Written Answers Nos. 1162-1180
1162. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in the case of a review of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19703/21]
View answerA review of continued entitlement to disability allowance (DA) in the case of the person concerned was carried out by my Department. The person concerned failed to provide the social welfare inspector (SWI) with the information which was requested in order to confirm their continued entitlement. DA is a means tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in social welfare legislation.
A letter issued to the person concerned on 17 June 2020 informing her that her DA would be suspended if the requested documentation was not submitted. Information was received from the person concerned on 7 July 2020 and the file was sent to the SWI for a report on her means and circumstances. The SWI wrote to the person concerned on 9 September 2020 informing them of the information which remained outstanding.
DA payments for the person concerned were suspended with effect from 21 October 2020 as the requested information was not submitted. Additional information was received on 12 November 2020 and the file was resent to the SWI for an assessment. A letter issued to the person concerned on 19 April 2021 outlining the information which is still outstanding. On receipt of the requested information and a subsequent completed report from the SWI a decision will be made on the review and the person concerned will be notified directly in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1163. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a listing of the social welfare schemes the payment rates and rules of which may be adjusted by way of ministerial order, including those requiring amendments to primary legislation respectively in tabular form; and the number of recipients and annual spend on each of the schemes in tabular form. [19709/21]
View answerSocial Welfare schemes that have rates and rules that are provided for in legislation, or by way of Ministerial order, are listed in the table below. The table contains end-year recipient numbers and annual expenditure for 2020 in respect of these schemes.
|
Scheme |
Recipients End-2020 |
Expenditure 2020 (€000) |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
95,465 |
1,048,546 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
449,442 |
5,834,586 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
123,019 |
1,586,563 |
|
Death Benefit (OIB Widows) |
741 |
10,214 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
157,611 |
1,656,771 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
39,446 |
564,887 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension |
1,301 |
13,425 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
75 |
859 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
11,747 |
115,212 |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
3,534 |
13,052 |
|
Farm Assist |
5,511 |
66,414 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
35,843 |
415,713 |
|
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
473,136 |
4,978,983 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
5,374 |
68,485 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
19,661 |
258,045 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
6 |
96 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
32 |
358 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
587 |
12,355 |
|
Parents Benefit |
2,424 |
6,656 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
3,227 |
24,658 |
|
Disability Allowance |
152,580 |
1,811,854 |
|
Blind Pension |
1,075 |
12,641 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
88,906 |
926,352 |
|
Illness Benefit |
48,157 |
592,634 |
|
Enhanced Illness Benefit (Covid-19) |
850 |
56,875 |
|
Injury Benefit |
1,026 |
11,448 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
59,230 |
760,228 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,354 |
69,860 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
3,698 |
49,365 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
44,091 |
193,104 |
|
Carer's Support Grant |
119,504 |
227,543 |
|
Child Benefit |
631,412 |
2,102,329 |
|
Working Family Payment |
48,213 |
377,312 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
553 |
7,773 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
1,179 |
15,933 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
3,553 |
12,978 |
|
Rent Supplement |
17,945 |
133,090 |
|
Treatment Benefits: |
||
|
Dental Benefit |
65,911 |
44,309 |
|
Optical Benefit |
40,042 |
35,256 |
|
Medical and Surgical Benefit |
1,384 |
11,755 |
|
Household Benefits Package |
||
|
Electricity |
415,383 |
172,039 |
|
Gas |
50,252 |
21,310 |
The expenditure figures for 2020 are provisional and are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Recipient numbers show the position at a point in time, at the end of the year – they are intended to be illustrative and used for comparison with other years to identify trends and are not intended to be representative figures to be used in calculating average payments.
The figures for Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the above table are a total of payments from both Vote 37 and the Social Insurance Fund. A more detailed breakdown of these figures, as set out in the provisional outturn for 2020, is as follows:
|
Payment |
€m |
|
Vote 37: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
1,322 |
|
SIF: Pandemic Unemployment Payment (Pre August 2020) |
1,818 |
|
SIF: Pandemic Unemployment Payment (Post August 2020) |
1,839 |
1164. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of women who are currently linked to their husband's PPSN via the addition of the letter W at the end of their PPS number by county in tabular form. [19724/21]
View answer1168. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if women whose spouse has passed away can retain their W PPSN if they wish to do so; the steps her Department can take to ensure a supportive transition to a new PPSN and updating of systems regarding social welfare entitlements in cases in which women receive a new PPSN or revert to their original PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19756/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1168 together.
Under previous taxation law, the husband of a married couple was considered the assessable spouse and the wife was considered a dependant of the husband. Accordingly, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) allocated the husband’s Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number to the wife and appended a “W” to the end, as a second check character, so that they could be separately identified but linked for joint assessment.
The Finance Act 1993 provided that either spouse could be the assessable spouse, and the practice of allocating “Level W” numbers ceased. From then on, all persons were allocated individual, unique numbers. However, it was decided, at that stage, not to ask all individuals with “Level W” numbers to change them until there was an actual need to do so.
The Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) was introduced in the Social Welfare Act 1998, replacing the RSI Number, and my Department was given legislative responsibility for allocating and managing these new numbers. In practice, the RSI numbers in existence were retained and became PPSNs, including “Level W” numbers. In other words, Level W numbers are PPSNs in their own right and it is not the case that any person's PPSN is linked with another person. It is not possible therefore to provide the data requested by the Deputy.
It is the case that the Office of the Revenue Commissioners request people with “Level W” numbers to change them once they need to engage with them on taxation matters. The process of replacing a “Level W” number is relatively straightforward and there is no need for the person to attend any office or to queue for service. As part of the process, my Department verifies the identity of the individual, secures their consent, purges the existing number and replaces it with either a new PPSN or the PPSN that the individual had prior to marriage. All pre-existing records relating to that individual are transferred over to the new number.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19749/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 April 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
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.
1167. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19751/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that office on 8 April 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
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.
1169. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if all vacancies (details supplied) are advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19822/21]
View answerAppointments to State Board positions, including those State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, are managed directly by the State Boards Section at the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
In line with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (2015), all vacancies in State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are published on the State Boards Portal www.stateboards.ie, operated by the PAS.
Any further queries on the State Boards appointment system should be addressed directly to the PAS.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1171. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit aged 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 years of age, respectively; and the corresponding number of each on a reduced rate of €112.70. [19840/21]
View answerA reduced rate of €112.70 generally applies for young Jobseeker's Allowance recipients aged 18-24 to protect them from welfare dependency by providing them with a strong financial incentive to participate in education or training to improve their chances of obtaining sustainable full time employment. Currently the weekly personal rate for jobseeker recipients aged 18-24 years is €112.70. If a young person on Jobseeker's Allowance participates in education or training they will receive the maximum personal rate which is €203 per week.
Jobseeker's Benefit rates are graduated according to earnings in the relevant tax year.
Table 1 below shows those aged 18-24 who received either a graduated or full Jobseeker's Benefit rate while Table 2 shows Jobseeker’s Assistance recipients aged 18-24 on the reduced and full rate. The data within both tables dates from April 11th 2021.
Table 1: Jobseeker's Benefit
|
Age |
Graduated Rate (based on earnings) |
Full Rate |
|
18 |
0 |
1 |
|
19 |
9 |
3 |
|
20 |
29 |
21 |
|
21 |
59 |
59 |
|
22 |
125 |
170 |
|
23 |
152 |
271 |
|
24 |
191 |
376 |
|
Total |
565 |
901 |
Table 2: Jobseeker’s Allowance
|
Age |
Reduced Rate |
Full Rate |
|
18 |
1,595 |
77 |
|
19 |
2,491 |
258 |
|
20 |
2,228 |
422 |
|
21 |
2,043 |
515 |
|
22 |
1,952 |
615 |
|
23 |
2,104 |
669 |
|
24 |
1,902 |
763 |
|
Total |
14,315 |
3,319 |
1172. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons referred to JobPath to date in 2021. [19841/21]
View answer1173. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who gained employment which was sustained for 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks, respectively through JobPath in 2020. [19842/21]
View answer1174. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have completed JobPath since 2015 who did not find employment. [19843/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1172 to 1174, inclusive, together.
In parallel with the Intreo service, the Department's contracted public employment services, including JobPath and the Local Employment Services, resumed new referrals on 8th March 2021. Resuming referrals reflects the importance of continuing to engage with the long term unemployed and other cohorts to ensure they do not become further distant from the labour market. This continues to be undertaken with due regard to public health requirements. To date in 2021, some 4,233 jobseekers have commenced their engagement with the JobPath service.
2020 witnessed the imposition of 3 national lockdowns, and several other regional lock downs to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Therefore providing employment assistance and advice to jobseekers in this environment, where unemployment reached almost 25% was for all employment service providers and for the jobseekers themselves exceptionally difficult.
Over 32,000 Jobseekers engaged with JobPath throughout 2020 with some 3,700 recorded as having started employment during their engagement period to date. Due to public health restrictions and the suspension of referrals on three separate occasions in 2020, the majority of these engagements occurred in the second half of the year and many of these clients are still in the process of being supported by the service. The recording of actual sustainment statistics for 2020 is therefore on an ongoing process.
My Department does not maintain statistics on employment details for clients who are no longer engaged with the JobPath service.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1175. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for the new benefit payment for 65 year olds since it was introduced; the number of applications which were refused; and the number approved. [19844/21]
View answerAs of end March 2021, there were 2,434 people in receipt of the new benefit payment for 65 year olds. The majority of these transitioned to the new payment for over 65s without the need to make a new application.
Any applications and decisions for this new payment are recorded under the Jobseeker's Benefit IT system, with awarded claims then recording the appropriate administrative code for the payment for those aged 65 and the conditions of that scheme applied.
As such, I am advised that while it is not possible at this stage to isolate those applying for the payment for over 65s, data can be provided on applications received for Jobseeker's Benefit from persons aged 64 and older. A total of 645 people aged 64 and older have applied for Jobseeker's Benefit since the introduction of the new benefit scheme, of whom 145 are now currently in receipt of the Benefit Payment for 65 year Olds.
As the scheme has only recently become operational, a clearer picture will emerge over the course of the year as more people reach the age of 65 and apply specifically for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds.
1176. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons referred to the local employment service in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [19845/21]
View answerThe Local Employment Services (LES) provide a one-to-one employment assistance and advice service primarily for the long-term unemployed.
The number of persons who commenced engagement, that is the total number of new registrations who attended, with the local employment service in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 is displayed in the table below.
It should be noted that, due to public health restrictions, referrals to all contracted public employment services including the LES were suspended on three separate occasions during 2020 (March, October and December). Referrals for 2021 commenced in early March.
|
Year |
Total |
|
Year |
Total |
|
2019 |
22,006 |
|
2020 |
15,843 |
|
2021 YTD (end March) |
4,870 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1177. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the recently announced benefit payment for 65 year olds in order that each person, irrespective of their record of PRSI contributions is eligible for this payment from the date at which they are 65; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19852/21]
View answerThe Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseekers Benefit scheme, has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66.
This new benefit payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. Recipients of the payment are not required to sign on, engage in activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work which is normally the case for recipients of a Jobseeker’s payment.
To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme including the PRSI social insurance contribution requirement.
The social insurance contribution requirements are not as high as for receipt of the State Pension, and people retiring at age 65, given they have a recent attachment to the workforce, should in most cases meet the required PRSI conditionality.
Where a person does not qualify for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseekers Allowance scheme subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions of that scheme.
There are no plans to amend the conditions of the scheme and I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1178. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if any person can apply for a position (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19877/21]
View answerAppointments for State Board positions, including those State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, are managed directly by the State Boards Section at the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
Each individual State Board under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection will necessitate particular requirements in terms of knowledge, skills and experience of its members. Any individual can apply for a position on these State Boards, subject to these requirements and other specific criteria as defined by the PAS and the Minister of Social Protection.
Any further queries on the State Boards appointment system should be addressed directly to the PAS.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1180. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the process will be standardised in cases in which a person is in receipt of farm assistance and their income is static from year to year given that some persons filling out these forms annually find this process extremely cumbersome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20003/21]
View answerFarm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. The annual farm assist review is a necessary part of the normal review process for all these customers and a standardised review form is used for this purpose.
The means test for farm assist takes account of all income sources and farm outgoings. The information provided by the customer on the annual review form covers both the income generated and the operating costs associated with the farm, all of which are required as part of the annual review process. Details of any change in circumstances are also taken into account so as to ensure that the annual assessment accurately reflects the current situation.
As with all schemes of the Department, the forms in use are kept under review to ensure they continue to meet the requirements of the customer and scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
