Written Answers Nos. 531-550
531. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of an application for a State pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9516/22]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 1 November 2012 but has not yet applied 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.
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). On receipt of a completed application, the person’s entitlement to State pension (contributory) can be determined and they will be notified of the outcome.
Another option is the Increase for qualified adult payment. As the person’s spouse is in receipt of State pension (contributory), the person concerned may qualify for an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) payable with their spouse’s pension. This is a means-tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) recipient whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
The rate of IQA depends on the rate of State pension (contributory) in payment to the primary pensioner and on the IQA means test. The means test for IQA is assessed on the qualified adult’s means, solely or jointly held (50% of jointly-held means).
Where a qualified adult is assessed with weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where assessable weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
I have therefore arranged for an application form to issue for the IQA payment, if the person’s spouse wishes to apply for this Increase on their State pension (contributory) in respect of the person concerned. Eligibility will be determined on receipt of a completed application form.
Where eligibility is established for both the State pension (contributory) in the person's own right and for the IQA payment on their spouse's pension, the more financially beneficial rate of payment will be awarded.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
532. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of backdating a jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9517/22]
View answerThe Person concerned applied for Jobseekers Allowance on the 20th of September 2021 and requested a backdate of the application to May 2021.
Jobseekers Allowance was awarded from the 20th of September 2021. However the backdate was disallowed as the customer was not in the State between May 2021 and the 11th of September 2021. The person concerned signed documentation to confirm they were out of the State during this period.
A disallowance letter was issued to the customer in relation to this backdate refusal on the 08 December 2021.
533. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of an application of the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9518/22]
View answerThe Person concerned applied for Fuel Allowance on the 18th October 2021, They were contacted by the Deciding officer on the 19th of October 2021 and advised to submit a letter of attendance for either School or University in respect of their child who is over 18 years of age. This documentation is required to ascertain if there is an entitlement to fuel in the household.
The requested documentation was not submitted therefore a determination of eligibility could not be completed. It is open to the applicant to supply the requested documentation and a Deciding Officer will re-examine this application.
534. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of an application for the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9519/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks ( a total of €924 each year) from October to April, The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. One allowance is paid per household.
Qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means tests.
The person concerned is in receipt of Illness Benefit. Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment due to illness, and accordingly is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
People who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for the non-means tested Invalidity Pension, subject to satisfying the relevant social insurance and medical criteria. Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance, subject to meeting the relevant medical criteria. Recipients of both of these payments, subject to satisfying all qualifying conditions, may be eligible for Fuel Allowance.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost, which customers are unable to meet out of their resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such cases are made on a case-by case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
535. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in determination of appeal of back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9520/22]
View answerBack to Education Allowance is a non-statutory scheme administered by my Department. As such, decisions cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, but decisions can be reviewed by another Officer of my Department.
The person concerned applied for Back to Education Allowance on 28 September 2021. This application was refused on 01 October 2021 on the grounds that they were not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for the required period of time and were not commencing the first year of a course of study.
The person concerned was not happy with this decision and requested a review. This decision was reviewed and the person was notified on 14 October 2021 that the original decision was upheld.
My officials have looked at the case again and are satisfied that there are valid grounds for a further review. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome as soon as a decision is made.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
536. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in processing an application for supplementary welfare in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9522/22]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for assistance with the cost of household items and furnishings for her current address with effect from 30/09/2021. Applications for 3 ENPs were processed, and the person concerned was awarded a total of €2,749 on 04/10/2021. There is no record of any outstanding ENP application in respect of the person concerned.
The person concerned is in receipt of a Disability Allowance, Household Benefits package, and fuel allowance payments from my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
537. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in processing an appeal for a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9523/22]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 11 January 2022.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts.
I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.
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.
538. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of an appeal of a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9524/22]
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 can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of CA in respect of her care recipient since 31 May 2012.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may only concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.
A review of CA was undertaken on foot of information that the person concerned was engaged in employment.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence. Where a carer has commenced employment or increased the hours they are working, the onus is on the carer to notify the Department of the change in their circumstances.
A review initiated and their application on 5 March 2020 and the person’s file was subsequently referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to evaluate means and to confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
On foot of the SWI report, correspondence issued to the person concerned on 21 September 2021 to advise that her CA and Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) payments were under review as she failed to submit information requested by a SWI. As it was not possible to determine whether she satisfies the conditions for the receipt of CA her payment was suspended from 30 September 2021. The person concerned was offered the opportunity to furnish any statement of evidence on the matter.
To date the person concerned has not responded to the correspondence of 21 September 2021. A Deciding Officer will notify the person concerned of the outcome of this review and provide them with the opportunity to review or appeal this decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
539. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9525/22]
View answerThe person referred to is in receipt of an invalidity pension (IP), awarded to her on 20 September 2021 with effect from 01 July 2021. She received her first payment to her nominated bank account on 07 October 2021 and arrears due from 20 September 2021 to 06 October 2021 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) issued on 04 November 2021. The person in question was notified of this decision on 20 September 2021.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
540. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a jobseeker’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when the appeal is likely to be brought to a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9528/22]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 2 November 2021.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
The Chief Appeals Officer has power under Section 318 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to revise any decision where it appears to her that the Appeals Officer’s decision was erroneous by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts.
The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (Section 327) also provides that any person who is dissatisfied with either the decision of an Appeals Officer or a revised decision made by the Chief Appeals Officer may appeal that decision or revised decision, as the case may be, to the High Court on any question of law.
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.
541. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9529/22]
View answerA basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is a weekly allowance paid to people who have insufficient income to meet their needs and those of their families. If a person has claimed a social welfare payment but it has not yet been paid and they have no other income, they may qualify for basic SWA while awaiting a decision on their claim.
The person concerned applied for a basic SWA with effect from 20/01/2022. Further information was requested from the person on 01/02/2022 in order to progress his application. To date the person concerned has not provided the requested information.
The Deputy advised in a previous Parliamentary Question that the person concerned applied for a Jobseeker’s Allowance. According to my officials there is no record of a recent paper application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment in respect of the person concerned. The person concerned was advised by the Designated Person on 01/02/2022 to make an application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance but to date he has not done this.
In the absence of the requested information and an application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance the Designated Person was unable to progress the SWA application for the person concerned and the claim was closed on 15/02/2022. It is open to the person concerned to provide the requested information and a completed application for Jobseeker’s Allowance within the next 14 days and his SWA claim will be re-opened.
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a Jobseeker’s Allowance is online at www.mywelfare.ie. All relevant documentation should be uploaded with the application to facilitate a prompt decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
542. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans for persons who face mandatory retirement and wish to continue working past their 65th birthday, which will benefit the State through tax take and allow persons in negative financial situations to continue to earn valuable income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9536/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that there is no statutory compulsory retirement age for employees in Ireland. Responsibility for setting retirement age is a matter for the employer/employee relationship and the contract of employment. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has made rulings in a series of age-discrimination cases concerning Directive 2000/78/EC, which prohibit work-related discrimination on various grounds, including age. The CJEU has clarified that mandatory retirement ages may be set down by employers within the context of national law, whether by contract, custom and practice or other means, but that these must be objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate social policy aim, with the means of achieving that aim being both appropriate and necessary.
Employees have recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in the event of breaches and the WRC has a number of adjudications on such matters. To assist employers and employees in this regard and in respect of retirement ages, the WRC has produced a Code of Practice on Longer Working, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has published guidance material for employers on the use of fixed-term contracts beyond normal retirement age.
The Deputy will also be aware that we established the Pensions Commission in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. Once it completed its work and fulfilled its obligations, the Commission was dissolved. The Commission's Report was published on 7th October 2021. The report, Technical Sub-Committee's working papers and submissions made to the Pensions Commission are available on the website, pensionscommission.gov.ie.
The Commission’s Report is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process. It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed. It has set out a wide range of recommendations in this regard - including aligning retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension Age, PRSI base broadening measures, and allowing a person to continue paying PRSI contributions past State Pension Age to improve their social insurance record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes.
Successive Governments have committed to supporting older peoples’ continued engagement in economic and social life, including in the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013), the Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Fuller Working Lives (2016) and the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 – 2023 (2018). Building on the work of these previous groups, the Pensions Commission supported measures to facilitate and encourage fuller working lives. The Commission also fully supported Government commitments to facilitate employees remaining at work past the prevalent contractual retirement age of 65 if they wish to.
In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, this Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. The report was referred to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. That Committee published its views on the 2nd February 2022. I and my officials will consider these views in our deliberations over the coming weeks.
Separately, as set out in its terms of reference, the Commission on Taxation and Welfare is considering the report of the Pensions Commission in the context of its review of potential changes to the social insurance system, including relevant PRSI rates and coverage recommendations. In addition, my officials are examining each of the recommendations and consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system.
I think it is really important that we complete that work and get those views before reaching conclusions on any one recommendation such as the recommendation to align retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension Age. I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March this year.
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. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension Age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department has paid for advertising, features and so on in a magazine (details supplied). [9582/22]
View answerMy Department has not paid for advertising or features in the magazine specified.
544. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered providing a top-up payment for Irish citizens living in the State and receiving pensions from overseas to bring these payments in line with the standard State pension rate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9591/22]
View answerThe State Pension (Contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record when working. A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). T he actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000 which requires people who claim a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the 50 year term of a working life. It is reasonable to require people who seek a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years paid contributions into the Social Insurance Fund which finances it.
Those with fewer than the minimum number of PRSI contributions paid over the years may alternatively qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is a means-tested pension, financed by the Exchequer, and paid at up to 95% the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). There are also significant disregards in the household means test for the State Pension (Non-Contributory). Alternatively, if their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an increase for a Qualified Adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory). The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
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. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
There are no plans for a top-up payment to be made to those who do not qualify for either the State Pension (Contributory) or the State Pension (Non-Contributory) and it is not clear on what basis such an approach could be considered.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
545. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will include a small cohort of persons (details supplied) in the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9656/22]
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 approximately 1,023,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.
In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to a person with any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
While consideration is always given to any requests to improve or extend eligibility to the free travel scheme, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the free travel scheme would so fundamentally alter the scheme that it would move it away from being a social welfare measure to being a general transport initiative.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
546. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will ensure job initiative scheme supervisors are treated the same way as community employment scheme supervisors in terms of their pension entitlements (details supplied). [9657/22]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE) and the Job Initiative (JI) Scheme. These schemes are delivered by independent bodies funded by the Department. CE and JI are delivered by sponsoring authorities and managing agents. While the Department funds participant and supervisor wages, the Department is not the employer of any scheme participants, their supervisors or team leaders.
The State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for employees of private companies, even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. Pension arrangements are a matter to be agreed between employees and their employers. All employers, including CE and JI sponsoring organisations are legally obliged to offer access to at least one Standard Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) under the Pension (Amendment) Act 2002.
As the Deputy will be aware, CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Forsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Within this context, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions on proposals to progress and resolve this complex issue, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Department officials also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors.
These discussions were held on the clear agreement of all involved that they related solely to those parties who were the subject of the 2008 Labour Court recommendation, namely CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors, and any agreement reached on the proposal arising from these discussions would apply only to those parties.
I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that JI team leaders and JI participants provide in delivering local based community services. My Department is fully committed to the future of employment support programmes and will continue to support and improve them for the benefit of the supervisors, team leaders and participants, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
547. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9840/22]
View answerMy Department has not, at any time, been the beneficiary of an award bestowed by the cited publication.
548. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the increasing number of older persons falling into poverty as a direct result of the cost of living increases; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact the value of the €5 increase agreed for the State pension in Budget 2022 has already essentially been wiped out with the rise in carbon taxes, fuel costs and cost of living; if she will commit to a secured annual increase in the State pension to address the increasing cost of living for those in receipt of the pension given that almost 70% of persons reliant on the State pension did not qualify for the extension of the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9846/22]
View answerThe social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the highest in 14 years and meant that some 1.4 million people, including over 700,000 pensioners, received a €5 increase in weekly payments, and more if they have dependents. In addition to improvements in core social welfare rates, there were a number of targeted measures designed to support those most vulnerable to poverty, including increases to the Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Allowance. As energy prices were increasing, I ensured that the increase to the Fuel Allowance rate was implemented from Budget week. I also broadened eligibility for the scheme.
As a result of these targeted measures, many of the most vulnerable pensioners have seen larger increases in 2022. For example, a pensioner in receipt of fuel allowance, living alone, will see an increase of €13 per week during the fuel season due to measures introduced in Budget 2022.
The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department, in as targeted a manner as possible. People who are in receipt of a qualifying contributory payment are required to satisfy a means test, while recipients of non-contributory payments are accepted as satisfying the means test.
The amount of means allowed to qualify for fuel allowance is the equivalent of the current maximum rate of State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) including any increases, plus €120. This means for example, that a person in receipt of SPC, with a qualifying spouse, may have a total weekly income of just over €600 and still qualify for fuel allowance.
I am acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government has announced additional expenditure measures costing in excess of a half a billion Euro, which will make a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country.
The measures include an additional lump sum payment of €125, which will be paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. It is expected that this additional lump sum will be paid in early March at an estimated cost of €49 Million.
As such, this lump sum payment is intended to target the most vulnerable pensioners, as well as other social welfare recipients, to ensure that they are protected against rising fuel costs.
This payment, in addition to the Budget increase to the Fuel Allowance, will mean low-income households see an increase of 41% this Fuel Allowance season compared to the last season.
While not all pensioners will benefit from this lump sum payment, every household in the State will receive an Energy Credit of €200, which will to be applied to electricity bills.
The Government will continue to monitor this situation carefully.
549. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider awarding the fuel allowance on a sliding scale rate in order that applicants who are marginally over the guidelines, particularly those who are elderly or in ill health, could qualify for even a partial payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9855/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. It is estimated that up to 400,000 households will benefit in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
In Budget 2022 the Government increased the weekly means threshold for the fuel allowance scheme by €20 to €120 above the appropriate rate of contributory State pension representing a 20% increase in the threshold which enables more people to qualify for this support.
Any decision to introduce a system of tapered fuel rates for cases that have means greater than the allowed €120 would have cost implications for the scheme and could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations. The €120 a week means limit is significantly higher than the weekly fuel allowance rate of €33 and also the combined weekly total of household benefits and fuel allowance added together (€41.05). It should be recalled that many of those aged over 66 are solely dependent upon the State pension, and so a person who has additional pension income above €120, is not among the more disadvantaged people that Fuel Allowance is targeted towards.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department also provides Exceptional Needs Payments, which may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
550. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied) following an appeal that was allowed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office; when the arrears will issue in respect of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9861/22]
View answerDeserted Wife’s Benefit is a social protection payment introduced in 1973 made to women who were deserted by their husbands. Entitlement to payment is based on social insurance contributions paid by either the woman or her husband. The scheme closed to new applicants with effect from 2 January 1997, on introduction of the One Parent Family payment.
Following the decision of the Appeals Officer, the weekly Deserted Wife's Benefit payment of the person concerned has been re-commenced from this week and all due arrears have been issued.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
