Written Answers Nos. 433-452
433. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons that are in receipt of a disability allowance (details supplied) and that inherit a home from their family could lose their income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48348/22]
View answerThe Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse / partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets includes income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.
If the property in the case outlined by the Deputy is the claimant’s home, the inheritance will not impact on their Disability Allowance payment. Properties other than the primary residence will be assessed. The formula for this assessment for Disability Allowance is: the first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded, the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
In the case where a Disability Allowance claimant sells their home, the means test does not take into account up to €190,500 of the gross proceeds of the sale if the person:
- moves to more suitable accommodation;
- moves in with someone who is caring for them and getting a carer's payment;
- moves to sheltered or special housing in the voluntary, co-operative, statutory or private sectors; or
- moves into a registered private nursing home,
If the person uses the proceeds of the sale to buy more suitable accommodation, the balance of the proceeds after buying the new accommodation is exempt up to a limit of €190,500.
If the Deputy would like to contact my Department and provide details of specific cases where he feels there is an issue, my officials can look into these cases and provide a more detailed response.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
434. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents of incapacitated children who are in receipt of the full rate of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48363/22]
View answer435. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents of incapacitated children who are in receipt of a partial rate of carer's allowance, but that are carrying out this work on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48364/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.
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 rate of payment depends on the outcome of a means test. Carers for children under eighteen years of age may include guardians as well as parents.
As at the end of August 2022, there were 16,420 carers receiving the full rate of Carer's Allowance in respect of 18,635 children aged under eighteen. There were 11,591 carers receiving a half or reduced rate of Carer's Allowance in respect of 12,659 children aged under eighteen.
436. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of introducing a policy in which the full rate of carer's allowance is paid to each parent in the country of an incapacitated child who is currently only receiving a partial rate of the carer's allowance payment, but is carrying out this work on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48365/22]
View answerThe key role of the Department of Social Protection is that of income support. The Department is charged with identifying where a person has an income support need and providing that income support, for example in the form of a jobseeker’s payment, a disability allowance, or a carer's allowance.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2022 is expected to amount to over €1.5 billion.
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. Carer’s Allowance is primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people who need full-time care and attention.
It is important to note that eligibility for Carer’s Allowance is not contingent on a particular disability or illness or the severity of disability or incapacity of the person being cared for.
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 as a consequence of a particular contingency - be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring. The application of a 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.
Last year I made significant changes to the means test for Carer’s Allowance with the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance increasing to €350 per week for single carers, and to €750 per week for a couple. I also an increased the capital disregard for carers from €20,000 to €50,000. The changes took effect in June and mean that many Carers on a reduced rate moved to a higher payment. In addition, Carers who up to now did not qualify for a payment due to means will be brought into the Carers Allowance system for the first time.
It is not possible to provide the estimated annual cost of providing a non means tested full rate of Carer’s Allowance in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. While the Department can establish how many people are in receipt of a reduced payment and where Domiciliary Care Allowance is in payment, the Department of Social Protection has no administrative data on the level capacity/incapacity of the child.
There are other income supports available for carers provided by the Department of Social Protection that are not means-tested; these include:
- The Carers Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
- Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested. As part of Budget 2023, I increased the Domiciliary Care Allowance rate by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023. There is no restriction on the number of children in respect of whom Domiciliary Care Allowance may be claimed. In other words, a person caring for more than one child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance may claim the monthly allowance for each child.
- The annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to a person with a disability or an older person, regardless of the carer’s means or social insurance contributions. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. As part of Budget Measures 2021, I increased the rate of the grant by €150. The current rate of €1,850 came into effect from June 2021. The Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance (full and reduced rates), Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care allowance in June of each year.
Last week, as part of Budget 2023, I announced a further range of measures for carers including:
- A Cost of Living Double Payment to carers in October,
- A €500 Cost of Living payment for people receiving Carer’s Support Grant which will be paid in November,
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in early December,
- A €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with effect from January 2023 with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate,
- A €2 increase for each Qualified Child bringing rates to €50 for Over 12s and €42 for Under 12s from January 2023, and
- The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023.
In addition, I also announced that, in respect of the Domiciliary Care Allowance, along with the rate increase above that this allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.
Finally, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by this Department under review and will ensure that consultations with carers' representative groups continue so that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any further changes to the current supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and could only be addressed in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
437. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take into account mortgage repayments in the means test system for the carer's allowance in cases in which the parent of a child who is incapacitated, is applying for the carer's allowance for their child on a full-time basis and they are providing this care in the home in which the mortgage is being repaid; her views on whether this would provide a more accurate and fairer representation of a household's day-to-day financial situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48366/22]
View answerThe system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not 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 or couple has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital. It does not take account of a person’s expenditure.
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.
The general weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance increased from June 2022 from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple. This will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme, and those currently in receipt of a reduced payment may now receive a higher payment.
The capital disregard was also increased in June from €20,000 to €50,000 for Carer’s Allowance. This will allow carers who have accumulated savings, often to provide care for a loved one, to retain an entitlement to Carer's Allowance.
Last week, as part of Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce a €12 increase in weekly payments from next January. This includes Carer's Allowance. I am also increasing the Qualified Child rate by €2 per week, and the Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase to €330 per month. Carers will also receive a once-off payment of €500 in November which will help families to meet household costs.
Introducing a rent or mortgage disregard for Carer's Allowance would have significant budgetary implications and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes. It would also significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment. Any changes in this regard would have to be considered in the overall policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
438. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department will provide funding under the dormant account fund measures to support the employment of people with disabilities given that the present three-year funding expires in December 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48398/22]
View answerThe current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities to which the Deputy refers is a 16-month employment support measure for people with disabilities which began in September 2021 and runs up to the end of 2022, and not a three-year programme.
On 30 July last year I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million under this measure. Prior to applying for this measure, all organisations were notified of the relevant timelines which were clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year. The projects selected included all 27 organisations who received funding under the former three-year Ability Programme which concluded at the end of August 2021.
Last year, I committed that a new employment programme for people with disabilities would be included in the new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. This new disability focused employment measure will build on the learnings of the former Ability Programme. The new programme will also need to add complementarity to the suite of existing employment supports targeted at people with disabilities provided by my department and broader national strategies for employment of people with disabilities, including the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - has compiled the Operational Programme for Ireland. The Operational Programme includes a new disability-focused employment measure and has been formally submitted by Government to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated over the coming months.
Once approval is in place, it is anticipated that the new disability programme will be open by way of a competitive process to applications from organisations across the country, including the 45 organisations currently being funded under the Dormant Accounts Measure outlined above. It is expected that this new ESF+ programme will open to applications in 2023.
Planning in relation to the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2023 began in May of this year. The draft Action Plan will be submitted to Government for approval shortly, by my colleague Joe O' Brien TD Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, and it is expected that it will be published towards the end of October.
Finally, I can assure the Deputy that the concern he raises is acknowledged and noted. My commitment to providing funding supports to improve the employment possibilities of people with disabilities has not been found wanting to date.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy at this time.
439. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of a carer's payment for more than one dependent care recipient will receive the €500 carer's grant announced in Budget 2023 for each of the care dependents. [48421/22]
View answerThe €500 Cost of Living payment referred to by the Deputy is not a grant but a once-off payment to those carers who are eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant. Unlike the Carer’s Support Grant which is paid in respect of each person being cared for, the new once off payment announced is a single lump sum paid to the carer, irrespective of the number of persons being cared for, in response to the current cost of living crisis. This payment will be made in November.
It is worth noting that in circumstances where the caree is in receipt of a long-term disability payment of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension they too will receive the €500 Cost of Living Sum Payment in November.
The €500 Cost of Living payment is part of a range of measures put in place for carers as part of Budget 2023. Other measures announced include:
- Cost of Living Double Payment to Carers in October
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in early December
- €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with effect from January 2023 with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate
- €2 increase for each Qualified Child, bringing rates to €50 for Over 12s and €42 for Under 12s from January 2023
- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023
The Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by this Department under review and will ensure that consultations with carer representative groups continue so that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
440. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48438/22]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important role that carers play in society and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system includes a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods (of up to 20 years) outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment.
I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Cabinet, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers (in excess of 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, and to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented:
- through a scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring; and
- through the establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.
My officials will work to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary. As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments, and other stakeholders, will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
441. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of a disability allowance together with the half-rate of carer's allowance will received the proposed additional €500 payments for both as announced in Budget 2023; if so, when they can expect to receive these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48451/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, the social protection budget has been designed to assist people with cost of living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme.
The measures introduced include the provision of a €500 Cost of Living Support.
This once-off €500 payment will be paid in November 2022 to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant.
Recipients who are in receipt of one or more of the above will qualify for one €500 payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
442. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a public services card will be extended for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48460/22]
View answerThe Public Services Card (PSC) for the person concerned has been extended to 1st December 2025. A replacement card has been requested and will issue to the customer concerned within the next 7 days. I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
444. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person with an income under €500 will qualify for the fuel allowance in 2023 if they are in receipt of a local authority pension and are not in receipt of any social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48479/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting more than 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
In Budget 2023, I announced that, from January 2023, a new means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold will be €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.
This measure seeks to ensure that older people not currently in receipt of Fuel Allowance but who are marginally outside the thresholds will now be covered by the scheme. This reform is being introduced because older people can often be more vulnerable to the effects of energy poverty.
Those aged over 70 will no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment but will still have to satisfy all other relevant qualifying criteria.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
445. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if those on job initiative schemes are now eligible for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48480/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting more than 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The Job Initiative Scheme provided full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who had been unemployed for 5 years or more. Since November 2004, there has been no recruitment to the Scheme. Since January 2004, participants on the Job Initiative Scheme could no longer retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme. This decision was taken as the minimum rate of payment to participants on the scheme was significantly higher than the rate of qualifying Social Welfare payments.
There has been no change to this decision and participants on the Job Initiative Scheme still cannot retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme.
The minimum rate of payment to a Job Initiative participant is still significantly higher than most Social Welfare primary payments, including payments such as Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, which are also non-qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance. Participants on the Job Initiative Scheme are also considered to be in full time employment and not in receipt of a Social Welfare support payment.
While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Department's schemes, any decision to provide participants on the Job Initiative Scheme with access to the Fuel allowance payment would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance scheme, as it would be awarding the payment to people in full-time employment irrespective of means.
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.
446. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a partial capacity benefit for a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48522/22]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment and continue to receive a payment from my department. A person must be in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) for a minimum of six months or Invalidity Pension (IP) in order to apply for PCB.
My Department will determine whether the applicant is eligible and (if so) at what level the PCB would be paid depending on their capacity to work. Once that decision is made, the applicant must then subsequently confirm that they wish to proceed on that basis and confirm the date that their employment is commencing. A Deciding Officer will then put the relevant payment in place.
The person concerned applied for PCB on the 16 September 2022. On 30 September 2022 my department contacted them with details of their entitlement to PCB. My department will complete the processing of their PCB application once the person concerned confirms that they wish to proceed and indicates their start date of employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
447. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the maternity benefit and the new parents' benefit are excluded from the double payment under Budget 2023 [48523/22]
View answerBudget 2023 includes a social welfare package of over €2.1 billion. This extensive package includes measures in relation to Maternity Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.
A Cost of Living Support Double Payment will be paid this year to recipients of certain social welfare payments. Over 1.4 million people will benefit, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and jobseekers. This measure is targeted at those who are partially or wholly reliant on social welfare payments, to help support them and their families through this difficult period. This measure will cost approximately €316m and this bonus will be paid in October.
Those in receipt of Maternity Benefit and Parent’s Benefit will not receive a double payment in October as they are not in receipt of a long-term payment. However, I was pleased to secure an increase in the weekly rates of payment for working age scheme which includes Maternity Benefit and Parent's Benefit. As a result of Budget 2023 these payments will increase by €12 per week from January. This will see Maternity Benefit and Parent’s Benefit increase to €262 per week. This represents a 4.8% increase on the current rate of €250 at a cost of approximately €16 million for a full year.
The Government has also committed to supporting families through a once-off double payment of Child Benefit in November. The payment will be made to 638,000 recipients in respect of 1,203,000 children. The estimated cost of this measure is €170.4 million. In addition, we are supporting low income working families with a lump-sum payment of €500 to recipients of the Working Family Payment. .
More widely, young families will also benefit from the 25% reduction in childcare costs announced by Government as part of Budget 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a response to an application for a disability allowance that is under appeal in the case of a person (details supplied). [48527/22]
View answerI can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 11 April 2022.
Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that they were substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 14 June 2022 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). No request for an appeal has been received to date.
On 11 July 2022, further medical evidence was received and a review was conducted, and it was found that there was no change in the decision. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on the 29 September 2022. They were notified of their right to request a late appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
449. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the pension increase of €12 given that this person is in receipt of a civil service pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48539/22]
View answerThe budgetary increase of €12 per week applies to social welfare pensions recipients only. Any decisions in relation to public sector pensions are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
If the person concerned feels that they may have an entitlement to a State Pension payment either Contributory or Non Contributory, which is means assessed, it is open to them to submit an application for same.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April. This allowance has been extended from January 2023, to those aged over 70 who are not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment who have an income threshold of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
450. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48553/22]
View answerThe Free Travel Scheme allows people who are aged 66 years or over, and who are legally and permanently residing in the State, to travel free of charge on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, Local Link, as well as on the public transport services of a large number of private operators in various parts of the country.
Certain people under age 66 may also be entitled to free travel if they are in receipt of a qualifying primary payment from my Department. As the person concerned is under 66 years, they have no entitlement to Free Travel as they are not in receipt of a qualifying primary payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
451. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €500 cost-of-living lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the working family payment will be proportionate if they are on a reduced rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48557/22]
View answerBudget 2023 includes a social welfare package of over €2.1 billion. This extensive packages includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment.
The Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are approximately 47,000 families with 103,000 children who are currently in receipt of the WFP. The estimated spend on the WFP in 2022 is €349 million.
The Budget package includes a range of measures that will assist people with the cost of living in one-off payments this Autumn. This includes a once-off payment of €500 to recipients of the Working Family Payment. A payment of €500 will be made to families in receipt of WFP on the payment date regardless of the level of their WFP payment. This payment will be made in November at an estimated cost of €23 million.
In addition, I have also provided for a €40 per week increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds for all family sizes. This is the highest ever increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds. This will ensure that families on low incomes will receive more weekly income from the scheme - up to €24 euro per week. It will also ensure that the increase of 80 cent per hour in the National Minimum Wage does not negatively impact on people's income from the WFP. It also means that more people will qualify for the payment. This measure will take effect from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
452. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of hours per week which one can work if approved for 50% partial capacity (details supplied). [48581/22]
View answerPartial capacity benefit allows a person to return to work (if they have reduced capacity to work) and continue to receive a payment from this Department.
The scheme is open to people who currently;
(a) have been in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of six months
(b) are in receipt of invalidity pension.
They may not work until they have received written approval to do so from this Department. They should also get the approval of their doctor before taking up employment.
Partial Capacity Benefit is awarded at three rates - Moderate 50%, Severe 75% and Profound 100% of their underlying entitlement. There is no restriction on earnings or number of hours they can work.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
