previously submitted, they also continue to help financially support the child.
I am advised that the child's grandmother is not, therefore, the qualified adult, and consequently is not eligible to receive Child Benefit.
I hope this helps clarify the position for you.
520. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment recipients who are due backdated payments will receive their payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35029/20]
View answer523. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the large number of pandemic unemployment payment arrears outstanding; her plans to address the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35206/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 523 together.
Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 806,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due.
During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. These applications were processed as quickly as possible, with almost 59,000 people paid in the first week of the scheme, 283,000 people paid in the following week, and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department is currently developing an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Given the complexity attached to the project, it will take some time yet to fully complete the necessary development work to review all cases and to determine to what extent, if any, arrears are due to individuals. I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority for my Department and it is hoped to make payments before the end of the year.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
521. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to include a civil society gender perspective in the newly established pension commission; her plans to include an organisation (details supplied) on the commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35198/20]
View answerI am pleased that I secured approval from Government last week to establish the Commission on Pensions, in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment.
On Budget Day, I announced that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for Government commitment. In this regard, it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Pensions Commission and I will introduce legislation later this year to give effect to this.
The Commission's Terms of Reference includes the examination of sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. More broadly, it will also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers, who are predominantly women.
The membership of the Commission, approved by Government, reflects the need to have subject matter experts to deal with the complex social and public policy issues arising in pensions, as well as stakeholder representation which will keep the work of the Commission grounded. This includes representation of workers, employers, civil society, academics and those with technical and policy expertise. It will be chaired by Ms Josephine Feehily. The Commission has strong female representation in its membership, and I am pleased that the majority of confirmed members - 5 out of 9 - are women. I am satisfied that the Commission, with its gender-balanced membership and extensive experience of social and public policy, will be keenly aware of the gender dimension of pensions policy and delivery and will bring this perspective to bear on its work.
The Commission will also engage with a range of key stakeholders to ensure that it has a genuine understanding of not only the fiscal sustainability challenges involved, but the social sustainability challenges of implementing potential policy reforms. The exact mechanisms for this engagement will be shaped by the Chair and by Commission members.
As you will be aware, while this Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State's finances, this is not the only consideration when thinking of the State pension age. The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. The Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
522. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the large number of pension applicants and awardees who have difficulty reconciling their employment records with their social welfare records due to insufficient revenue records before 1981; her plans to address the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35205/20]
View answerIt has been clarified with the Deputy's office that the question relates to a number of social insurance contributors who when applying for State Pension (Contributory) consider that their social insurance records are incomplete and, as a result, are not receiving or will not receive their expected pension entitlement.
My Department holds contributor's social insurance records. Since 1979, social insurance contributions are collected and returned to the Department under the Revenue PAYE system. Prior to this, social insurance contributions were collected by means of social insurance cards being stamped by employers for each week of employees employment and returned to the Department. All social insurance records, except those of full-time civil servants for the period pre-1979, are held by my Department.
If a person believes that there is a period of employment which is not reflected in their social insurance record, they should contact my Department outlining, in as much detail as is possible, the circumstances of the employment. That detail should, where possible, include the name of the employer, the period of time the person worked with the employer and any other relevant information which the person may have. If the person has any documentary evidence, such as P60 or P45 forms or payslips relating to the employment, a copy of such evidence should also be submitted. The address this information should be submitted to is: Client Eligibility Services Records Section, Department of Social Protection, McCarter's Road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
On receipt of this information, my Department will investigate to ascertain if contributions are missing from the person's social insurance record. If the investigation confirms that contributions are due, the person's record will be amended accordingly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
524. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pandemic unemployment payment will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied). [35212/20]
View answerThe person concerned applied for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 17/10/2020 confirming his date last worked was 14/10/2020.
In assessing the claim the person concerned did not initially meet the eligibility criteria for a PUP as my Department had no record of PRSI contributions in 2018 or 2019. In reviewing the person's claim with the Revenue Commissioners it was found that he had self-employed returns in both of these years with zero PRSI liability. A PUP has since been awarded at a rate of €203 and will be paid into his nominated bank account on 10/11/2020. Any arrears due will be paid next week.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
525. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if bank payments for disability, invalidity and pensions will be returned to weekly payments through the bank. [35236/20]
View answerSocial Welfare payments, including disability, invalidity and state pensions, returned to a weekly payment cycle last week. As all payments on any scheme have to be processed in the same way, the change back to a weekly payment schedule applied to all payment methods, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into a bank account.
Fortnightly payments were introduced by my Department to assist with social distancing measures in the context of the current pandemic. An unintended consequence of this decision was the difficulty experienced by many people in trying to manage money on a fortnightly basis.
In this context, I announced on the 12th of October that all weekly social welfare payments which had been moved to a fortnightly schedule from the end of March would be fully restored to being paid weekly with effect from Monday, 2nd November 2020.
Any customer who wishes to continue to collect their payment on a fortnightly payment can do so.
526. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person whose carer's allowance payment ceases 12 weeks following the death of the person being cared for is entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment when that person is unable to return to employment due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35254/20]
View answerThe Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a statutory social welfare scheme on 5th August to continue to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the pandemic. To be eligible for the payment a person must have been in employment and lost that employment as a direct consequence of the pandemic and they are not being paid by their employer. A self employed person must have suffered a reduction in their trading income to the extent that they are available for full time employment.
Based on the information provided, the person referred to by the Deputy does not appear to satisfy these conditions. Where a person does not qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they may be eligible for support under the jobseeker schemes. Jobseeker's Benefit is available to individuals who have sufficient PRSI contributions paid and meet the other qualifying conditions of the scheme. Where a person does not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit they may be eligible for means tested Jobseeker's Allowance.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment. Information on the supports available is available at www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
527. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a State pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35259/20]
View answerAn application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 30 September 2020. On 8 October 2020 a request for further information in order to establish the means of the person concern was issued. The required information was received on 3 November 2020.
The person concerned was awarded state pension non-contributory with effect from 28 August 2020 and has been notified of this decision in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
528. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a guardian payment by a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35260/20]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded a guardians payment at the weekly rate of €372.00 with effect from the 10th July 2020. Payment will commence at her nominated bank account from the 13th November 2020. Any arrears due will also be paid into her nominated bank account in due course.
The person concerned has been notified accordingly.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
530. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a PPSN application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35274/20]
View answerI can confirm that the solicitor of the individual referred to by the Deputy has 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
531. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a PPSN application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35277/20]
View answerI can confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy had already held a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
Letters with details of the PPSN issued to the person concerned and to his solicitor on 6th November 2020 and on 9th November 2020 respectively.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be urgently reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35307/20]
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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned in respect of her brother on 5 August 2020.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the Deciding Officer (DO) decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied in respect of the care recipient.
The person concerned was notified on 22 September 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested both a review and an appeal of this decision on 6 October 2020 and submitted further medical evidence in support of her application. This additional evidence gave a more comprehensive description of the care requirements of the person being cared for, which indicated that full-time care and attention was required.
Consequently, upon review CA was awarded to the person concerned on 6 November 2020 with effect from 6 August 2020. The first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 19 November 2020.
Arrears of CA due for the period 6 August 2020 to 18 November 2020 are currently being processed. The person concerned will be notified when they issue.
The person concerned was notified on 6 November 2020 of the decision and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
534. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the supports in place to facilitate persons with disabilities in entering the workforce; if it will be ensured that both the partial capacity benefit paid to workers and the wage subsidy scheme payment paid to employers can be provided in respect of the same employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35375/20]
View answerIn addition to providing income supports, the Department provides a wide range of employment-related supports for both jobseekers with disabilities and employers seeking to employ a jobseeker with a disability or to retain an existing employee who has or who acquires a disability. The supports available include:
Intreo Service
The Intreo service is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports in the State. Intreo provides tailored employment services and supports to both jobseekers and employers. Jobseekers, including jobseekers with disabilities, who seek support from their local Intreo Centre, work with a case officer with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available.
Local Employment Service
The Department contracts for the provision of Local Employment Services with 22 companies in 26 locations. Providers deliver a case managed employment service for all Jobseekers (including those with disabilities) who avail of the services. Jobseekers work with a LES Mediator to develop a personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers. LES Mediators may refer clients of the service to an EmployAbility service provider, if it is felt the person would benefit from this more specialised service.
Employability Services
The Department recognises the additional difficulties some jobseekers with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment in the open labour market, and so contracts for the provision of services to help address these difficulties. The Department contracts with 24 companies for the delivery of EmployAbility services in 31 locations. Jobseekers are referred to EmployAbility providers by Intreo Centres (or by other contractors as designated, e.g. LES providers). Providers deliver a supported employment model of services for jobseekers with disabilities. Jobseekers work with a job Coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
The Department also funds a number of other related programmes/services:
- The 'Ability' programme, introduced in June 2018 which is a pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities. Over a three year period, the programme will support over 2,600 young people with disabilities aged between 15 and 29 years of age. The 27 projects funded have been designed to assist young people in their transition from school and other settings into further education and employment. This will be undertaken using person-centred, case management approaches that support participants to achieve their desired employment goals. Funding for this programme is being provided jointly (on a 50:50 basis) under the EU's ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) Operational Programme, 2014-2020 and the Irish Exchequer. Funding has also been provided for an evaluation of the programme to be undertaken, to capture the learnings as an aid to any future programme design.
- The 'Willing Able Mentoring' (WAM) programme, which is a work placement programme that aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities. The programme provides graduates with disabilities with the opportunity to undertake a minimum 6 month, paid, mentored work placement with employers.
- Reasonable Accommodation Fund (RAF) which provides a range of employment support grants for people with disabilities and their employers. The fund is comprised of the Employee Retention Grant, Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant, Personal Reader Grant and Job Interview Interpreter Grant.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) provides three levels of financial incentives that may be claimed by private sector employers in respect of their employees. The objective of these incentives is to encourage private sector employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities employed in the open labour market. The WSS provides financial support directly related to the individual employees with a disability being employed, and also the costs associated with any additional administrative or supervisory expenditure incurred with such employment. The guidelines state that, for an employment to qualify for a WSS subsidy, an employee must not be in receipt of Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Partial Capacity Benefit. This is to avoid a position where there are dual supports being availed of in respect to a single employment.
Persons in receipt of invalidity pension or in receipt of illness benefit for greater than 6 months who wish to return to work can apply for Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB). The PCB scheme is designed for people who are on Illness Benefit, for at least six months, or on Invalidity pension and who have retained some capacity for work and wish to work. If awarded, PCB will allow a person to continue to receive, in addition to their earnings from employment, a percentage of their Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment while working.
The personal rate of payment of PCB is based on a medical assessment of a person's restriction, regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and their current rate of payment. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50, 75 or 100 per cent, respectively. There is no limit on the number of hours a person awarded PCB may work.
Both the WSS and PCB seek to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities. However, both supports are not available in respect of a single employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
535. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if the duration of the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme will be extended to facilitate participants who could not fulfil the two-year programme due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35379/20]
View answerThe Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed. The BTWEA is payable to self-employed individuals for a 24 month period from the commencement of their new business.
All participants of the BTWEA will receive their full period of entitlement of 24 months. This includes anyone who contacted the Department to temporarily suspend their allowance while their business closed. Where someone suspended their BTWEA, they can avail of the remainder of their 24 months on reopening their business.
Aside from BTWEA, those in self-employment may have other income support options available from the Department depending on their circumstances. A BTWEA participant, whose 24 month payment comes to an end while their business continues to be impacted by current trading conditions, may be entitled to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance payment.
If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about, my officials would be happy to examine it and advise of the options available.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
537. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of home visits that were made by welfare inspectors in an area (details supplied) in the months of March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November 2020. [35389/20]
View answerI regret it is not possible to provide the information that the Deputy is seeking as the information requested is not available. Where appropriate, details of home visits by Social Welfare Inspectors may be included in individual case reports. Statistical information is not available from this source. However I can confirm that no home visits were made by Social Welfare Inspectors during Level 4 or 5 restrictions
I trust this clarifies the matter.
