Written Answers Nos. 543-562
543. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will exclude family means testing for persons who can qualify for the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39145/22]
View answerMy Department provides a range of income supports for full-time carers including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.
Carer’s Allowance is the primary income support through which the Department supports carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness, including mental illness. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the means test which applies is satisfied.
The conditions attached to payment of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises.
The means test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. Removing the means test for Carer’s Allowance would, in effect, create a new universal social protection scheme for those meeting the scheme’s basic caring condition.
In Budget 2022, I announced significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance, in recognition of the vital role that carers play in society. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years.
- The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for Disability Allowance.
- The weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
The changes outlined came into effect on 2 June and many carers who, up to now, did not qualify for a payment due to means will now be brought into the Carer's Allowance system for the first time.
Any additional changes to the Carer's Allowance means test would have to be considered in an overall policy and Budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
544. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a disability related social protection payment in tabular form by the type of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39223/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement.
|
Payment type |
Blind Pension |
Disability Allowance |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
Disablement Pension |
Invalidity Pension |
Injury Benefit |
|
Cheque |
0 |
198 |
10 |
1,232 |
38 |
85 |
|
EFT |
705 |
95,963 |
40,202 |
12,245 |
49,026 |
725 |
|
EIT |
304 |
60,932 |
7,747 |
613 |
8,876 |
11 |
|
Total |
1,009 |
157,093 |
47,959 |
14,090 |
57,940 |
821 |
545. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons from counties Cavan and Monaghan in receipt of a social protection payment in tabular form by the type of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39224/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is included tables below and refers to all people in Cavan and Monaghan who received at least one payment in June 2022.
Table 1: Recipients in Co Cavan
|
Cheque |
EFT |
Post Office |
|
|
Back To Work Scheme |
73 |
||
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
47 |
||
|
Blind Persons Pension |
9 |
4 |
|
|
Carers Allowance |
1 |
1046 |
463 |
|
Carers Benefit |
59 |
4 |
|
|
Child Benefit |
1 |
8548 |
2085 |
|
Covid-19 Related Lay-off Payment Scheme |
2 |
||
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
22 |
||
|
Deserted Wifes Allowance |
1 |
||
|
Deserted Wifes Benefit |
17 |
23 |
|
|
Diet Supplement |
12 |
3 |
1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
13 |
1450 |
853 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
22 |
174 |
7 |
|
Disablement Gratuity |
1 |
||
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
615 |
111 |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
27 |
22 |
16 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
982 |
1 |
|
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
11 |
5 |
|
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
7 |
1 |
|
|
Heating Supplement |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Household Benefits |
2445 |
1217 |
|
|
Illness Benefit |
51 |
1373 |
17 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
2 |
733 |
121 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
21 |
1034 |
1606 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
12 |
562 |
313 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit for the Self Employed |
6 |
9 |
|
|
Magdalen Payment |
2 |
||
|
Maternity Benefit |
350 |
||
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
2 |
21 |
|
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
7 |
5 |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
389 |
126 |
|
|
Other Supplement |
4 |
||
|
Parents Benefit |
159 |
||
|
Part Time Job Incentive for the Self Employed |
12 |
||
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
47 |
2 |
|
|
Paternity Benefit |
49 |
||
|
Rent Supplement |
4 |
109 |
33 |
|
Respite Care Grant Scheme |
4 |
1432 |
514 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
16 |
4710 |
2145 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
7 |
997 |
1230 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
15 |
88 |
65 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
1060 |
766 |
|
|
WIDOWED PARENT GRANT CONTRIBUTORY |
1 |
||
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
9 |
11 |
|
|
Work Place Employment Programme |
4 |
1 |
Table 2: Recipients in Co Monaghan
|
Back To Work Scheme |
53 |
||
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
28 |
||
|
Blind Persons Pension |
7 |
3 |
|
|
Carers Allowance |
1 |
776 |
379 |
|
Carers Benefit |
41 |
3 |
|
|
Child Benefit |
3 |
6781 |
1496 |
|
Covid-19 Related Lay-off Payment Scheme |
3 |
||
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
3 |
196 |
|
|
Deserted Wifes Benefit |
19 |
27 |
|
|
Diet Supplement |
16 |
2 |
5 |
|
Disability Allowance |
8 |
1075 |
665 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
13 |
142 |
8 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
447 |
70 |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
7 |
10 |
27 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
900 |
||
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
7 |
4 |
|
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
4 |
||
|
Health And Safety Benefit |
1 |
||
|
Heating Supplement |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Household Benefits |
1866 |
929 |
|
|
Illness Benefit |
46 |
990 |
11 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
530 |
85 |
|
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
49 |
852 |
878 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
34 |
528 |
278 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit for the Self Employed |
11 |
10 |
|
|
Maternity Benefit |
2 |
262 |
|
|
Medical Care |
1 |
||
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
2 |
9 |
|
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
6 |
7 |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
334 |
109 |
|
|
Other Supplement |
8 |
7 |
4 |
|
Parents Benefit |
155 |
||
|
Part Time Job Incentive for the Self Employed |
10 |
||
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
34 |
||
|
Paternity Benefit |
1 |
31 |
|
|
Rent Supplement |
3 |
82 |
13 |
|
Respite Care Grant Scheme |
2 |
1064 |
403 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
5 |
4071 |
1739 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
4 |
815 |
980 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
7 |
78 |
67 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
4 |
959 |
644 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
17 |
5 |
|
|
Work Place Employment Programme |
2 |
546. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payment applications that have been received, awarded and refused in each Intreo centre in the State since 1 March 2022; the total Euro amount of payments in each Intreo centre on a monthly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39241/22]
View answer547. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare applications that have been received, awarded and refused in each Intreo centre in the State since 1 March 2022, including the total Euro amount of payments in each Intreo centre on a monthly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39242/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time.
Payments are made 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.
While statistical information on the SWA schemes is available, it is not collated by Intreo Centre, but a breakdown can be provided by county.
Table 1 shows number of Basic SWA applications registered by county from March 2022 to June 2022 and the outcomes of these applications in terms of awards and disallows. It does not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information.
Table 2 shows the number of Additional Needs Payment applications registered by county from March 2022 to June 2022 and the outcomes of these applications in terms of awards and disallows. It does not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information.
Table 3 shows the number of Rent Supplement recipients by county at the end of each month for the period 1st March to-date for 2022 (end of June). The number of applications received/awarded/disallowed for Rent Supplement is not currently available.
Table 4 shows the provisional monthly expenditure by county for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Additional Needs Payments from 1st March 2022 to end of June 2022. A breakdown of expenditure by Intreo Centre or county is not available.
The claim figures in the tables below represent a snapshot of claim activity taken at 1st July 2022 and are subject to change.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
TABLE 1 – Basic SWA applications registered by county from March 2022 to June 2022 and the outcomes of these applications in terms of awards and disallows.
|
County |
Claims Registered |
of which Awarded |
of which Disallowed |
|
CARLOW |
354 |
311 |
29 |
|
CAVAN |
575 |
407 |
56 |
|
CLARE |
1,503 |
1,365 |
74 |
|
CORK |
2,875 |
2,516 |
161 |
|
DONEGAL |
972 |
851 |
57 |
|
DUBLIN |
6,476 |
5,844 |
330 |
|
GALWAY |
1,305 |
1,186 |
65 |
|
KERRY |
1,785 |
1,557 |
131 |
|
KILDARE |
810 |
683 |
76 |
|
KILKENNY |
529 |
404 |
57 |
|
LAOIS |
574 |
480 |
28 |
|
LEITRIM |
290 |
263 |
7 |
|
LIMERICK |
1,268 |
1,061 |
70 |
|
LONGFORD |
284 |
247 |
10 |
|
LOUTH |
960 |
811 |
65 |
|
MAYO |
778 |
696 |
54 |
|
MEATH |
989 |
913 |
43 |
|
MONAGHAN |
226 |
178 |
19 |
|
OFFALY |
558 |
519 |
23 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
399 |
367 |
18 |
|
SLIGO |
456 |
405 |
10 |
|
TIPPERARY |
905 |
748 |
88 |
|
WATERFORD |
831 |
748 |
59 |
|
WESTMEATH |
707 |
595 |
81 |
|
WEXFORD |
1,123 |
895 |
95 |
|
WICKLOW |
922 |
842 |
43 |
|
Total |
28,454 |
24,892 |
1,749 |
TABLE 2 – Number of Additional Needs Payment applications received/awarded/disallowed by county for each month from March 2022 to June 2022.
|
County |
Claims Registered |
Of which Awarded |
Of which disallowed |
|
CARLOW |
423 |
380 |
29 |
|
CAVAN |
468 |
328 |
19 |
|
CLARE |
1,166 |
992 |
121 |
|
CORK |
3,014 |
2,606 |
179 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,358 |
1,237 |
55 |
|
DUBLIN |
8,587 |
7,895 |
358 |
|
GALWAY |
1,552 |
1,387 |
114 |
|
KERRY |
1,306 |
993 |
157 |
|
KILDARE |
1,023 |
877 |
76 |
|
KILKENNY |
523 |
426 |
30 |
|
LAOIS |
607 |
555 |
23 |
|
LEITRIM |
557 |
510 |
27 |
|
LIMERICK |
1,441 |
1,289 |
43 |
|
LONGFORD |
546 |
461 |
43 |
|
LOUTH |
815 |
736 |
45 |
|
MAYO |
539 |
458 |
59 |
|
MEATH |
1,081 |
1,009 |
52 |
|
MONAGHAN |
186 |
169 |
7 |
|
OFFALY |
653 |
586 |
32 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
422 |
377 |
32 |
|
SLIGO |
815 |
653 |
27 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,045 |
828 |
90 |
|
WATERFORD |
904 |
807 |
74 |
|
WESTMEATH |
880 |
739 |
55 |
|
WEXFORD |
867 |
682 |
90 |
|
WICKLOW |
1,161 |
1,022 |
74 |
|
Total |
31,939 |
28,002 |
1,911 |
TABLE 3 - Number of Rent Supplement Recipients by county at the end of each month for for each month from March 2022 to June 2022.
|
Month |
Rent Supplement Recipients |
|
March |
12,083 |
|
April |
11,771 |
|
May |
11,295 |
|
June |
11,093 |
TABLE 4 - Provisional expenditure for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Additional Needs Payments for each month from March 2022 to June 2022.
|
|
Basic SWA |
Rent Supplement |
Additional Needs Payments |
|
MONTH |
€ 000 |
€ 000 |
€ 000 |
|
March |
12,696 |
7,173 |
3,676 |
|
April |
19,118 |
6,497 |
3,558 |
|
May |
10,109 |
6,262 |
4,703 |
|
June |
10,026 |
6,295 |
5,038 |
548. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost if the gas or electricity allowance increased to €42 per month for persons in receipt of the household benefits package; and the last time that these allowances were increased. [39260/22]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
In 2013, the arrangements governing the electricity/gas allowance were changed from a unit-based allowance to a credit-based allowance. The new monthly allowance was set at €35 per month per customer and there has been no change to the monthly allowance rate since then.
If the increases outlined in the question were introduced in 2023, the estimated average number of recipients would be 495,000 and the additional yearly cost of the measures would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Yearly cost |
|
€7 |
€42 |
495,000 |
€41.6m |
Any decision to enhance or increase the electricity and gas aspect of the package would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
549. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an additional needs' payment in Cork. [39285/22]
View answer550. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [39286/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme offers a safety net within the overall social welfare system by providing assistance to people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance to those in need.
There are several payments within the scheme, i.e., basic SWA, Rent Supplement, Additional Needs Payments and SWA Supplements.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance is administered by the Community Welfare Service of the department.
The Community Welfare Service is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
There is currently no data available on the processing times for SWA payments. Processing times for payments are dependent upon the complexity of the claim and the volume of claims pertaining at any given time. Payments that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, can take longer to process. Means-tested payments also require more detailed investigation and possible interaction with the customer, thereby effecting the time required in the decision-making process.
I wish to reassure the Deputy that claim processing is kept under active review and we will continue in our efforts to further improve the service.
I can assure the Deputy of my Department's commitment to providing a quality service to all its customers.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
551. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an additional needs' payment in Cork by reason in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, respectively in tabular form. [39287/22]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time.
Payments are made 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.
The Department is developing more extensive statistics in relation to the number of applications made to the ENP/UNP schemes. The focus of the development has been on current data from January 2022 with details on the number of applications available from this date onward.
Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payment applications registered in County Cork for 2022 (to end of June). This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 4 July 2022 and is subject to change.
The main items for which applications for assistance with costs were registered under the scheme to-date in 2022 include help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals and burial costs and travel. Applications have also been received for assistance under this scheme towards rent deposits.
While the number or the categorisation of additional needs payment applications registered prior to 2022 is not available, table 2 shows the number by category of exceptional and urgent needs payments awarded in County Cork for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
TABLE 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payment applications registered in County Cork for 2022 (to end of June)
|
County |
Claims Registered |
|
Cork |
3,687 |
TABLE 2 - Number by category of Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments awarded in County Cork for 2019, 2020 and 2021
|
Category |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Bills |
204 |
111 |
100 |
|
Child Related |
195 |
129 |
81 |
|
Clothing |
1,095 |
820 |
516 |
|
Funeral |
211 |
234 |
245 |
|
General |
5,279 |
2,167 |
1,187 |
|
Housing |
1,777 |
1,873 |
2,001 |
|
Illness |
32 |
16 |
13 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
198 |
35 |
21 |
|
Total |
8,991 |
5,385 |
4,164 |
Note: These figures are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.
552. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers employed in Cork in each of the past five years in tabular form. [39288/22]
View answerThere are currently 42 (full-time equivalent 38.9) Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) employed in Cork.
The number of CWOs employed in Cork in each of the past five years is not readily available.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
553. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to the provision of maternity leave and benefit; if she will ensure that parents can afford to take up the scheme and avoid a significant drop in income with regard to the current payment rate and in cases in which employers may be required to top-up the salaries of parents availing of this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39296/22]
View answerAs a result of measures introduced in Budget 2022, the rates of Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent's Benefit were increased by €5 to €250 a week, effective from January 2022.
Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks. In 2022, it is estimated that my Department will spend in excess of €267 million on Maternity Benefit in respect of an average of 20,290 recipients per week.
The Government is committed to the continued support of working parents to achieve a better work-life balance. Two weeks Paternity Leave and Benefit were introduced in 2016.
The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Since April 2021, an additional three weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to each qualifying parent. The period in which the leave can be taken has also been extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
In Budget 2022 the Government provided for an increase in the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from 1 July 2022. The estimated overall cost of the increase in Parent's Benefit to seven weeks is approximately €19 million for a full year.
It is worth noting that when a person is in receipt of Maternity Benefit it is open to their employer to top-up the payment to the level of the person’s wages and some employers do this. This is a matter for employees and their employers.
New parents are also eligible for Child Benefit which is paid at €140 per month for each child. Expenditure on the scheme is estimated to be more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
Any changes to the Maternity Benefit scheme would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
554. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of a Covid-related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39312/22]
View answerAs of July 12th 2022, there were 10,846 recipients of the COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, and at the end of June 2022 a total of 623 individuals had received payment from the COVID-19 Related Lay-off Payment Scheme.
555. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons working from home or by way of other arrangement arising from Covid-19 throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39313/22]
View answerThe total number of persons employed by my Department as at 30 April, 2022 is 6,781, which includes staff on temporary contract.
The number of staff who have been working remotely across business areas of my Department since March 2020 has been approximately 50% of the total staffing number, although this figure will have changed in more recent months, as restrictions have lifted, permitting more on site and in-person engagement.
My Department will shortly implement a formal blended working policy and staff may apply for a blended working pattern with attendance both in the office and remotely, subject to role suitability and other conditions.
556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which she and her Department have responded and continue to respond to challenges arising from Covid-19 such as arrangements to work from home or hubs in both the public and private sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39314/22]
View answerCivil Service Departments and Offices have been responsive to and have been working in line with Government Covid-19 guidance.
As an essential service, staff in my Department have continued, throughout the pandemic, to work both on site and remotely to deliver services to our customers. The number of staff who are working remotely at any one time across all business areas of the Department is approximately 50% of the total staffing number and has remained relatively constant throughout the pandemic, as part of temporary working arrangements put in place by local business areas. It is necessary for staff providing front line customer services to do so in-person at office locations.
The Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations was published in March 2022 and has informed the development of the recently published Blended Working Policy for my Department. This policy will introduce a formal structure of blended working rather than the temporary arrangements that have been in place over the past 2 years and will offer, subject to role suitability, a combination of working from a primary office location and working remotely, either from a home location or possibly from a hub office of the Department (offices sited in over 250 locations) , where availability permits. It is intended that this policy will be implemented from September.
557. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applicants who have been refused payment in respect of invalidity pension in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39315/22]
View answerInvalidity Pension disallow decisions issued from 2017 to end of second quarter 2022 are set out beneath.
|
Year |
No of disallow decisions issued |
|
End of second quarter 2022 |
2139 |
|
2021 |
4551 |
|
2020 |
5270 |
|
2019 |
4753 |
|
2018 |
4601 |
|
2017 |
4544 |
It should be noted that when a disallow decision is made the applicant is provided with details as to how they can request a review of the decision or appeal that decision. In some cases the applicant will provide additional information at that time and this can lead to an application being allowed having initially been disallowed. That initial disallow decision will still have been counted in the above figures.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
558. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently awaiting the outcome of appeal in respect of refusal of disability allowance; the extent to which such appeals are being expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39316/22]
View answerThe 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.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 2% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Department endeavours to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The time taken to process an appeal reflects a number of factors including that the appeals process is a quasi-judicial process with Appeals Officers being required to decide all appeals on a ‘de-novo’ basis. In addition, appeals decisions are themselves subject to review by the High Court and decisions have to be formally written up to quasi-judicial standards.
The desire to process appeals quickly has to be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice.
Further improvements in appeals processing times is a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
At the end of June 2022 there were 1,252 Disability Allowance appeals waiting finalisation.
The table below provides the average processing times for Disability Allowance appeals for the year 2021 and also for the period 1 January to 30 June 2022.
Disability Allowance Average Processing Times
|
- |
2021 |
1 Jan to 30 June 2022 |
|
By Oral Hearing |
20.2 weeks |
19.9 Weeks |
|
By Summary |
12.3 weeks |
11.4 Weeks |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
559. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which appeals are pending in the case of disallowances for various social welfare payments; the degree to which one or other payment is particularly the subject of appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39317/22]
View answerThe 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.
The table below provides a breakdown of all 'live' appeals by scheme at the end of June 2022.
|
Scheme |
Live Appeals at end June 2022 |
|
Blind Pension |
3 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
7 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
876 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
45 |
|
Child Benefit |
197 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,252 |
|
Illness Benefit |
760 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
745 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
3 |
|
Farm Assist |
29 |
|
Working Family Payment |
358 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
391 |
|
Liable Relative |
15 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
30 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
237 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
143 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
68 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Over 65 |
63 |
|
Jobseeker’s Self-Employed |
29 |
|
Guardians Contributory Payment |
16 |
|
Guardians Non-Contributory Payment |
6 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
110 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional |
40 |
|
Parent’s Benefit |
12 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
34 |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
355 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance (Means) |
241 |
|
Recoverable Benefits |
2 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant |
68 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
88 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
405 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
12 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance (Payments) |
577 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
257 |
|
Widow(er)’s Contributory Pension |
23 |
|
Widow(er)’s Non Contributory Pension |
5 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
3 |
|
Total |
7,511 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
560. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which various decisions in respect of social welfare payments have been subsequently overturned on appeal by the applicants or her Department in the past twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39318/22]
View answerThe 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.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and approximately 2% are appealed.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person.
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the person concerned as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights at an oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
The table below provides a breakdown of all appeals finalised in the past 12 months from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Appeals Finalised from 01/07/21 to 30/06/22
|
Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Disallowed by Appeals Officer |
Partially Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Revised Decision by Deciding Officer |
Withdrawn |
|
5,946 |
9,862 |
479 |
6,518 |
922 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
561. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which INTREO continues to be involved in determination of fitness to work issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39319/22]
View answerIntreo Centres provide support for people, including people with a disability or illness, in reaching their employment ambitions.
While it is a condition for the receipt of Jobseekers Payment that the person is available for, capable of and is genuinely seeking work, if a particular scheme is more appropriate to the individual's circumstances, they will be supported in making an application for that scheme.
Staff in Intreo Centres provide assistance in this process including referral to the nationwide EmployAbility service, which is a specialist service delivered under contract on behalf of my Department, and is designed to support persons with a disability in seeking and finding employment.
In this regard, training has been delivered to over 60 Case Officers who can provide specialised support to people with disabilities. In addition Disability Awareness training courses have been availed of and continue to be delivered to staff across the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
562. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which various stages of incapacity may impede on ability of applicant to obtain or retain employment and as a result become reliant on a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39320/22]
View answerMy Department provides income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. There is a range of schemes available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Entitlement to such schemes is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria. Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension are two such non means tested income supports.
Illness Benefit: is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness, who have made the necessary PRSI contributions. Certification for the scheme is by the persons treating physician, in most cases a General Practitioner.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people who are deemed permanently incapable of work due to a long-term illness or disability. Eligibility is subject to a medical assessment and PRSI contribution conditionality.
A person who has an insufficient PRSI contribution record may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme (Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension are both social assistance schemes).
Disability Allowance: is designed to support people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66, who are habitually resident in the state. Eligibility for Disability Allowance requires that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, substantially restricting a person’s ability to undertake work which would otherwise be suitable for persons of similar age, experience, and qualification.
Blind Pension: is designed to support blind people/people with a specified level of low vision, aged 18 and up to the age of 66 who are habitually resident in the State. Eligibility for the Blind Pension requires that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation. Medical assessment requirements include a medical report from an Ophthalmic Surgeon or an Optometrist.
In addition to other conditions of a particular scheme (e.g. PRSI contributions, age, means) each application for the above schemes are individually assessed, based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant.
It is also important to note, that each of these schemes have been designed to support a person to enter, return to or retain employment. This is achieved through the provision of: employment supports and grants (available through Intreo), the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme and income disregards for income from employment / self-employment (where means are assessed as part of the eligibility criteria for a given scheme).
