Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2021
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that regular basic social welfare payments are made in the case of a person (details supplied); if their payment will be guaranteed on an emergency basis until such time as the residency element is complied with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13865/21]
View answerAs previously outlined in Dáil Questions 519 and 587, payment of a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) in the case of the person concerned ceased on 23/12/2020 and is currently suspended pending the provision of a current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) formerly known as a GNIB card. This permit is required to verify continued entitlement to JA.
The person concerned applied for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment on 13/01/2021 and this claim is also pending the provision of a current IRP.
Whilst receipt of this documentation is pending, the person concerned has been receiving weekly Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) with effect from 08/01/2021.
On 01/02/2021 the person concerned submitted to my Department written confirmation from the Immigration Office that she does not currently have permission to reside in the State and that she was required to obtain a passport in order to renew her IRP. On the same date, my officials requested written confirmation from the person concerned that she has applied for a new passport through the relevant embassy together with 3 months up-to-date bank statements for all financial accounts held by her. To date this documentation has not been provided.
As the person concerned does not currently have permission to reside in the State and in the absence of any written confirmation of efforts to obtain a passport, the designated officer issued a letter of disallowance on 15/02/2021 advising that her payment will be withdrawn in 21 days if written proof of her efforts to obtain a passport are not provided. The person concerned received her last ENP on 09/03/2021.
To ensure that further ENPs can continue to issue, the person concerned must provide to my Department written confirmation from the South African Embassy of her attempts to obtain a passport together with 3 months up-to-date bank statements for all financial accounts held by her.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
