Bríd Smith
Question:1236. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year of raising jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit payments to €350 per week. [40593/22]
View answerSocial Welfare Payments
Questions (1236)
Written answers
The estimated cost in a full year of raising the weekly rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance to €350 per week is €1,238.8m. The estimated cost in a full year of raising the weekly rate of Jobseeker's Benefit to €350 per week is €325.9m. The total combined estimated full year cost of the two proposals is €1,564.7m.
These costings include a proportionate increase for qualified adults and those on a reduced rate of Jobseeker's Benefit. The cost of increasing Jobseeker's Allowance includes a full increase to €350 for those on an age-reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance.
These costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. They do not take into account the impact of potential behavioural changes resulting from any measures.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (1237)
Bríd Smith
Question:1237. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year of raising the full rate of carer's allowance and carer's benefit to €350 per week per person cared for. [40594/22]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated cost in a full year of raising of Carer's Benefit & Carer's Allowance (full rate only) to €350 per week per person cared for is €351m.
The estimated cost in a full year of raising the full rate of Carer's Benefit & Carer's Allowance (including half-rate Carers) to €350 per week per person cared for is €880m.
These costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (1238)
Bríd Smith
Question:1238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year of raising certain payments (details supplied) to €350 per week. [40595/22]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full year costs of increasing Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension to €350 per week are shown in the table below.
|
Payment |
Weekly Increase |
Cost €m |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€136.50 |
442.3 |
|
Disability Allowance |
€142.0 |
1,239.0 |
|
Blind Pension |
€142.0 |
8.2 |
|
Total |
1,689.5 |
These costings include proportionate increases for Qualified Adults and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
State Pensions
Questions (1239, 1240)
Bríd Smith
Question:1239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year of raising the maximum contributory and non-contributory pension payment to €350 per week. [40596/22]
View answerBríd Smith
Question:1240. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year or removing all current bands for the contributory and non-contributory pension schemes and placing all applicants on one band at €350 per week. [40597/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1239 and 1240 together.
The estimated additional cost in a full year of raising State Pension payment rates to €350 per week is €4.19 billion. In calculating this figure, the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 (REV) were used as the baseline, which provide a more up to date estimate and reflect legislative changes in relation to the State Pension Age in the Social Welfare Act 2020. The estimate also includes provision for:
- Increasing all maximum rate State Pension payments to the €350 per week rate;
- Increasing all reduced rate State Pension payments to the €350 per week rate;
- Proportionate increase costing for Qualified Adults (IQAs) ;
- Child Dependent Allowance (CDA) being paid at the full weekly rate.
Please see more detail of calculation in the table below.
|
Scheme |
2022 REV Estimate |
Total Cost for Recipient and QA at €350 pw and IQC at Full Rate |
Difference |
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
6,384,493 |
9,437,302 |
3,052,809 |
|
State Pension (Non- Contributory) |
1,072,683 |
1,655,450 |
582,767 |
|
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension |
1,654,386 |
2,208,472 |
554,086 |
|
Totals |
9,111,562 |
13,301,224 |
4,189,662 |
The estimated additional expenditure of €4.19 Billion is for one full year only (2022) and takes no account of increased costs anticipated in the future due to well known demographic issues in respect of the future pensioner population. Clearly, introducing one band for State Pensions at €350 per week would be very expensive and would require either considerable additional revenues, or, if introduced on a cost-neutral basis, very significant diversion of funds from elsewhere. The cost implications could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 1240 answered with Question No. 1239.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (1241)
Bríd Smith
Question:1241. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated costs of raising certain payments (details supplied) to €350 per week. [40598/22]
View answerWritten answers
Maternity Benefit, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at €250 per week. The estimated full year cost of increasing the rates of these payments by €100 to €350 per week is as follows:
|
Parent's Benefit |
Maternity Benefit |
Paternity Benefit |
|
€20,961,486 |
€105,705,827 |
€5,156,943 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (1242)
Catherine Murphy
Question:1242. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of means test reviews of persons in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory), by age and county in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40604/22]
View answerWritten answers
While it is acknowledged that most people on social welfare are claiming the correct entitlement due to them, my Department has a duty to ensure that it pays the right person the right amount of money at the right time. Therefore, it is important that all schemes operated are subject to on-going control reviews and eligibility checks.
Control reviews can arise from targeted and random case selections, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. Factors such as length of time since last review, or where information is received from other agencies – such as the Revenue Commissioners - or members of the public can also trigger control reviews. In this context, it should be noted that customers are under a legal obligation to report any change in their circumstances (income or means) to the Department.
My Department is committed to ensuring that the principles of due process and natural justice are followed in all claim decisions. This applies equally to decisions at initial claim stage and when claims are subsequently reviewed.
I am advised that the number of control reviews and savings are recorded for each scheme using the customers PPSN only, as the unique identifier. Control reviews are not collated by county or by age category.
The numbers of Control Reviews carried out between 2015 and 2022 on State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC) claims and the respective savings are outlined in the table below.
|
Year |
No. of Reviews |
No of Reviews with Savings |
Amt. of savings €M |
|
2015 |
7,286 |
1,084 |
€27.165 |
|
2016 |
7,618 |
991 |
€26.829 |
|
2017 |
7,782 |
1,551 |
€33.175 |
|
2018 |
6,956 |
2,813 |
€42.732 |
|
2019 |
7,161 |
2,846 |
€43.116 |
|
2020 |
4,248 |
1,780 |
€32.073 |
|
2021 |
8,075 |
2,510 |
€31.804 |
|
2022 (30th June) |
6,295 |
1,442 |
€19.198 |
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (1243, 1244)
John Brady
Question:1243. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were received for supplementary welfare allowance in County Wicklow in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful, unsuccessful and appealed; the average amounts allocated to applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40652/22]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:1244. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were received for exceptional needs payments in County Wicklow in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful, unsuccessful and appealed; the average amounts allocated to applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40653/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1243 and 1244 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.
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 also developing more extensive statistics in relation to the number of additional needs payment applications. 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.
Determinations made by Designated Persons in relation to claims made for Basic SWA and all Supplements can be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Decisions made in relation to claims made for exceptional and urgent needs payments are not appealable to the Appeals Office but can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer.
While information on appeals is not available by county, the number of reviews requested for ENPs and UNPs and their outcomes is available for County Wicklow from February 2022.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and Additional Needs Payment applications that were registered/awarded/disallowed for County Wicklow from 1 January to end of June 2022.
Table 2 shows the number of recipients for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement for County Wicklow on 31 December 2019, 2020, 2021 and on 30 June 2022. The number of applications registered/awarded/disallowed for Rent Supplement is not currently available.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for County Wicklow in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to end of June 2022.
Table 4 shows the number of ENP and UNP claims for which a review was requested for County Wicklow and their outcomes for the period 1 February to end of June 2022.
This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 4th July 2022 and is subject to change.
The payment amount for an additional needs payment, which can have a wide range value, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed and, therefore, an average payment amount may not be representative of the trend in payments.
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.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - Number of Basic SWA and Additional Needs Payment applications that were registered/awarded/disallowed for County Wicklow from 1 January to end of June 2022
|
Scheme |
Registered |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
|
Basic SWA |
1,062 |
960 |
60 |
|
Additional Needs Payment |
1,433 |
1,275 |
108 |
|
Total |
2,495 |
2,235 |
168 |
Table 2 - Number of recipients for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement for County Wicklow on 31 December 2019, 2020, 2021 and on 30 June 2022
|
Scheme |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (on 30 June) |
|
Basic SWA |
835 |
608 |
412 |
442 |
|
Rent Supplement |
637 |
714 |
512 |
432 |
|
Other Supplement |
150 |
128 |
89 |
72 |
|
Total |
1,622 |
1,450 |
1,013 |
946 |
Table 3 - Number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for County Wicklow in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to end of June 2022
|
Scheme |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (to end June) |
|
ENP/UNP |
3,328 |
3,074 |
2,133 |
1,281 |
Note: These figures are taken from the Department's ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.
Table 4 - Number of ENP and UNP claims for which a review was requested for County Wicklow and their outcomes for the period 1 February to end of June 2022
|
Number Received |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
|
6 |
3 |
3 |
Question No. 1244 answered with Question No. 1243.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (1245)
Seán Fleming
Question:1245. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if the household benefits package will be backdated in excess of six months for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40663/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Household Benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and a free television licence. 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.
The majority of those who qualify for Household Benefits do so as a result of being awarded a primary qualifying payment. Notification of possible entitlement to the Household Budgeting Package is included in the letter of award of the qualifying primary payment sent to the customer. it is up to the customer to then make their application through completion of an application form [available to download from gov.ie or at any post office] or apply online at www.MyWelfare.ie.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned was notified of their possible entitlement to HHB from the date of award of their State Pension Contributory, in a letter dated 8th Feb 2020.
An application for Household Benefits was received from the person concerned on 31st May 2022. His claim was awarded and he was notified by letter of 3rd of June 2022. His Household Benefits package was backdated to six months prior to that date.
Household Benefits applications can be backdated for up to 6 months where an entitlement existed, and further where there are extenuating circumstances. It is open to the customers to make an application for further backdating of their household benefit entitlement; each case is considered on its own merits. Lack of knowledge, in and of itself, is not a circumstance where backdating of Household Benefits entitlement beyond 6 months is considered as information on social welfare schemes is widely available to the public including through the Citizen Information Service. In addition, the Department is satisfied that the person concerned was notified about Household Benefits in February 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (1246)
Seán Fleming
Question:1246. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department notifies persons who meet the criteria and are eligible for the household benefits package (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40664/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Household Benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and a free television licence. 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.
The majority of people who qualify for Household Benefits do so as a result of being awarded a primary qualifying payment, such as state pension. When a person is awarded a qualifying payment for Household Benefits, they are notified of their possible entitlement to the package.
For those who qualify without being in receipt of a qualifying payment, information is made widely available both on line at Gov.ie and the Citizens Information websites as well as being provided by the Department's Intreo and Branch Offices and by the Citizens Information Services countrywide. All of these supports are aimed at informing customers about possible household budget package entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the position.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (1247)
Pauline Tully
Question:1247. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will undertake a review of illness benefit to ensure that once an insurance claim has been settled and the illness benefit is repaid to her Department, any credits on the claimant’s Department of Social Protection records are removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40667/22]
View answerWritten answers
My department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to an illness or disability.
Illness Benefit is the main income support provided by this department to those who cannot work due to illness and who have the required number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Illness Benefit is payable for two years, depending on continued eligibility. Additional payments for qualified children and qualified adults may also apply.
The Recovery of Benefits and Assistance (RBA) scheme enables my department to recover the value of certain illness and disability related income supports from compensation awards for loss of earnings made to persons as a consequence of personal injuries claims. Illness Benefit is one of the benefits that is recoverable under the RBA scheme. RBA is recovered from the compensator as they are the liable entity.
Payments made by a compensator under the RBA Scheme on foot of an RBA statement represent an amount up to or equivalent to the value of the illness-related payments received by the injured person. It is important to mention, however, that the injured person’s actual illness related payments (e.g. illness benefit) are not being repaid and there is no implication for any refund of tax.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Offices
Questions (1248)
Thomas Gould
Question:1248. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare services offices in County Cork in 2011; and the number that are currently open. [40676/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Community Welfare Service (CWS) came under the remit of the Department of Social Protection in 2011. According to the Department's records there were 19 offices in Cork at that time where a person could meet with a Community Welfare Officer (CWO).
In Cork a person can meet with a CWO in 20 locations across the county. A CWO is available to meet with people at the Intreo Centre in Cork City during business hours from Monday to Friday and with people in the Carrigaline and Cobh Intreo Centres and 17 outreach locations and branch offices by appointment after receiving a request from a person. There is also a dedicated Support Centre in Hanover Street where a CWO is on site to assist Ukrainian customers.
CWOs are available to meet with a person at an alternative suitable location, including the person’s home, by appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting.
Furthermore, a freephone National Contact Phoneline for CWS was launched in June this year which further enhances access to CWS nationwide. This is a dedicated phoneline for people to get information on CWS and access to a CWO to seek assistance and support. Since the phoneline commenced operation, more and more people located all across the country are availing of the opportunity to have their issues resolved by this method rather than by calling into an office.
It is important to note that a person no longer has to meet in person with a CWO to make a claim. A person can make an application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form, which is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie and is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie or by calling freephone 0818 60 70 80.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (1249)
Brendan Griffin
Question:1249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40685/22]
View answerWritten answers
Carer'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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 18 May 2022.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of the application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 22 June 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional medical evidence in support of their application.
Following this review, the person concerned was awarded CA on 20 July 2022 with effect from 19 May 2022. Their first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 28 July 2022.
Arrears due from 19 May 2022 to 27 July 2022 including the Carer's Support Grant for 2022, will issue on 28 July 2022.
The person concerned was notified on 20 July 2022 of this review decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Citizens Information Services
Questions (1250)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the Citizens' Information Board's Relate journal has ceased publication; if she will review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40712/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body with an information, advice and advocacy role in relation to a wide range of public and social services. CIB lies under the aegis of my Department, which provides annual Exchequer funding to CIB to deliver on its statutory functions.
I am advised that CIB decided to discontinue the bi-monthly Relate journal in 2021 due to reduced demand for long-form printed publications like Relate and a drop off in subscriber numbers. CIB found through surveys of subscribers that users expected more immediate updates because information is now changing very quickly. The Relate publication could not provide this. The CIB website - citizensinformation.ie - fulfils this demand.
I am further advised that CIB continues to produce several printed publications for the public outlining rights and entitlements and an internal Scope newsletter for funded services. CIB is committed to the continued ongoing delivery of high-quality services nationally and will continue to provide essential information, advice and advocacy to the citizens of Ireland in the most effective manner possible.