Written Answers Nos. 629-647
629. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to provide ongoing monitoring of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on lone parents, with a commitment to provide targeted support in future cost-of-living measures. [55650/22]
View answer684. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide ongoing monitoring of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on lone parents, with a commitment to provide targeted support in future cost-of-living measures. [55038/22]
View answer738. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she is taking to provide ongoing monitoring of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on lone parents, with a commitment to provide targeted support in future cost-of-living measures. [55657/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 629, 684 and 738 together.
I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents.
Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents will receive a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lump sum payment of €400 this month.
Approximately half of the €500 cost of living lump sum payments which will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment in November will be to lone parents.
I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January. The personal rate of working age payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will increase by €12, from €208 to €220 per week, also from January. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over. As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets.
While income supports are important, access to affordable and available services such as housing, health, childcare, and education, plays an equally strong and potentially more sustainable role in addressing poverty.
The ESRI analysis of Budget 2023 shows that the income of lone parent households will remain essentially stable as a consequence of Budget 2023 measures, with less than 0.2 per cent reduction, indicating that the Government measures are, in the main, effective at protecting lone parent households from the impact of the significant levels of inflation. The Budget 2023 Expenditure Report notes that lone parent households stand to benefit from a €1,872 annual increase in support.
The Department of Finance, in its analysis of the distributional impact of the tax and social welfare package of Budget 2023, found that single retirement age households and lone parents gain proportionally the most from both the Cost of Living Measures package and the 2023 package, with social welfare measures contributing the most to these gains.
The Government remains committed to the reduction of all forms of poverty, in particular for lone parents and children as outlined in the Programme for Government, and to the continued support of children and families across the country.
I trust this clarifies the position.
630. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will abolish the means test for persons in receipt of a State pension who have a disability, in view of the unprecedented increase in energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54108/22]
View answerEntitlement to the State Pension (Contributory) is based on a person's social insurance record and the personal rate of payment is not subject to a means assessment. Only the spouse or partner of the claimant is means tested.
If a person's social insurance record does not qualify them for a State Pension (Contributory), they can apply for a means-assessed State Pension (Non-Contributory).
The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves, so that expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
This is an important function of the social protection system, and the means assessment is therefore vital in supporting the most vulnerable.
In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
Recipients of State Pensions - both Contributory and Non-Contributory - were eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment paid last month, as well as the Christmas Bonus in December.
People in receipt of a State Pension may also be eligible for other targeted payments to help with increased costs such as the €200 payment to people in receipt of Living Alone Allowance, a €500 payment to carers and a €400 payment to those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance.
A further measure to assist pensioners with energy costs which I announced as part of the Social Protection Budget Package is a new means test for Fuel Allowance for people aged over 70. This change will mean that a single person aged over 70 can have income of up to €500 per week and qualify for fuel allowance, while a couple can have income of up to €1,000 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
631. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54156/22]
View answerWork Schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However, it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market. Participation limits are set on these schemes to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons.
As a result of the COVID-19 emergency and the related public health restrictions, including the recruitment of new CE participants, the Department supported schemes throughout this period by extending participant’s contracts on a number of occasions up until April of this year. Also, to assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports over the next period, participants, including those with extended contracts, were not required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement had not yet been referred to the scheme. This transitionary provision has supported schemes to retain services with the higher-than-normal turnover of participants in 2022. Any extension under this provision must be approved in advance by officials from the Department.
The person concerned commenced CE on 30/5/2016. Following extensions due to the Covid-19 emergency, his contract was due to expire on 28/10/2022, when he will have completed 6 years and 20 weeks on CE, which is in excess of the overall lifetime limit of 6 years. As there have been 3 new referrals to his position, from the current cohort of long term unemployed his contract cannot be extended further - without impacting on an opportunity for new entrants to join CE. The Department's activation service will work with the person to ensure that the benefits and experience he received during his time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify employment opportunities in the open labour market and offer support to him in overcoming any barriers to employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
632. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a decision for their community employment ex-gratia payment for supervisors' application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54172/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Following an agreement between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection, a final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. This settlement which will benefit approximately 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.
Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received and are being processed - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. Following Government approval last week, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are also now being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill which will also facilitate payments.
A notification will issue to recipients as soon as the payments are ready to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
633. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and all bodies under her Department’s aegis have reviewed their estates' portfolio in the context of identifying unoccupied buildings that may be suitable for use in the context of meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. [54224/22]
View answer634. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and type of unused and or unoccupied buildings in his Department’s estates’ portfolio and all bodies under his Department’s aegis. [54242/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together.
With the exception of the Department headquarters, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, which is held by the Minister on behalf of the Social Insurance Fund, all buildings and property occupied by the Department of Social Protection, are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works. The same applies to the agencies under our remit: the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Authority.
I can confirm that none of the buildings are unused or unoccupied.
635. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54253/22]
View answerThe person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 11 August 2022 and will receive her first payment to her nominated bank account on 10 November 2022. Any arrears due from 11 August 2022 to 09 November 2022 will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 27 October 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
636. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for domiciliary care allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54267/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability or condition and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in respect of their child on 14 September 2022. This application is currently awaiting an assessment by a Departmental medical assessor. Once this assessment has been completed, a deciding officer will make a decision and the person concerned will be notified of the decision in writing.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
637. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a reply will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54285/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test.
The person concerned applied for Fuel allowance on 28 September 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €667.72 which exceeded the permissible weekly means of €600.30 for the household. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on the 27 October 2022.
From January 2023, there will be a new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.
The arrangements for applications under the new Fuel Allowance criteria will be announced later in the year.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
638. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54293/22]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on the 8 May 2022. They are currently in receipt of the State Pension (contributory) at the maximum weekly rate of €253.30.
Prior to receiving the State Pension Contributory, the person concerned was in receipt of Illness Benefit. There is no record of an application for Blind Pension. This is a means tested payment and not payable after a person's 66th birthday.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
639. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer’s allowance appeal for a person (details supplied) can be allowed without further delay. [54339/22]
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 Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal relating to the person concerned was received in that office on 25 July 2022. The appeal application was made by the daughter of the person concerned. The appeal papers were returned by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 August 2022 with a request for an Authority to Act Form signed by the person concerned, giving permission for their daughter to act on their behalf. The Appeals Office did not receive a reply to this request and a further request for this necessary authority form has now issued.
While it is generally the policy that an appeal will not be registered in the absence of an authority to act form the Social Welfare Appeals Office decided, in light of the circumstances of the case, to register the appeal on 28 October 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. The Department has been requested to provide the papers in this case as a matter of priority.
Upon receipt of these papers the appeal will be assigned to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. The case will be given priority by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
640. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing school meals to every primary school by county in tabular form. [54349/22]
View answer654. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the range of financial supports and funding streams available to schools to provide for meals and or food for students; if her Department is prepared to provide new and additional supports to schools in this regard in the context of the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54746/22]
View answer655. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding streams and supports her Department makes available to schools across the country to provide food for students; if any new schemes are being developed to meet rising needs in the context of the cost-of-living challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54747/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 640, 654 and 655 together.
The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023 bringing the total to €91.6m. This represents a 49% funding increase in the period since 2020.
Funding under the school meals programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.
Entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme.
Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary. Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of the school year. Applications are accepted from individual schools and organisations as well as organisations such as School Completion Programmes who apply for multiple schools.
In March 2022, the Minister for Education announced an extension of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School to an additional 322 schools from September 2022. In July, I announced that the access to the hot school meal option would be extended to the 282 newly designated DEIS primary schools and to the cold lunch option to the 38 newly designated DEIS secondary schools from September benefitting some 60,000 children.
The estimated cost of providing a cold meal and a hot school meal free of charge every school day to every primary school student is contained in the attached tabular statement. Funding is provided for the cold lunch option at €1.40 and the hot school meal at €2.90 per child, per day.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned the evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme including the funding rates currently being provided for the various meal options. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year and will help to inform future decisions around this important programme.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Tabular Statement
The estimated cost of providing a cold meal and a hot school meal to primary schools by county:
|
County |
Pupils |
Cold Lunch Cost |
Hot School Meal Cost |
|
Carlow |
7,638 |
€1,924,776 |
€3,987,036 |
|
Cavan |
9,990 |
€2,517,480 |
€5,214,780 |
|
Clare |
13,234 |
€3,334,968 |
€6,908,148 |
|
Cork |
62,909 |
€15,853,068 |
€32,838,498 |
|
Donegal |
18,436 |
€4,645,872 |
€9,623,592 |
|
Dublin |
141,841 |
€35,743,932 |
€74,041,002 |
|
Galway |
29,997 |
€7,559,244 |
€15,658,434 |
|
Kerry |
15,727 |
€3,963,204 |
€8,209,494 |
|
Kildare |
29,531 |
€7,441,812 |
€15,415,182 |
|
Kilkenny |
11,183 |
€2,818,116 |
€5,837,526 |
|
Laois |
10,983 |
€2,767,716 |
€5,733,126 |
|
Leitrim |
3,684 |
€928,368 |
€1,923,048 |
|
Limerick |
22,961 |
€5,786,172 |
€11,985,642 |
|
Longford |
5,278 |
€1,330,056 |
€2,755,116 |
|
Louth |
17,239 |
€4,344,228 |
€8,998,758 |
|
Mayo |
14,413 |
€3,632,076 |
€7,523,586 |
|
Meath |
26,718 |
€6,732,936 |
€13,946,796 |
|
Monaghan |
7,863 |
€1,981,476 |
€4,104,486 |
|
Offaly |
9,535 |
€2,402,820 |
€4,977,270 |
|
Roscommon |
7,905 |
€1,992,060 |
€4,126,410 |
|
Sligo |
7,449 |
€1,877,148 |
€3,888,378 |
|
Tipperary |
18,698 |
€4,711,896 |
€9,760,356 |
|
Waterford |
14,173 |
€3,571,596 |
€7,398,306 |
|
Westmeath |
11,403 |
€2,873,556 |
€5,952,366 |
|
Wexford |
18,133 |
€4,569,516 |
€9,465,426 |
|
Wicklow |
17,867 |
€4,502,484 |
€9,326,574 |
|
Total |
554,788 |
€139,806,576 |
€289,599,336 |
*Department of Education enrolment figures for the 2021/2022 school year.
641. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been a change in the way that joint bank accounts are assessed as means (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54360/22]
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.
If a person applies for a social assistance payment and they are married, in a civil partnership or cohabitating, the means of their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are also taken into account in the means test.
If a person applies for a social insurance payment, they do not have to satisfy a means test. However, if they wish to apply for an increase in their payment for an adult dependant (also called a qualified adult) or child dependants (qualified children) their spouse's, civil partner's or cohabitant's means will be assessed.
The means assessed include income from employment or self-employment, non-social welfare pensions, and the capital value of savings, investments and property, other than the family home. It should be noted that the value of the family home, regardless of who is the legal owner, is never taken into account in this assessment. Where savings, property or other assets are held jointly, the spouse or partner's means is taken to be half of the total amount. The current means testing arrangements are based on the actual means of the spouse or partner at any given time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
642. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to recipients of disability allowance who are currently taking part in community employment scheme, if those recipients will be eligible for the one-off payment for disability-related supports due in November 2022 due to their underpinning entitlement to disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54381/22]
View answerBudget 2023 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.
Community Employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide people with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The minimum rate of payment on a Community Employment scheme is €230.50. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children.
Community Employment participants are not eligible for the €500 disability lump sum.
As part of the measures announced in Budget 2023, Community Employment participants will see an increase of €17 being applied, increasing the minimum payment from €230.50 to €247.50 per week from January 2023.
In addition, weekly payments for qualified child dependents will increase by €2 to €50 for children aged 12 or over and to €40 for children aged up to 12.
A number of once off bonus payments were also announced in Budget 2023, which will benefit eligible Community Employment participants, including a once off payment of €400 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance. These are in addition to the Autumn Cost of Living double week payment, the double payment of Child Benefit in November and the Christmas double payment in December 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
643. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) [54392/22]
View answerIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
The €500 lump sum payment to those on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension will be paid to those receiving these payments in the relevant week in November.
Participants of the Community Employment scheme are eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment paid this month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those participants with children will receive the Double Payment of Child Benefit in November.
As part of Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce a €12 increase in weekly payment rates from next January. This will apply to Disability Allowance recipients and also to Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme and Tús scheme participants amongst others.
In addition, I am increasing the top-up rate on these employment schemes by €5 per week. This means that, combined with the rate increase, participants on these schemes will see a rise of €17 per week next year, and more for participants with adult or child dependants.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
644. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the qualification criteria for the fuel allowance payment have been expanded in Budget 2023 to include those in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit or illness benefit. [54412/22]
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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
There was no change to the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance for those in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Illness Benefit in Budget 2023.
Qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test. People on long term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.
Any decision to allow those in receipt of a short-term payment such as Illness Benefit and Jobseekers Benefit to receive the Fuel Allowance payment would represent a fundamental change to the nature of the scheme and, as such, it would have to be considered in an overall policy and 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.
645. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for someone in receipt of deserted wife’s benefit who is not working and not being eligible for fuel allowance or living-alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54438/22]
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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
Deserted Wife’s Benefit is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance and a person in receipt of Deserted Wife’s Benefit, subject to satisfying all relevant qualifying conditions, may receive the Fuel Allowance payment.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is a weekly payment, which is not means tested. The LAI is an additional payment made each week to:
- people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone;
- people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
The payment types that allow a person to receive the LAI aged under 66 are payments that are paid to people who have a long-term illness or disability.
The Deserted Wife’s Benefit payment is not paid on the basis of an illness or disability and therefore LAI is not payable to those in receipt of Deserted Wife’s Benefit aged less than 66.
Those aged over 66 who are in receipt of Deserted Wife’s Benefit can receive the Living Alone Increase.
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.
646. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of allocated or seconded staff to community welfare sections in each INTREO office to deal with the additional applications for supplementary welfare allowances, in tabular form. [54458/22]
View answer678. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if any staff have been re-assigned to deal with the backlog in applications for the exceptional needs’ payment. [55013/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 678 together.
From early November 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily assigned to the Community Welfare Service to assist with claims processing.
In addition, having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process, recruitment has commenced in the Department for additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service.
The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority for the Government and for the Department of Social Protection.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
647. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider adapting a new procedure (details supplied) to negate situations of overpayments following death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54480/22]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means-test, at initial application stage and throughout the lifetime of the pension claim, an applicant must provide full and up to date details of any income(s), asset(s), savings and investment(s) held, and notify any changes that occur that may affect their pension entitlement.
All state pension non-contributory recipients are notified at the time of their initial claim award and in subsequent claim review decision communications issuing, that their pension is a means-tested payment and that they are obliged (under provisions set out in social welfare legislation) to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their continuing pension entitlement.
In addition to periodic means reviews, information letters are issued annually to a proportion of recipients, on a rolling basis, to remind them of the conditions for continuing receipt of their payment and their obligation to notify the Department of changes in their circumstances in a timely manner.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
