Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 876-895

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (876)

Michael Creed

Question:

876. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to the fuel allowance. [63938/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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.

The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 06 January 2023. They were notified in writing on the 22 December 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (877)

John McGuinness

Question:

877. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied). [63999/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability 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.

I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this person on 26 August 2022.

Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 18 October 2022.

The person concerned requested an appeal with the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO) on 18 November 2022.

The person will be notified directly regarding the outcome of the appeal by the SWAO.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (878)

Joe Carey

Question:

878. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection when a successful disability allowance appeal payment will be made to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1015/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are age 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.

Following a successful appeal outcome, the person concerned entitlement to DA was backdated to 19 August 2020. She was notified in writing of this decision on 23 June 2022.

The person was in receipt of two social welfare payments during this period and there are a number of necessary administrative steps which must be completed before arrears are issued.

The arrears were less an adjustment applied in respect of an overlapping payment, Basic Supplement Welfare Allowance (BASI) and less adjustment of Jobseekers Allowance (JA) as the person concerned was a Qualified Adult (QA) on her Spouse’s JA claim for the respective period 19 August 2020 to 16 February 2021.

Consequently, the amount of social welfare already paid required confirmation details and calculation in order that the DA section could deduct the correct amount from arrears due to the person in question.

Arrears of payment due from 19 August 2020 to 16 February 2021 issued to her on 05 January 2023 by her chosen payment method. A letter notifying her of this decision also issued to her on 05 January 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (879)

Robert Troy

Question:

879. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the eligibility criteria for participants in community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria, for example, the possibility of making Ukrainian immigrants eligible to participate in CE schemes and allowing people in receipt of jobseeker's for less than 12 months. [1091/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis.  The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to employment.

We are all very conscious of the important role that CE plays and we all wish to support them as best we can.  In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE and Tús also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities. 

Thankfully, given the strong labour market performance the number of unemployed people dependent on social welfare payments continues to fall.  While this is very welcome it also means that the number of candidates available for CE also falls.  This creates an obvious challenge.

Having said that, it is not an insurmountable challenge, and working together with CE sponsors we can, and have, devised changes that will help the schemes to continue to support their local communities. Minister Humphreys and I have announced a number of reforms and enhancements to CE over the past year.  

These changes included a provision to allow CE participants who reach 60 years of age to remain on CE until they reach state pension age.  We also updated the baseline year for CE which opens the scheme to a cohort of people who had previously participated in the scheme. A new pilot scheme to extend CE eligibility to people who are Qualified Adults on a jobseeker claim will be rolled out in the coming weeks: these customers are generally unemployed partners of people in receipt of a jobseekers payment. 

The candidate referral process for CE has been reviewed and changed. Schemes have been given new flexibility to allow them to directly recruit eligible candidates to fill 30% of places but are also mandated to accept and place at least 60% of people referred by Intreo.  This is to ensure that places do not go unfilled when there are candidates available from the Live Register.  CE sponsors have also been granted some flexibility to extend individual placements and to retain existing participants in cases where no replacement is immediately available. 

As the Deputy is aware, under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, all persons fleeing the war in Ukraine have been granted the rights of EU citizens, including the right to access income supports, employment supports and the right to work in this country on the same basis as EU citizens. The Department first started providing assistance to those fleeing Ukraine in late February 2022.  As 2023 progresses those who have been in receipt of a qualifying payment for 12 months will become eligible to apply for CE.

We need to ensure that employment support programmes such as CE, which were designed to assist those furthest from the labour market, continue to be available for those who would benefit most from these programmes.  For CE, this continues to be those who have been out of work for a year.  

Eligibility criteria for CE, continues to be kept under active review by my Department officials to ensure the best outcomes for individual participants, to support the vital community services delivered by schemes and to take account of changes to the labour market.

Both Minister Humphreys and I are very conscious of the need to support CE and we continue to meet regularly with representatives of the programme.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (880)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

880. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in each month in 2021 and 2022; the total and individual value of each payment; and the total expenditure by category and month in tabular form. [1094/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Under 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, that includes 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.

Additional Needs Payments are demand led and made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information.  A statistical summary will be published on a quarterly basis for 2023 onwards.  Figures prior to 2022 are collated differently and exclude supplements.

It is not feasible to show the individual payment amount for each Additional Needs Payment.

Table 1 shows a breakdown by month of the number of Exceptional Needs/Urgent Needs Payments in 2021.

Table 2 shows a breakdown by category and month of Exceptional Needs/Urgent Payments in 2021.

Table 3 shows a breakdown by month of the number of Additional Needs Payments in 2022.

Table 4 shows a breakdown by category and month of Additional Needs Payments in 2022.

As the figures represent a snapshot of claim activity, they are subject to change.

Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.  There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1 - Exceptional Need/Urgent Needs payments issued by month from January 2021 to end of December 2021

Month	Number of payments
Jan-21	3,974
Feb-21	4,606
Mar-21	5,467
Apr-21	4,712
May-21	4,703
Jun-21	4,536
Jul-21	4,451
Aug-21	4,277
Sep-21	4,534
Oct-21	4,700
Nov-21	5,103
Dec-21	4,489
Grand Total	55,552

Table 2 - Exceptional Need/Urgent Needs payment expenditure by category and month from January 2021 to the end of December 2021.

Month	Bills	Child Related	Clothing	Funeral	General	Housing	Illness	Urgent Needs Payment	Grand Total
Jan-21	€84,015	€24,210	€81,051	€390,827	€231,935	€1,976,352	€11,880	€12,427	€2,812,697
Feb-21	€111,582	€26,675	€89,711	€518,642	€251,606	€2,328,281	€16,019	€18,001	€3,360,517
Mar-21	€104,670	€29,525	€89,076	€552,178	€300,645	€3,275,510	€15,738	€10,289	€4,377,630
Apr-21	€119,405	€27,119	€72,027	€454,874	€229,397	€2,759,139	€13,300	€9,399	€3,684,660
May-21	€106,685	€25,205	€84,406	€466,549	€219,229	€2,708,716	€15,477	€12,974	€3,639,242
Jun-21	€80,173	€24,362	€83,440	€382,794	€228,527	€2,709,160	€15,530	€13,959	€3,537,945
Jul-21	€119,659	€26,360	€74,067	€397,751	€206,179	€2,621,736	€13,587	€26,590	€3,485,931
Aug-21	€96,788	€28,052	€71,996	€369,871	€187,127	€2,726,299	€18,497	€14,171	€3,512,800
Sep-21	€91,650	€31,220	€93,637	€362,723	€239,570	€2,391,710	€17,359	€7,384	€3,235,253
Oct-21	€77,283	€26,622	€104,760	€432,183	€272,448	€2,319,620	€13,560	€11,053	€3,257,529
Nov-21	€112,727	€31,373	€117,494	€444,204	€290,335	€2,600,017	€19,440	€21,913	€3,637,503
Dec-21	€64,757	€21,230	€103,877	€312,845	€327,786	€2,387,573	€13,883	€36,016	€3,267,966
Grand Total	€1,169,394	€321,953	€1,065,542	€5,085,440	€2,984,783	€30,804,113	€184,269	€194,176	€41,809,672

 

Table 3 - Additional Needs payments issued by month from January 2022 to end of December 2022

Month	Number of payments
Jan-22	3,086
Feb-22	4,255
Mar-22	5,417
Apr-22	5,928
May-22	8,942
Jun-22	9,251
Jul-22	8,601
Aug-22	11,117
Sep-22	9,548
Oct-22	9,344
Nov-22	11,768
Dec-22	9,967
Grand Total	97,224

Table 4 - Additional Needs payment expenditure by category and month from January 2022 to end of December 2022

Month	Bills	Child Related	Clothing	Funeral	General	Housing	Illness	Urgent Needs Payment	Grand Total
Jan-22	€72,598	€14,930	€52,497	€246,946	€186,628	€1,612,494	€12,471	€8,647	€2,207,210
Feb-22	€80,021	€26,230	€72,244	€537,067	€217,900	€2,270,312	€16,325	€26,693	€3,246,793
Mar-22	€99,243	€26,239	€158,446	€560,273	€332,578	€2,366,182	€16,759	€38,115	€3,597,836
Apr-22	€67,138	€26,040	€341,693	€501,752	€364,698	€2,067,692	€10,035	€14,885	€3,393,933
May-22	€111,718	€37,115	€774,751	€635,011	€332,279	€2,600,622	€12,554	€22,415	€4,526,465
Jun-22	€122,521	€30,090	€684,112	€646,071	€440,698	€2,877,478	€19,896	€56,095	€4,876,961
Jul-22	€178,838	€24,145	€615,788	€371,733	€539,315	€2,933,754	€12,804	€45,603	€4,721,979
Aug-22	€297,567	€37,293	€688,569	€546,596	€852,986	€3,951,387	€16,530	€46,307	€6,437,235
Sep-22	€259,118	€36,618	€463,570	€614,515	€1,012,666	€3,306,135	€15,990	€66,384	€5,774,996
Oct-22	€211,732	€36,854	€485,196	€536,876	€1,039,157	€3,101,948	€12,284	€55,766	€5,479,814
Nov-22	€168,782	€33,832	€804,016	€670,440	€1,102,818	€4,390,539	€17,047	€53,684	€7,241,157
Dec-22	€155,369	€29,218	€618,256	€739,208	€1,089,232	€4,001,965	€13,203	€54,062	€6,700,513
Grand Total	€1,824,645	€358,604	€5,759,138	€6,606,488	€7,510,957	€35,480,508	€175,897	€488,656	€58,204,893

In addition to the above, the provisional outturn in 2022 for reoccurring supplements (excluding rent supplement) was €3.75m.  A monthly breakdown of this figure is not available.

Note: These figures are taken from the Department's database and represent a snapshot of ENPs/ANPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid.  The breakdown of figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped and therefore will not reconcile with the end of year outturn figures.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (881)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

881. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on hearing aid grants under the treatment benefit scheme in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1130/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner. 

The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years.

The scheme also provides for one repair per aid in a 4 year period, up to a maximum of €100 per aid.

In 2022 €22.9m was spent on the scheme in respect of over 27,000 claims.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (882)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

882. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that hearing aid suppliers are chosen for the treatment benefit scheme; if there are requirements around hearing aid manufacturers; the quality control that is implemented with regard to hearing aids provided by suppliers who are eligible for the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1131/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner. 

The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years.

The scheme also provides for one repair per aid in a 4 year period, up to a maximum of €100 per aid.

The scheme is administered by audiologists who are contracted with the Department.

In order to join the Department’s panel, a contractor must be registered with ISHAA (Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists) and comply with the “Best Practice Guidelines for The Provision of Hearing Aid Services for Adults in Ireland”

Contractors must satisfy tax compliance, maintain professional indemnity insurance and provide a pricelist of the appliances which are offered to qualified customers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (883)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

883. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the allowable differential between the cost price of the hearing aids provided to those eligible for treatment benefit scheme and the price charged to grant recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1132/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner. 

The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years.

The scheme also provides for one repair per aid in a 4 year period, up to a maximum of €100 per aid.

The hearing aid providers engage directly with customers regarding the appropriate appliance for their particular circumstances, after which a submission is made to the Department for payment.  The Department doesn't engage directly with providers in relation the costs of individual appliances.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (884)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

884. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a minimum standard of hearing aid specified under the treatment benefit scheme with specific features like noise reduction, tinnitus relief and so on. [1133/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner. 

The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years.

The scheme also provides for one repair per aid in a 4 year period, up to a maximum of €100 per aid.

The selection of a hearing aid is a matter to be discussed between the claimant and the provider.  However, all audiologists who are contracted with the Department must be registered with ISHAA (Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists) and comply with the “Best Practice Guidelines for The Provision of Hearing Aid Services for Adults in Ireland”

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (885)

Duncan Smith

Question:

885. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on applications by a person (details supplied) for the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1160/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Applications for the increase for Living Alone and for the Fuel Allowance were received on 11 October 2022 from the person concerned.

The increase for Living Alone was awarded from 15 April 2022 at the weekly rate of €22.00, allowing for the maximum backdating of six months from the date of receipt of the original application.

The Fuel Allowance was awarded from 14 October 2022 at the weekly rate of €33.00 in line with current guidelines. As the person concerned is eligible for the Fuel Allowance and the Increase for Living Alone allowance they were automatically awarded the Telephone Support allowance at the weekly rate of €2.50 from 14 October 2022.

Arrears totaling €1,906 issued to the person concerned on 05/01/2023. This included: 12 weeks arrears of Fuel and Telephone support allowance; €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment; arrears of Increase for Living Alone allowance, plus €200 cost-of-living Lump Sum Payment for pensioners receiving the increase for Living Alone and €22.00 Christmas bonus for the increase for Living Alone.

A letter issued to person concerned on 5 January 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Rates

Questions (886)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

886. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the free electricity allowance in view of energy price increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1179/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.  My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 504,000 customers.  The gas or electricity element of the package is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year. 

People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household.  The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test.  The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. 

Any decision to enhance the HHB package would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients in October.

In November, a €200 Lump Sum Payment was paid to pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance, a €500 Cost of Living Payment was paid to people receiving Carer’s Support Grant and a €500 Cost of Living lump sum was paid to people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension.  A €400 additional Lump Sum payment was also paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment.  A double month of Child Benefit was paid and a €500 lump sum payment was made to people in receipt of Working Family Payment.

In December, a Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

From January 2023,  the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates was increased.  There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate.  The weekly full rate for a qualified child will increase to €42 for children under 12 years of age and to €50 for children aged 12 years and over.

Also, from January 2023, a new Fuel Allowance means threshold was introduced for people aged 70 years and over.  The new means threshold is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.  Under the formula used to assess means for the Fuel Allowance for over 70s, the threshold for capital that is disregarded in the assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000.  The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).  Similarly, the allowable means for HHB purposes for those aged between 66-69 not in receipt of a qualifying payment was also increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget.  This will also benefit all households.  The first €200 was applied to electricity bills in November and the second €200 will be applied to electricity bills this month.

The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Energy Prices

Questions (887)

Neale Richmond

Question:

887. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether churches should be able to avail of relief for their electricity bills given the current energy crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1230/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. 

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (888)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

888. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the appeal he lodged with respect to the rejected application and an estimated date for when a decision will be made on the appeal; and if she will provide the necessary assistance as a matter of urgency. [1233/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 a supplementary welfare allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered with that Office on 30 December 2022.  The person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence to the Bishop's Square Community Welfare Office in the Department of Social Protection requesting a review of the decision on his application for supplementary welfare allowance.  This resulted in a revised decision in favour of the person by the Department on 9 January 2023 covering the full period which was the subject of his appeal.  Accordingly, the person concerned has now withdrawn his appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (889)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

889. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy of her Department in relation to the provision of community employment scheme workers' contracts ending and no replacements for a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1235/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities.  The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to the labour market. 

CE placements are intended to be temporary and subject to time limits.  This is to ensure the continued availability of places on CE schemes for a broad range of long-term unemployed candidates.  Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible payment for 12 months or more may be eligible to participate on CE. 

In general, all CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year.  However, CE participants, working towards a major educational award, can seek to extend participation by up to two years to enable them to reach the required qualification standards. 

Those over 55 years of age can remain on CE for up to three years, while CE participants who are aged over 55 and commenced on CE prior to the introduction of the changes in 2017 continue to be eligible to stay on CE for six consecutive years.  CE participants over the age of 60 can participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age.  

During the COVID pandemic the Department of Social Protection extended CE participants contracts on a number of occasions.  These contract extensions, which were in place from October 2020, supported CE schemes at various stages of the pandemic so that they could maintain important community services while also ensuring that participants had sufficient time to fully avail of the work experience and training opportunities affected by public health restrictions. 

CE participants with extended contracts started to leave schemes on a coordinated and phased basis from 8 April 2022.  To assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports, participants including those with extended contracts, may not be required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement has not yet been referred to the scheme.  This is a transitionary provision for supporting schemes to retain services, with higher-than-normal turnover of participants.  Extensions under this provision must be approved by officials from the Department and consideration will be given to the impact of COVID on the recruitment of participants, the type of service provided by the placement along with recruitment and referral efforts.  This provides schemes with additional flexibility to retain participants, where required to maintain services in communities. 

In this instance, the participant has been granted a further extension of time pending the filling of the vacancy currently advertised for the position in the location referenced.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (890)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

890. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that her Department assesses the means of a person on disability allowance; if it is assumed a civil partner will provide in lieu of the State in event of change of status; the assumptions that are being made regarding the cost of living in 2023; if she considers it feasible that a young couple could afford to pay rent and live off one salary within the means restrictions imposed by her Department regarding disability allowance; when the conditions were last reviewed; if she will undertake an urgent review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1264/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a number of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability.  The primary disability related payment is Disability Allowance, which is a means-tested social assistance scheme for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66.  Disability Allowance is also subject to a medical assessment and a habitual residency requirement.   

At the end of November 2022, there were over 157,600 recipients of Disability Allowance.

Where a person makes an application for Disability Allowance, the means assessment includes:

- Income from employment or self-employment; the income of any spouse/partner/cohabitant, where applicable; income from a social security pension from another country; and maintenance payments.

- In terms of capital: savings, investments, shares and property are included.  The home in which the claimant lives is not included in the assessment of means, unless the person receives an income from it.  With regards to capital and the assessment of means, my Department uses the following formula, which is set out in legislation:  

- the first €50,000 is fully disregarded (that is, it is not included in the means test), the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the following €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand. 

Disability Allowance has also been designed to support recipients who can and who wish to pursue employment opportunities.  When a person commences employment, an income disregard of €165 per week is applied.  In addition, 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 per week is also disregarded for the purpose of the means test.  There are currently some 15,000 persons in receipt of Disability Allowance while in employment.

I am keenly aware of the cost-of-living challenges. In Budget 2023, I introduced a number of measures to support people with disabilities and these included:

In October 2022:

- A cost-of-living double payment, paid to all pensioners, carers and people on disability payments.

In November 2022:

- A €500 cost of living Disability Support Grant, paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability payment, including Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, and Invalidity Pension.

- A €400 lump sum Fuel Allowance payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance.

- A €200 lump sum payment, for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance.

In December 2022:

- Christmas bonus double payment paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including: pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

In January 2023:

- A €12 increase, in weekly payments, to the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, and Invalidity Pension 

- The means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance is being increased from €120 to €200.

- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for the Fuel Allowance.

- 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.

- A €20.50 increase to the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance, bringing it to €330 per month, will be paid week commencing the 16th of January (the other increases and changes have already been implemented). 

It is important to note my Department also continues to provide the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.  Under the scheme, the Department may provide supports including additional needs payments and the rent supplement.  Any person who considers they may have an entitlement is encouraged to contact the Departments local community welfare service.  There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. 

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (891)

Denis Naughten

Question:

891. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 15 December 2022, if she will provide updated figures on the claimants in each time period; the number of EIB claims received and the individuals claiming EIB up to the end of September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1265/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Enhanced Illness Benefit (EIB) was a form of Illness Benefit that was payable to self-employed persons or an employee who was required to self-isolate or had been diagnosed with Covid-19.  The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit came to an end on Friday 30 September 2022.

It is important to note that a person may have received Enhanced Illness Benefit on more than one occasion since the payment was introduced, and thus have more than one claim for Enhanced Illness Benefit.  EIB was payable for up to 10 weeks where a person was diagnosed with Covid-19.  In a case where a person continued to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit could be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility.

Latest figures from my Department show the number of EIB claims and individual recipients in Table 1, and the duration of EIB claims in Table 2.

Table 1: Number of EIB Claims and EIB Recipients

Claims	Individual Recipients
732,578	528,561

Table 2: EIB claim durations

Weeks	Claims
0-2	615,176
2-4	83,253
4-6	16,502
6-8	6,476
8-10	3,369
10+	7,802

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (892)

Denis Naughten

Question:

892. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of illness benefit and disability allowance, respectively, due to long-Covid; her plans to consider long-Covid as an occupational illness for front-line workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1266/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability.  It is important to note that eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.  

Illness Benefit is a social insurance payment provided by this Department for those who cannot work due to illness of any kind.  It is payable for a maximum of two years.  Disability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment for people between 16-66 years of age who cannot work due to a long-term disability. 

People who suffer from Long Covid may be certified by their doctor under a range of different conditions corresponding to their main symptoms or underlying illnesses.  For this reason the Department is not in a position to report on the number of people in receipt of these income supports due to Long Covid. 

Covid-19 or Long-Covid-19 do not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act.  Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and

(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.

My Department is aware of the recommendations of the European Commission in this matter and is consulting with other relevant Government departments on the matter.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (893)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

893. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify for the benefit payment if they retire at the age of 65 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1272/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66.  The payment is provided for under the Jobseeker’s Benefit or the Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) legislation as appropriate and a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions for these schemes, including the relevant PRSI social insurance requirements, in order to qualify for support.  

There are a number of options available for people on retirement regarding their Additional Voluntary Contributions including the transfer of the fund to an Approved Retirement Fund.  An Approved Retirement Fund does not impact a person's entitlement to the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds scheme where they would qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit having previously been in insurable employment.  Based on the information provided to the Department, the person referred to by the Deputy is in insurable employment.

I have recently signed a Regulation to provide that self-employed contributors who have lost their usual self-employed occupation, and who are in receipt of an Approved Retirement Fund, may also be eligible for Jobseekers Benefit (Self-Employed) in certain circumstances, including people at age 65 years who are applying for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds.

Where a person does not qualify for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions of that scheme.

In order to ascertain whether the person concerned would qualify for Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds they should contact their local Intreo Centre and outline their specific circumstances so that their position can be examined.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (894)

Paul Murphy

Question:

894. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Enniscorthy Intreo office has failed to respond to a complaint submitted (details supplied) in June 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1288/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection commits in its Customer Charter to investigate and promptly deal with complaints impartially and in confidence.  There is also a commitment to acknowledge any complaint within 3 days of receipt and to issue a response to the complaint within 14 days.

On receipt of the parliamentary question a check was made to locate the complaint referred to in the question.  However, having made a full search the Department cannot find any record of a complaint having been received from the person concerned in June 2022 or since.

An officer from my department has contacted the person concerned to advise that the Department does not have a record of the complaint having been received.  Now that the Department is aware of the content of the complaint, the officer has also undertaken to deal with the complaint without further delay.

However, it should be noted that many of the items raised in the complaint refer to issues that would be a matter for the Sponsor Organisation, as the employer in this case.  As the Deputy will be aware the Community Employment (CE) programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring organisations who are the legal employers of CE supervisors, assistant supervisors and participants.

The person concerned has been advised that a reply to his complaint will issue shortly.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (895)

John McGuinness

Question:

895. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the household benefit package now under appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved. [1341/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 29 September 2022. On 2 November 2022, the person was notified, in writing, that they did not qualify for the Household Benefits Package, as their spouse is not in receipt of a qualifying payment.

A reply to a previous enquiry from the Deputy was issued on 1 December 2022 to this effect and enclosed an application form for the customer to claim an increase for their qualified adult. There is no record of an application received to date.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for an increase for qualified adult on their pension in respect of their spouse. If awarded, their entitlement to the Household Benefits Package can then be re-examined.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.