Written Answers Nos. 1063-1086
1063. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that those in receipt of the living alone allowance will not forfeit their eligibility if they choose to pledge a spare room in their home to Ukrainian refugees through the Irish Red Cross; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20589/22]
View answerThe European Union has put in place a Temporary Protection Directive to allow Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to move through the EU akin to EU citizens. This Department is providing support and services to assist people covered by this Directive who are fleeing Ukraine and who arrive in Ireland. As the situation is evolving, the Government will, of course, keep all aspects of the Department's various schemes under review to ensure that these people receive the supports and services they require.
Where a person in receipt of social welfare income supports (such as fuel allowance or the living alone allowance) provides accommodation in their home to a person fleeing Ukraine, the Department is developing the necessary changes to regulations or guidelines to ensure that providing such accommodation does not impact on the person’s existing social welfare entitlements. Officials across Government Departments are examining any necessary regulatory or other changes in this regard and it is hoped that these will be finalised shortly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1064. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify in relation to the contributory pension application that before home caring credits can be added to an application that an applicant needs to have a minimum 520 paid contributions and if this is discriminating against those home caring for periods in the past who now do not qualify for the full contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20592/22]
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). As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently estimated at approximately €380,000, it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term of their working life.
Subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) also being satisfied, the State pension system already provides significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role.
This is provided through the award of credits and/or the application of the Homemaker’s Scheme (under the Yearly Average method for payment calculation) and/or the application of HomeCaring Periods (under the Aggregated Contribution Method, also known as the interim Total Contributions Approach).
Details of these are –
- Credits – PRSI Credits are awarded to recipients of Carer’s Allowance (and Carer’s Benefit) where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid Carer’s Leave from work.
- The Homemaker’s Scheme - The scheme, which was introduced with effect from 1994, is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for State Pension (Contributory). The Scheme, which allows periods caring for children or people with a caring need to be disregarded (from 1994), can have the effect of increasing a person's Yearly Average.
- HomeCaring Periods – HomeCaring Periods may be awarded for each week not already covered by a paid or credited social insurance contribution (regardless of when they occurred) to a maximum of 20 years. HomeCaring Periods can only be used under the Aggregated Contribution Method (also known as the Interim Total Contributions Approach) of pension calculation.
Since April 2019, all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Yearly Average and the interim Total Contributions Approach, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner. The elements which make up each method are set out in legislation.
It should be noted that if a person does not satisfy the conditionality to qualify for State Pension (Contributory), s/he may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent (e.g. a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who is financially dependent upon him/her), who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate State Pension (Contributory) in his/her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
The Pensions Commission was established 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’s Report was published on the 7th October 2021 and it set out a wide range of recommendations including enhanced pension provision for long-term carers (defined as caring for more than 20 years). In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government in the coming weeks.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1065. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanism that is in place to ensure that periods spent in the home caring for children can be recognised by her Department when the contributory pension is being assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20593/22]
View answerSubject to the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) also being satisfied, the State Pension system already provides significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role.
This is provided through the award of Credits, the application of the Homemaker’s Scheme (under the Yearly Average method for payment calculation) and/or the application of HomeCaring Periods (under the interim Total Contributions Approach also known as the Aggregated Contribution Method).
Details of these are:
- Credits – PRSI Credits are awarded to recipients of Carer’s Allowance (and Carer’s Benefit) where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid Carer’s Leave from work.
- The Homemaker’s Scheme - The scheme, which was introduced with effect from 1994, is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for State Pension (Contributory). The Scheme, which allows periods caring for children or people with a caring need to be disregarded (from 1994), can have the effect of increasing a person's Yearly Average.
- HomeCaring Periods – HomeCaring Periods may be awarded for each week not already covered by a paid or credited social insurance contribution (regardless of when they occurred) to a maximum of 20 years. HomeCaring Periods can only be used under the Total Contributions Approach of pension calculation.
Since April 2019, all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Yearly Average and the Total Contributions Approach, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner. The elements which make up each method are set out in legislation.
It should be noted that if a person does not satisfy the conditionality to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory), s/he may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% that of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, if his/her spouse is a State pensioner and has significant household means, his/her most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on his/her personal means, and amounting to up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
The Pensions Commission’s Report was published on 7th October 2021. It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed. The report set out a wide-range of recommendations in relation to the State Pension system and Social Insurance Fund, including enhanced pension provision for long-term carers (who are caring for over 20 years).
In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. My officials are examining each of the recommendations and consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare have submitted their views on the recommendations. These various views will be considered carefully as part of the Government's deliberations.
I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government in the coming weeks.
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.
1066. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment of illness benefit to a person (details supplied) will be reinstated subject to the correspondence they received from her Department's illness benefit section, dated 28 March 2022; and if the matter will be expedited. [20597/22]
View answerIllness Benefit is paid for a maximum of 2 years or 624 payable days. The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to Illness Benefit from the 22nd February 2022. A letter issued on 23rd November 2021 advising him that his entitlement was due to end from this date and provided details of the options available to him when this transpired.
When a person's entitlement to Illness Benefit payment exhausts, they can still continue to send in medical certificates in order receive PRSI credited contributions. The letter that issued to the person concerned on 28th March 2022 was informing him that his GP could submit medical certificates every 4 weeks if he was continuing to claim Illness Benefit for credits purposes.
The Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned has subsequently been closed as he has applied for and been awarded Jobseeker's Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1067. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the fuel allowance to recipients of disablement benefit considering the scheme is available to those in receipt of incapacity supplement and disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20600/22]
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. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying 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.
Disablement Benefit is a benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme. It can be paid to a recipient who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty because of an accident at work, an accident travelling directly to or from work, or a prescribed disease contracted at work. The contribution requirements for the scheme are minimal when compared to other Departmental benefit schemes.
People in receipt of Disablement Benefit (without another payment) can work full or part time and continue to receive the Benefit Payment – in other words they are not prevented from generating additional income.
In the alternative, it can be and is paid at the same time as most social welfare payments including Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, State Pension and One-Parent Family Payment. It is not considered as means for most social welfare means-assessed schemes except for Fuel Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Working Family Payment.
Incapacity Supplement is an increase payable in addition to Disablement Benefit where a person is considered to be permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident or disease and does not qualify for another Social Welfare benefit such as Illness Benefit. This Incapacity Supplement is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
Therefore, while Disablement Benefit on its own is a disqualifying payment for Fuel Allowance because a person may continue to or take up work, or may receive another social welfare payment in parallel, qualification for Incapacity Supplement in addition to Disablement Benefit qualifies that recipient for Fuel Allowance (subject to satisfying all other qualifying criteria).
I have asked officials in my Department to review the treatment of disablement benefit under the Fuel Allowance scheme and this review is underway.
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.
1068. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position regarding the necessary legislation which will give effect to the increase in parent’s benefit to seven weeks from July 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20623/22]
View answerParent's Leave and Benefit is currently available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 for five weeks and must be used within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.
Provision was made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age 2 in July 2022 or in the case of adoption, children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years.
Section 8 of the Social Welfare Act 2021 provides for the extension of Parent's Benefit by two weeks. It requires a Commencement Order which will be brought forward shortly.
The legislation governing Parent's Leave is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1069. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff within her Department who availed of a secondment from January 2019 to date on the basis that it was not the intention of the staff member to return to his or her position within the Department. [20649/22]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection operates secondments on the basis that they are temporary assignments where the secondee returns to the Department at the end of the secondment. Any extension of the secondment would be a matter for agreement between the Department and the receiving organisation.
1070. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20663/22]
View answerIn December, in light of the then continuing uncertainty arising from the labour market impacts of Covid-19 and in recognition of the extended period of consultation with stakeholders, it was agreed to extend all current contracted employment service providers contracts, including the Local Employment Service, Job Clubs and JobPath providers until the end of June 2022.
This measure was taken in order to ensure that the public employment service has sufficient capacity to support those impacted by the pandemic with access to employment services.
The referral of clients to the JobPath service will therefore cease at the end of June 2022. However, there will then be a run-off period to enable existing clients to complete their employment service engagement.
1074. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a full-time mature student (details supplied) has received a cut to their back to education allowance. [20791/22]
View answerThe person concerned was in receipt of a rate of Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) related to their underlying entitlement to a Jobseekers Benefit payment. The person's entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit payment has now exhausted.
Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means-tested payment. The person concerned is only entitled to a reduced rate of Jobseekers Allowance having regard to her family circumstances. As a consequence, the person concerned is only entitled to a reduced rate of BTEA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1075. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to a statutory redundancy payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20796/22]
View answerThe Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, provides for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties, an application for payment from the Social Insurance Fund may be submitted to my Department.
When such a redundancy payment is made from the Social Insurance Fund, a debt is immediately raised against the employer. The Department is obliged to make every effort to recover the debt owed to the Social Insurance Fund, in accordance with Section 32 and 43 of the Act.
On 12 March 2015 my department received a completed application for a redundancy payment to be made for the person concerned from the Social Insurance Fund as they were being made redundant and the company was not in a financial position to fund the payment. My Department processed and authorised the payment on the 20th March 2015 based on the information provided on the application. As provided for under the legislation a debt was immediately raised against the employer.
In December 2019 a phone call from the employer was received and the employer was requested to submit their concerns in writing. The employer furnished correspondence in August 2020 highlighting their concerns regarding the 2015 redundancy application. In response all relevant paperwork was reviewed by my department who determined that the application was submitted by an authorised agent of the employer at that time and that it had included all the required information. As such it was determined that the application had been properly processed in accordance with the relevant procedures.
The employer was advised that if they had concerns that their firm had been misrepresented, it was a matter for the employer to take that up with the relevant authorities.
As no further information has been received from the organisation regarding this matter my officials are obliged to continue to seek recovery in accordance with the Act.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1076. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be referred from Turas Nua to her Department to allow them to access a training support grant for further training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20799/22]
View answerParticipants of JobPath do not have access to the Training Support Grant (TSG) provided by the Department. However, the JobPath companies will on a case by case basis provide similar funding.
JobPath providers have their own discretionary funds available to pay for training or other interventions; the decision to approve or reject any request for funding is solely at the discretion of the JobPath provider. Turas Nua had agreed to contribute a proportion of the cost of this training from their discretionary training fund.
I can confirm that the person concerned has been engaged with JobPath since 14/07/2021 and is due to complete the programme in 12 weeks. If the customer remains on a jobseeker’s payment at that time, he will be referred back to Intreo services and may apply and be assessed for the Training Support Grant at this point.
1077. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the methods that are at the disposal of applicants for the fuel allowance who are deemed to be fractionally over the income threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20801/22]
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. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying 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 my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the means test.
Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant does not satisfy all relevant qualifying criteria. Fuel allowance cannot be awarded on a discretionary basis.
In Budget 2022 and with immediate effect 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 and enabling more people to qualify for this support. The €120 allowable means limit is significantly more than the €33 weekly rate of Fuel Allowance.
Any proposal to further increase the allowable means for Fuel Allowance purposes or any further changes to the eligibility criteria would have to be considered in this context and in the context of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
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 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.
1078. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/22]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of the Widower(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension at the maximum rate for those aged under 66 years. This pension will remain payable while the person remains widowed and is payable regardless of other income.
The social welfare system is primarily a contingency-based system, with entitlement based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood.
There is a general principle of one person, one 'core' payment, which applies across the whole of the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time. For example, a person may be in receipt of a Widower(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension and become unemployed. As a consequence, if a person experiences more than one of these contingencies at the same time, he or she can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
To change the underlying principle of entitlement and allow people claim multiple payments would involve significant additional expenditure which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary contexts.
I hope this clarifies the position.
1079. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a statement on her plans regarding a new branch of a social welfare office in Castlepollard following the recent closure of the branch office (details supplied). [20819/22]
View answerThe Department currently has 58 Branch Offices at various locations throughout the country. Each contracted Branch Office is operated and managed under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office. Branch Office Managers operate on a contract for service and are independent contractors.
The contract for the delivery of Branch Office services in Castlepollard was due to expire on the 8th of February 2023. However, on March 21st, 2022, the Branch Manager informed the Department of his intention to retire due to extenuating circumstances.
The continued provision of Social Welfare services to Castlepollard customers is a high priority issue and the Department will ensure that customers can continue to access supports online and in-person from the Departments offices in Blackhall, Mullingar.
This is an interim arrangement and all options for delivery of the Department’s services in the Castlepollard area are being examined. The Department wishes to assure its customers that an efficient and quality public service, which properly reflects customer needs, will continue to be provided for all our customers in the Castlepollard area.
The Department has a notice in the existing premises to advise customers of the closure and those affected can contact our Intreo Centre in Mullingar by phone (044 9350921) or by emailing mullingar@welfare.ie.
Staff from Mullingar Intreo will be also available in the County Council Offices, Mullingar Road, Castlepollard on Tuesday and Wednesday every week from 09.30 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00 to provide an outreach service for customers. This service has commenced from April 12th, 2022.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1081. 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. [20875/22]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded maximum rate Widower(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension with effect from 16/04/2021, which was confirmed in writing on 07/03/2022. The first payment issued, to the bank account provided, on 16/03/2022, but it has been returned to the Department as it could not be lodged.
We wrote to the person concerned on 24/03/2022 to request a preferred payment method and we have not received a response to date. As soon as a response is received, we can recommence payment of the pension, including payment of arrears.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1082. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if recipients of invalidity pensions are required to go on partial capacity benefit in order to take up a PhD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20882/22]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a payment which allows certain categories of people to return to work (if they have reduced capacity to work) and continue to receive a payment from the Department.
Individuals can commence courses of study including a PhD provided all conditions for IP continue to be met including the condition that the participant must not be working. Claimants should notify the IP scheme area before commencing the course of study.
If the course of study does involve a work placement element, the participant can apply for PCB in order to undertake the work element of the course being undertaken. They must apply to transfer over to PCB before the work commences. The person involved can revert to Invalidity Pension once the work placement has finished.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1083. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if disabled PhD students lose eligibility to the fuel allowance and other means tested secondary supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20909/22]
View answerMy Department provides a range of income supports for people unable to work due to illness or disability. The largest disability related social assistance scheme is the Disability Allowance. At the end of March 2022, in excess of 155,000 persons were in receipt of this means tested payment.
A PhD disregard was introduced in 2021, for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance who have been granted a bursary, stipend or scholarship towards completing a PhD, as follows:
- an annual disregard (limit) of €20,000 (i.e. if a person receives more than one bursary, the combination cannot exceed €20,000 per annum/amounts above €20,000 are considered as part of the assessment of means),
- the disregard is available for a maximum of four years.
In general, once a person continues to be in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, in full or at a reduced rate, there should be no loss of eligibility to the fuel allowance, household benefits payment or Free Travel Scheme once they continue to satisfy all other remaining qualifying criteria for these individual schemes.
1084. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the manner in which academic scholarships for undergraduate or masters level impact on invalidity, pension and secondary supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20910/22]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
Receipt of an academic scholarship would not impact on the IP payment. People in receipt of Invalidity Pension can participate in courses of education. If there is no work placement involved in the course, they notify the Invalidity Pension section of the course. If there is a work placement element to the course, they may need to apply to transfer to the Back to Education Allowance which provides access to courses up to and including level 8 for the duration of the course. Or they may consider accessing Partial Capacity Benefit which would enable them to participate in employment whilst retaining access to a payment. In either case, they will revert back to Invalidity Pension upon completion of the course of study. There will be no loss of secondary payments for the duration of the course of education undertaken.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1085. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that income from compulsory work as part of a PhD such as grading papers, teaching support and so on will affect disability support payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20911/22]
View answerThe system of social assistance supports provide payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
By its nature, the means test takes account of the income a person has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital.
The means assessment can vary from scheme to scheme depending on the nature and purpose of the scheme. Sometimes a certain amount of income, or income from particular sources, is not taken into account for a particular scheme and these are usually referred to as income disregards.
Last year, I introduced a new disregard to allow Disability Allowance claimants to receive PhD scholarship awards from Irish universities, without impacting their Disability Allowance payment. 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.
This was introduced in recognition of the additional costs and barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing further education.
Where a PhD student who is in receipt of Disability Allowance receives income from compulsory work as part of their course of study, or from any other employment, they can avail of a separate disregard which is designed to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in work while retaining a proportion of their social welfare payment.
This disregard allows claimants to earn up to €140 per week from employment or self-employment without their payment being affected, while half of weekly earnings between €140 and €350 are assessed (in June, the upper earnings limit will be increased to €375 per week). This income disregard aims to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in work while retaining a proportion of their social welfare payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
