Written Answers Nos. 1028-1052
1028. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Irish-Australian social security agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15533/21]
View answerIreland has negotiated Bilateral Social Security Agreements with a number of counties including Australia. The main purpose of these Agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has such agreements.
Time spent working in Australia would be reckonable in Ireland for pension purposes, under the Bilateral Agreement, but it does not cover short-term schemes and associated educational supports.
If the customer is available for and genuinely seeking work it remains open to them to make an application for Jobseeker's Allowance which may be payable subject to the assessment of means. The customer could make contact with their nearest Intreo Centre or Branch Office to establish their entitlements and the range of services available.
If the Deputy is in a position to provide my office with the specific details of the person, I will ask the officials in my Department to have the matter examined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1029. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount in arrears paid for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number of payments of arrears made; the number of these payments in which there was a delay in the applicant receiving their payment and they received backdated payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15659/21]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has proven to be a vital income support to workers, thousands of whom lost their jobs virtually overnight. Since the introduction of the scheme just under 20 million payments have been made to over 850,000 people providing income support of more than €6.3 billion to date. Over the last 12 months, just under 2 million PUP claims were received and processed.
Arrears arise under the following broad headings. First, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. Second, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches. Third, arrears may be due where the rate on a claim has been increased with retrospective effect.
In response to the first two issues, my Department developed an automated process, which examined each case and looked at their overall entitlement to payment and matched this against their payment history. As a result, 286,000 people received arrears payments totaling €129 million on 1 December 2020 for unpaid weeks in the period from March to November 2020 . My Department is working to ensure that this automated process can be efficiently replicated on an ongoing basis. Development work has concluded, and the project is at final test stage with a view to its deployment shortly. This project will ensure that where any new cases are due arrears in respect of any week since November 2020, for example,. because of claims arising following the introduction of Covid restrictions in late December, these arrears can be processed. As the necessary testing has not yet concluded, it is not possible to indicate the amount of arrears payments which will arise in respect of this project.
In relation to the third issue, cases have mainly emerged where new earnings data has been supplied to the Department or where earnings bands and earnings reference periods have been changed. In September 2020, approximately 15,000 individuals were due arrears of just under €10 million in respect of newly reported earnings, and these were paid at that time. In addition, in October 2020 just over 45,000 people were due arrears following changes to the earnings bands and associated reference periods introduced at that time. These arrears, totaling €14.7 million, were paid in February and March 2021.
In addition to the above, individual cases will arise where arrears may have to be awarded on a manual basis by my Department. However, given the overall number of persons in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the volume of associated transactions, manual processing of arrears payments on a wide scale is neither feasible nor efficient. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is fully committed to ensuring the prompt and timely processing of applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1030. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in order to receive a BP65 form, persons must apply online (details supplied). [15675/21]
View answerThe new Benefit Payment for 65 year olds was introduced in fulfillment of a commitment in the Programme for Government to address the position of people who retire from employment at age 65. The quickest way to apply for the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds is through the MyWelfare online service. My Department fully accepts that there are people aged 65 who cannot or do not wish to use the online service but it is the Department’s experience that the vast majority of customers are able to access and avail of the enhanced customer service available through MyWelfare. For those who cannot or do not wish to use the online service, a postal service is available as an alternative. The information regarding making an application by post is available on www.gov.ie at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/49d25-benefit-payment-for-65-year-olds/.
Alternatively customers can ring the Department’s Income Support Helpline at 1890 800 024 and request that a form to be posted to them or they have the option of calling into their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to make enquiries. However, the Department is making every effort to make our services available to people online, by phone, by email or by post, so people do not need to visit one of our offices at this time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1031. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15683/21]
View answerAn application for invalidity pension (IP) was received from the person concerned on 22 January 2021. Her claim has been awarded by a Deciding Officer and backdated six months to 23 July 2020. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 25 March 2021. Any arrears due from 23 July 2020 to 24 March 2021 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 18 March 2021.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1032. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that can be taken to limit the bank charges on persons living abroad who are receiving their pensions into non-Irish bank accounts; if her attention has been drawn to the recent change of bank for payments and the new charges on pension recipients living overseas; the number of persons receiving pensions abroad; the number who have been impacted by these bank charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15688/21]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection is in the process of changing its banker to Danske Bank. This is on foot of the Government’s decision in 2017 to tender for a single banking service for all Government Departments and Offices, a contract which was awarded to Danske Bank in 2018.
My Department uses the bank for both cheque and electronic fund transfer (EFT) payments, i.e. funds transferred directly into a person’s account in a financial institution. Payments to people resident outside the state are generally made by EFT as this is the most efficient and cost effective method of delivering a payment.
All Social Welfare EFT payments made to beneficiaries living outside the Single European Payments Area (SEPA) are made by Danske via correspondent banks. This is a foreign intermediary bank which forwards the payments to Social Welfare recipients in that country. The EFT payments must be processed as international payments to comply with national and international anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
Earlier this month, the Department moved its foreign EFT payments to beneficiaries outside of the SEPA zone to Danske Bank. As a result of this change, U.S. and Canadian banks levied cross-border payment charges on their own customers' Irish pension payments. There are approximately 6,400 pension recipients in USA or Canada receiving a pension payment from this Department. It is not known how many of these pension recipients are impacted by the charges. However, the Department wrote to all such customers in January, informing them of the potential of charges being levied on their payments by their own bank.
Danske Bank is currently in contact with its correspondent banks in relation to the matter.
1033. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if the recent change that excludes scholarship awards from the means test for disability allowance also excludes scholarship awards from the means test for other means-tested payments for persons with a disability or persons caring for a person with a disability such as the blind pension and carer’s allowance; if not, her plans to extend this exclusion to other means-tested payments for persons with a disability or persons caring for a person with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15707/21]
View answerI recently signed Regulations which introduced a new disregard which will apply to Disability Allowance recipients who have been granted bursaries, stipends or scholarships towards completing a PhD. It is subject to an annual limit of €20,000 per annum (i.e. if a recipient gets more than one bursary, the combination cannot exceed €20,000) and is available for a maximum of four years.
The measure in these Regulations is designed to acknowledge the increased costs a person with a disability encounters and the particular difficulties they may face supplementing their income through work alongside their PhD studies.
The measure applies to recipients of Disability Allowance, as people with disabilities are underrepresented at higher levels of education, and in employment, and we should give them all the support we can to take advantage of opportunities and to contribute as full and active members of our society.
My Department encourages other social welfare recipients to avail of education and training through the Back to Education scheme, as well as by referrals to Education and Training Board courses through the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo service. In addition, income received from the SUSI grant is disregarded in the means test for most social welfare schemes.
In addition there are a number of scholarships, such as those awarded by certain charitable organisations, which are not assessed as part of the means test for social welfare payments. These include payments under the 1916 Bursary Fund and under Higher Educational Scholarships for Adult Learners from Uversity to a maximum of €7,000 per annum. Uversity is a registered charity that has been awarding Higher Education Scholarships to adult learners since 2018.
Any extension of means disregards would need to be examined in an overall budgetary context.
1034. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons applying for the pandemic unemployment payment are required to provide proof of unemployment as a result of Covid-19; and if so, the proof required. [15719/21]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has proven to be a vital income support to workers, thousands of whom lost their jobs virtually overnight. Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, just under 20 million payments have been made to over 850,000 people providing income support of more than €6.3 billion to date. Over the last 12 months, just under 2 million PUP claims were received and processed.
The quickest and easiest way to apply for this payment is online at MyWelfare.ie. Eligible applications received by close of business on a Thursday are processed for payment on the following Tuesday.
My Department accepts that in applying for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, a person is confirming that they have lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19. Accordingly, it is not necessary for a person to provide proof of unemployment, save in exceptional circumstances.
The rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to a person's previous earnings, and my Department uses data from the Revenue Commissioners for this purpose.
Where a person has applied for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and my Department cannot find any record of PRSI contributions or earnings, it contacts the people concerned and asks them to submit evidence of employment, for example a pay slip. Where they provide the required evidence, their claim is then put into payment as quickly as possible.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1035. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanisms in place by which employers or recruitment agencies may report instances of suspected fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims to her Department. [15720/21]
View answerAll of my Department’s schemes, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), are subject to on-going control reviews and eligibility checks. This is to protect the integrity of the social welfare system and to ensure that the right person is paid the right amount of money at the right time.
In March 2020, a reporting facility was established to allow employers to notify my Department of cases of suspected PUP mis-claiming by employees. This mailbox, C19EmployerReports@welfare.ie, provides a direct link to my Department for employers.
In addition, employers can report cases of suspected mis-claiming using my Department's online anonymous reporting facility at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/report-suspected-social-welfare-fraud/ or by telephone at 1890 927 999.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1036. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the one-parent family payment and the jobseeker’s transitional payment in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the data showing drop-off rates for child maintenance payments once persons move from the payments as a result of liable relative legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15773/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below to the extent that my Department is in a position to do so. It should be noted, however, that the final column in each table will include claimants who are no longer in receipt of JST or OFP for a range of reasons - for example, the child concerned may have passed the relevant age threshold and the claimant may no longer therefore be entitled to the JST or OFP as appropriate.
There may be situations where a OFP or JST recipient is no longer receiving maintenance (or they may be receiving a reduced amount) for their child because the other parent has lost their job due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In these cases, the customer should contact their local Intreo Centre and provide it with a letter stating that they are no longer receiving the maintenance payment from the other parent. Their payment will be revised for a period of twelve weeks after which it will be reviewed again.
1037. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a child dependent allowance on an invalidity pension can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15777/21]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded Invalidity Pension from 1 October 2020 at the maximum weekly personal rate of €208.50. His claim for an increase for a qualified child was disallowed as entitlement to this increase is subject to a means test and it was deemed that his spouse's earnings were in excess of the statutory limit for receipt. If there is a change in the circumstances of the person concerned, it is open to him to submit a new application to claim an increase for a qualified child. An application form has issued to him should he wish to reapply.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1038. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify for a State pension; if so, the amount they are likely to receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15790/21]
View answerThe person concerned will reach pension age on 3 August 2021 and has not yet applied for State pension. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them, together with an application form for State pension (contributory).
Under current eligibility conditions an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. Factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension entitlement.
On receipt of a completed application, the person’s pension entitlement can be examined by a Deciding Officer and they will be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1039. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to removing the requirement for a deed poll to be completed in order to receive a public services card in circumstances in which a gender recognition certificate has already been issued; if the decision on this matter will be made at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15793/21]
View answerI can confirm that there is no requirement for a person who has been issued a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) to provide evidence of a Deed Poll change of name or two years proof of usage of their new name, before being issued a Public Services Card (PSC)
Where an individual holds a PSC in their previous identity, they will need to replace it with a new PSC to reflect their new identity. To do so, they can present their GRC, showing their new name, when they attend an office to be issued with a new PSC.
If they do not already hold a PSC, they can present their GRC showing their new name when they attend a PSC appointment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1040. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider expanding the back to education allowance to include those progressing in third level education and undertaking masters' degrees or doctorates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15815/21]
View answerThe back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment. It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.
The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis for a long-duration participation in extended education. This approach is informed by research evidence. Evidence from econometric studies shows that the 'lock-in' effect of long duration return to education programmes can exceed the progression effect and reduce employment prospects.
In limited cases post-graduate courses can be supported under this scheme. BTEA can be approved where the applicant intends to undertake studies leading to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip) in any discipline or the Professional Masters in Education. Additionally BTEA support may be awarded for a Master’s degree based solely on life experience where the applicant holds no other third level qualification.
The BTEA was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people pursuing third level education. The student universal support Ireland (SUSI) grant represents the primary support for persons pursuing education.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
1041. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a pandemic unemployment payment ceased for a person (details supplied); if the payment will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15875/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) March 13 2020 due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic as per the scheme criteria. The person concerned had been in receipt of weekly PUP payments in 2020 since the start of the pandemic until she returned to work in July 2020.
When the employment of the person concerned ended again in October, and subsequent PUP applications were received, payment could not be awarded as no verifiable records of self-employment were available to the Department from the Revenue Commissioners. The Department only accepts earnings which have been notified to Revenue and subject to PRSI, and the most recent records available from Revenue are used by the Department to determine the PUP rate payable.
I can advise the Deputy that the self employment records for 2019 for the person concerned have now been made available to Revenue, and to this Department; and a PUP payment has been put in place, with the first weekly payment, including arrears, due on 30/03/2021.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
1042. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a household benefit will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15893/21]
View answerThe person concerned can apply online at MyWelfare.ie for the Household Benefits Package if they have a verified MyGovID account, or they can complete the application form which has issued to them.
On receipt of their claim, the person's entitlement will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1044. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on providing funding for additional activation officers to assist organisations in recruiting for community employment programme employees during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15938/21]
View answer1045. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the process by which activation officers for the community employment programme are searching for and recruiting eligible persons to participate in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15939/21]
View answer1046. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the way activation officers for the community employment programme match eligible persons in their area of responsibility with the relevant organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15940/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1044 to 1046, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.
The Department provides Public Employment Services (PES) which offer support and advice to people seeking employment. The PES provides jobseekers with various supports during an activation process which can include referrals to education or training, employment support schemes and other supports to help them back into employment. The primary focus is on providing the necessary supports to the jobseeker to support them back to work. CE provides an essential support in enhancing the employability of disadvantaged and long term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities in providing services in local communities.
One of the measures introduced in the July Jobs Stimulus announced by the Government last July, in response to the impact of the pandemic and resultant public health restrictions on the labour market and the economy, was to increase the capacity of the PES in Intreo Offices and through contracted services to further support jobseekers through job search advice and assistance. The capacity of Intreo Centres is being increased, with the assignment of an additional 100 staff. Recruitment for these posts is almost complete, with an additional 85 of these staff now in place in these new roles. In addition my Department is currently preparing procurement exercises for contracted employment services. The first phase will be the provision of employment services in some areas not currently served by a Local Employment Service (LES) contractor and the second phase will be to procure new contracted services from 2022.
These additional resources will be central to meeting the increased demand for services, including recruitment to existing employment support schemes, post COVID, given the impact of the resultant public health restrictions on employment in some sectors of the economy.
CE sponsoring authorities are encouraged by my Department officials to promote awareness of the benefits of CE in their local communities and when advertising vacancies. They can advertise their vacancies on www.jobsireland.ie, the Department’s online job advertising and recruitment service for job candidates and employers, including CE sponsors.
Jobseekers are advised that they can register their interest through this website or by contacting a case officer in their local Intreo Centre who will determine their eligibility for the CE scheme. The facility to register interest in CE schemes was introduced on the website in August 2020 in response to the Covid 19 pandemic and details of those who have registered interest are distributed daily to the relevant Intreo Centre for follow up by a case officer directly with the jobseeker.
In addition to the expressions of interest received via JobsIreland.ie, Department case officers can also match CE vacancies from the website with potential CE candidates to identify possible referral and placement opportunities for long term unemployed jobseekers. Department case officers also use the system to review current CE vacancies to identify potential CE placements. Referrals to CE have continued throughout the current level 5 restrictions where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1049. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed in the community employment programme in County Cork in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15943/21]
View answerThe Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out beneath.
|
End Dec |
Participant |
Supervisor |
Total |
|
2020 |
1,736 |
103 |
1,839 |
|
2019 |
1,901 |
105 |
2,006 |
|
2018 |
1,925 |
104 |
2,029 |
|
2017 |
1,932 |
108 |
2,040 |
|
2016 |
* |
* |
2,088 |
|
2015 |
* |
* |
2,090 |
* Breakdown of participant and supervisor figures not available.
I am fully committed to the future of this program and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
1050. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the absolute and relative number of persons who have successfully entered employment after participating in the community employment programme in each of the years 2015 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15944/21]
View answer1051. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the absolute and relative number of persons who have returned to social protection payments after participating in the community employment programme in each of the years 2015 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15945/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 and 1051 together.
Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.
The table below identifies those individuals who have successfully entered employment and those that have returned to a social protection payment having ended their participation on CE between 2015 and 2019. The figures for 2020 will be available in the coming period.
1052. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a personal public service number will be issued to a person (details supplied). [15970/21]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued on 22nd March 2021 with details of her PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
