Written Answers Nos. 359-379
359. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who has been declined a Qualified Adult Dependent payment may be entitled to a State Pension (Contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60560/22]
View answerThe spouse of the person concerned was in receipt of an Increase for a qualified adult payment on their State pension (Contributory) from 2008 to October 2022.
An increase for a qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit. Where a qualified adult has weekly means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to the payment.
As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means tested payments are carried out. Following a recent review, the increase for the qualified adult was stopped as the means exceeded the limit for this payment.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). According to the records of my Department the person concerned has a total of 381 full-rate contributions. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance record to issue to them. If the person considers that additional contributions or credits have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department.
As my Department has not received an application for State pension (contributory) from the person concerned. I have arranged for an application form to issue to them. On receipt of the completed application form their entitlement will be examined.
It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the means-tested State pension (non-contributory). The maximum rate of this pension is set at approximately 95% of the State pension (contributory) rate. I have arranged for an application form for State pension (non-contributory) to issue to them
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
360. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures are in place to assist people who feel their pension was devalued by mismanagement through wind up, (details supplied). [60584/22]
View answerProvisions relating to the wind-up of a pension scheme are set out in the Pensions Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”), as amended, and associated Regulations under that Act.
The duties of pension scheme trustees include administering the wind-up of a scheme in accordance with the law and the terms of the trust deed and scheme rules as well as ensuring compliance with the requirements that apply to these schemes. Trustees must act in the best financial interest of all scheme members, whether active, deferred or retired, and must serve all beneficiaries of the scheme impartially.
The Pensions Authority is the regulatory body charged with the supervision of pension schemes and has the necessary powers under statute to investigate the conduct of a pension scheme should it become aware that a scheme is not in compliance with the provisions of the Pensions Act. Where a pension scheme member is of the view that the scheme is not in compliance with legislative requirements, he or she may refer the matter to the Pensions Authority.
Issues relating to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, or the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017, come within the remit of the Minister for Finance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
361. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider adapting the living-alone allowance criteria to allow a person to rent a room in their home to an international healthcare worker who has come to Ireland to work, without this impacting on their living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60608/22]
View answerThe Living Alone Increase (LAI) is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Deserted Wife's Benefit, and who are living alone.
It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
Earlier this year, I announced a new means disregard of up to €14,000 per annum, in respect of those who rent a room in their home. This brings social welfare rules in line with the Rent a Room Relief Scheme, which has been operated for many years by the Revenue Commissioners. This new disregard means that a social welfare customer will be able to rent out a room in their home for up to €14,000 per annum and this income will not see their means-tested social welfare payment impacted.
For those receiving the Living Alone Increase, this means that they can allow someone who is not an immediate family member, or an employee, to stay in their home and not impact their entitlement to the LAI payment. Rent may be charged, in line with other legislation, for that room.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
362. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria to qualify for the State pension provision for long-term carers which is due to be introduced from January 2024; and when the criteria will be published. [60631/22]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
It should be noted that, if a person does not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), he or she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate State Pension (Contributory) in his or her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
Despite the existing measures within the State Pension system that recognise periods spent caring, long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension.
I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years as recommended by the Pensions Commission. This measure reflects the vital role that carers play throughout their lifetime and will be implemented from January 2024 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
- The establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.
My officials are currently working 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’ to help identify long-term carers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
363. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the cost-of-living supports which are applicable for those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. [60666/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance, which is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that required by children of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
In Budget 2023, certain cost of living supports were introduced to assist families, pensioners, persons with disabilities and carers with the cost of living. These measures apply to claimants who are in receipt of a specified qualifying social protection payment.
DCA was a qualifying payment for the autumn cost of living double (weekly) payment. This double (additional weekly) payment of €71.20 was issued to DCA recipients along with their October monthly payment on 18 October 2022.
DCA recipient also qualified for the (€500.00) cost-of-living lump sum payment for recipients of the Carer's Support Grant (CSG), which issued to all CSG recipients (including DCA recipients) on 24 November 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
364. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if all recipients of carers allowance will receive the cost-of-living top-up paid in November. [60667/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I announced a number of measures in relation to supports provided by my department for carers. These measures acknowledge the important role that family carers play in our society and the particular challenges they face in light of the current cost of living crisis.
The €500 Cost of Living payment is a lump sum payment to those carers who are eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant. This payment was made in the week commencing 21 November to all carers who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance as well as those in receipt of Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and carers who qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant. Over 114,500 carers received the payment.
As the payment is made on the basis of primary qualifying social welfare payment, a further 7,512 family carers whose qualifying payment was a long-term disability payment and who are also in receipt of a half-rate carer's allowance payment, received their payment on the week commencing 14 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 I announced include:
- Cost of Living Double Payment to Carers paid in week commencing 17 October.
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in week commencing 5 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.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
365. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to reopen an in-person Citizens Information Board office in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60677/22]
View answerThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS) under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. CIB provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres
It is very important to note that, by law, the CIB is charged with independently overseeing the delivery of its services under its remit. Similarly, each CIS is a limited company governed by a voluntary board of directors. These eight CIS companies make decisions independently on the delivery of services in their own regions.
South Leinster CIS is the independent company with responsibility for the provision of information, advice and advocacy services in the Enniscorthy area. Decisions regarding operational issues such as office locations are taken by the Board. As Minister, I cannot direct them in such matters.
Along with all CIC offices, the Enniscorthy CIC closed due to COVID-19 in March 2020. I am informed by CIB that the board of South Leinster CIS subsequently took the decision to close the Enniscorthy office in July 2021. I understand that South Leinster CIS reassigned the Information Officer to Wexford CIC at that time.
Citizens Information Services continue to be available locally in offices located in Wexford Town, Gorey and Arklow. Wexford Town CIC is open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1pm; Gorey CIC is open Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 1pm and Arklow CIC is open Monday from 9:00am to 4:30pm and Wednesday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
In addition, a nationwide phone service, the Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm.
366. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to include carer’s benefit in the long-term payments included in bilateral social security agreements with certain countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60710/22]
View answerIreland has negotiated Bilateral Social Security Agreements with a number of countries. The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has such agreements. This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in one or more of these countries to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in these countries. Short-term schemes, such as Carers Benefit, or means tested schemes do not fall within the scope of Bilateral Agreements - nor does it appear likely that they will as such a proposal would require detailed consultation and mutual acceptance and reciprocity.
It should be noted that carer’s benefit may be paid to a carer resident in any country within the EU who is providing full-time care and attention to another person(s) in that country, provided the qualifying conditions have been met in relation to the Carer's Benefit legislation
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
367. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the waiting times in weeks for all ANP and ENP applications broken down per number of weeks per application for 2019, in tabular form. [60715/22]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may 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 customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
The schemes are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The processing times in weeks for 2019 are not available.
The Department is continuing to develop the statistical output of this scheme to enhance the future dissemination of these figures.
The claims currently being received are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed very quickly. Where it is clear that a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure he or she receives a payment on the same day. Any delays are typically due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person and the length of time it takes for the information to be provided. Some claims, by their very nature, are not as urgent and, in these cases, the community welfare officer, CWO, gives greater flexibility to the customers with extended time to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application will then be processed quickly.
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.
368. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a resource issue within her Department in relation to the processing of a disability allowance and invalidity allowance, given the delay in processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60725/22]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all customers, ensuring that claims are processed as quickly as possible and that backlogs are kept to a minimum.
Processing times for new applications vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Delays can arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding.
In addition, the staffing needs of the department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
The processing target for the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme is to award 75% of applications within 10 weeks. Currently the average number of weeks to award a DA claim in October 2022 is 7 weeks and the average number of weeks to award a DA claim in 2022 to the end of October was 6.7 weeks.
The processing target for the Invalidity Pension (IP) scheme is to award 90% of applications within 10 weeks. Currently the average number of weeks to award an IP claim in October 2022 is 8 weeks and the average number of weeks to award an IP claim in 2022 to the end of October was 7 weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
369. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the status of the appeals process for cases (details supplied) with regard to disability allowance and invalidity allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60726/22]
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.
(1) The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any Disability Allowance appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office.
(2) The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an Invalidity Pension appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 November 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant
Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the
Department, the case in question will be referred 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 appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
370. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of the categories of public sector workers and civil servants under her Department whose contracts fall under the Croke Park Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60734/22]
View answerThe Croke Park Agreement applied to all public servants and civil servants.
My department consists of the following grades of staff, all of whom are civil servants:
- Secretary General
- Deputy Secretary General
- Assistant Secretary General
- Principal Officer
- Professional Accountant
- Senior Statistician
- Statistician
- Advisory Counsel
- Medical Assessors
- Assistant Principal Officer
- Administrative Officer
- Higher Executive Officer
- Executive Officer
- Clerical Officer
- Service Officer
- Service Attendant
- Temporary Clerical Officer
- Temporary Service Officer
The Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board are agencies under my Department.
The grades in the Pensions Authority are:
- Assistant Secretary General
- Assistant Principal
- Principal Officer
- Accountant Grade II
- Higher Executive Officer
- Executive Officer
- Clerical Officer
The grades in the Citizens Information Board are:
- Principal Officer
- Assistant Principal Officer
- Higher Executive Officer
- Executive Officer
- Grade VI
- Grade IV
- Grade III
- Clerical Officer
The Croke Park agreement applied to all.
371. Deputy Michael McNamara 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. [60756/22]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with qualified children.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 23rd October 2022.
The Department wrote to the person concerned on 30th November 2022 to request additional information in the form of payslips for the claimant and their spouse together with a college letter for a child in third level education.
On receipt of the requested documentation from the person concerned their WFP application will be processed without delay and they will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
372. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a fuel allowance application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60785/22]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded a fuel allowance at the weekly rate of €33.00 with effect from the 14th October 2022. She was also awarded the telephone support allowance at the weekly rate of €2.50 from the same date. Payment will commence on the 9th of December 2022, at her nominated Post Office. All arrears due will also be paid on the date. Decision letters to that effect have issued to her home address.
As a result of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will receive a fuel allowance lump sum of €400 which will also be paid at her nominated Post Office on the 9th December 2022
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
373. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing times for fuel allowance applications by month for 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60786/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
As part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, I am pleased to have secured a major expansion of the fuel allowance scheme, which will benefit an estimated 81,000 additional households from January 2023.
To assess entitlement to fuel allowance, which is a means tested payment, a Deciding Officer must have sufficient information to assess whether all necessary eligibility conditions for the payment are met. In certain cases, additional information may be awaited to allow the Deciding Officer to complete their assessment.
The Fuel Allowance is paid, for the most part, in conjunction with primary social welfare schemes, across a number of IT systems with differing functionality for recording processing activity, and consequently precise information on processing timelines is not available. I am advised that higher than normal volumes of applications are being received and my officials are working through these applications currently. At the end of December 2021 and at the end of October 2022, there were approximately 375,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
374. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for each Intreo Office in County Donegal under the supplementary welfare additional needs payment to date in 2022; the number of applications approved and the number refused; and the current processing times in weeks in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60787/22]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may 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 customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
The schemes are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Between January and end-September 2022; 4,935 Additional Needs Payment applications were registered, 3,557 were awarded and 252 applications were disallowed. These figures are provisional and subject to revision. The processing times in weeks are currently not available. The Department is continuing to develop the statistical output of this scheme for the future dissemination of these figures.
The claims currently being received are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed very quickly. Where it is clear that a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure he or she receives a payment on the same day. Any delays are typically due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person and the length of time it takes for the information to be provided. Some claims, by their very nature, are not as urgent and, in these cases, the community welfare officer, CWO, gives greater flexibility to the customers with extended time to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application will then be processed quickly.
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.
375. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff allocated to community welfare sections in each Intreo Office in County Donegal to process all supplementary welfare applications; if she is satisfied that sufficient staff are available to deal with the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60788/22]
View answerThere are currently 9 Community Welfare Services (CWS) staff working in Intreo Centres in County Donegal, listed below:
|
Intreo Centre |
WTE |
|
Buncrana |
2 |
|
Dungloe |
2 |
|
Letterkenny |
5 |
|
Total |
9 |
A further 4.5 CWS staff work in the following Social Welfare Branch Offices/DSP offices in County Donegal:
|
Branch Office/DSP office |
WTE |
|
Ballybofey BO |
1 |
|
Ballyshannon BO |
1 |
|
Donegal PSC office |
1 |
|
Falcarragh DSP office |
0.5 |
|
Moville DSP office |
1 |
|
Total |
4.5 |
Overall, a total of 13.5 CWS staff are working in offices in County Donegal. In addition, there are currently 2.5 vacant CWS posts in County Donegal. Work is underway to fill these vacancies as quickly as possible.
Staffing levels have been maintained in the CWS nationwide in recent years, even during times when demands on the service decreased significantly. This reflects my commitment to continue to support the delivery of locally based services to citizens. There are currently over 412 staff working in the CWS throughout the country, including 318 Community Welfare Officers (CWOs).
I have taken a number of steps to support CWOs and increase service capacity, including:
- In light of the increased level of applications, I recently secured agreement for some 74 additional staff to be assigned to the CWS. Recruitment has commenced and it is anticipated that they will be in place by Q1 2023.
- In the interim until the staff have been recruited, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the CWS since the start of November to assist with claims processing.
- The introduction of a national CWS freephone line means that clients don't have to attend an office in person to make a claim or an enquiry.
- The rostering of staff ensures there is a full-time CWO presence in over 50 offices nationwide.
- The establishment of a back-office support team, to take-on the more routine administrative tasks associated with claim processing, frees up front-line CWOs to deal directly with client and their claims.
- The establishment of a national response team, which is the primary resource in responding to pressure points and surges in demand for community welfare services.
- In addition, the Department is well advanced in the development of an online claim option.
These changes mean that the CWS is in stronger position than it would otherwise have been to respond to the increase in service demand.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
376. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a jobseeker’s allowance application for a person in County Mayo (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60827/22]
View answerThe person concerned Jobseeker's Allowance claim has been awarded from the 11/10/22. This payment includes the child dependent allowance at half rate.
The partner of the customer has been on Illness Benefit (IB) since the 12/09/22 and had only been in receipt of payment for herself.
Contact has been made with Illness Benefit who have now paid her full child rate allowance from 12/09/2022 to 11/10/2022. From this date she will be paid half rate dependent child allowance as the other half is paid to the customer concerned.
Any arrears due from Illness Benefit will be paid to the person concerned partner in due course.
A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 02/12/2022.
377. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the fuel allowance and living alone allowance for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60830/22]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded a fuel allowance at the weekly rate of €33.00 with effect from 07 October 2022. They were also awarded the telephone support allowance at the weekly rate of €2.50 from the same date. Arrears totaling €684 is issuing to their bank account. This includes 8 weeks arrears of Fuel Allowance and Telephone support allowance plus €400 cost-of-living Fuel lump sum payment.
The person concerned was also awarded the Living Alone Increase at the weekly rate of €22.00 from 05 April 2022, allowing for the maximum backdating of six months from the date of receipt of the original application. Arrears totaling €979 is issuing to their bank account.
The person concerned was notified in writing on the 01 December 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
378. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that recipients of the €500 lump sum payment for those in receipt of the disability support grant who are also recipients of the carer’s support grant are not eligible for an additional €500 lump sum payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60845/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I announced a once-off €500 Cost-of-Living payment, to be paid to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, and the Carer's Support Grant. The provision of the payment is to recognise the rising cost of living and the challenges faced by these groups during the current energy crisis.
This payment is made on the basis of one payment per recipient. Those in receipt of more than one social welfare payment will receive one lump sum payment, based on their primary qualifying social welfare payment.
The €500 Cost of Living Disability/Carers Support payment is a lump sum payment to those carers who are eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant and was paid in the week commencing 21 November to over 114,500 carers. In addition, 7,512 family carers received the payment the previous week with their long-term disability payment.
Carers/persons on long-term disability payments were eligible for one €500 Cost of Living Disability/Carers Support payment based on their primary payment.
It’s also worth noting that persons receiving both a primary payment and a half rate payment received a double payment in respect of both payments in October and will do so again this week as part of the Christmas Bonus.
The €500 Cost of Living payment is part of a range of measures put in place for carers and people with disabilities as part of Budget 2023. Other measures I announced include:
- Cost of Living Double Payment to those getting Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit, Invalidity Pension and Disablement Benefit, paid in October
- Carers and those getting disability payments will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment from week starting 5 December
- €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance paid in November
- €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance paid in November
- €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of carer and disability payments 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
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.
- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165 in January
- The means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase by €80 for people under age 70, and Disablement Benefit and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023
- €1 million Expansion of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund to support people with disabilities in the workplace
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
379. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons referred to JobPath since it was established; and the total number of referred twice, three times and four times in tabular form. [60947/22]
View answer380. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people who sourced employment while on JobPath and in tabular form, the total number of persons who sustained work for 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks based on the number of persons who have completed JobPath to date that is, no longer engaged on JobPath in tabular form. [60948/22]
View answer381. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of JobPath since it was established. [60949/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 381, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware JobPath was contracted to provide employment assistance and advice to jobseekers. While not a job placement service it has a proven track record of providing sustained employment. Since 2015, over 350,000 Jobseekers had engaged with the JobPath service of whom some 303,000 had either completed or were expected to complete the service. Referrals to JobPath ceased at the end of June 2022.
Over 38,000 persons began engagement with the service in 2021 and over 20,000 since the start of 2022. Most of these persons are still engaged with the service and will in their time also take up employment and therefore add to the employment figures.
84,801 have thus far commenced employment during their engagement period with JobPath. Over 29,000 Jobseekers have so far reached the 12-month Job Sustainment milestone.
This information is set out in Table 1 below.
To date 142,059 clients have completed one full engagement with JobPath, 51,476 clients have completed two full engagements with the JobPath service, 6,175 people have completed a third engagement period and 61 have completed four full engagements.
This information has been summarised below in Table 2.
In December 2020 I instructed my officials to ensure that no client who had completed two, full 52-week engagements with JobPath would be referred to that service a third time.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment.
The overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.
The roll out of JobPath began in 2015 and the total expenditure since the service began is €322.3m
Please note this is gross expenditure and does not take into account the savings made in welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1. Engagements and Performance.
|
JobPath 2015-2022 (End June 2022) |
Total |
|
Number of client engagements (Personal Progression Plan agreed) |
350,488 |
|
Number of engagements that had completed or were expected to complete |
303,014 |
|
Total No Clients to Start a Job |
84,801 |
|
Total No Clients to Start a full-time Job |
77,336 |
|
Total No Clients to Start a part-time Job |
7,465 |
|
No. of clients who sustained full-time Job for 13 weeks |
54,873 |
|
No. of clients who sustained full-time Job for 26 weeks |
43,150 |
|
No. of clients who sustained full-time Job for 39 weeks |
35,152 |
|
No. of clients who sustained full-time Job for 52 weeks |
29,041 |
Table 2. JobPath clients with Multiple completed engagements.
|
Re-referrals/Completers |
|
|
Total Number of clients who have completed one full engagement only |
142,059 |
|
Total Number of clients who have completed two full engagements |
51,476 |
|
Total Number of clients who have completed three full engagements |
6,175 |
|
Total Number of clients who have completed four full engagements |
61 |
