Written Answers Nos. 383-390
383. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 per week by an additional €5 per week. [23959/23]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of payment by an additional €5 per week, from €129.70 to €134.70 per week, is €3.6 million. This includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults and those on an age-reduced rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2023, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
384. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s transitional payment scheme age cut-off to 18 years of age. [23960/23]
View answerThe Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment provides income support to lone parents whose youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years, inclusive. When their youngest child turns 14, a person may be eligible for the Jobseeker’s Allowance payment.
The Working Family Payment is available to lone parents who are working 38 or more hours per fortnight. That scheme is payable where a person has a child up to age 18 or age 22 if in full time education.
A person who takes up or is in insurable employment or takes up self-employment within four weeks of the end of their Jobseeker's Transitional Payment claim can qualify for Back to Work Family Dividend which is payable over a two year period. In year one, the rate of payment is based on the person's Qualified Child entitlement, subject to a maximum of four children, on the date of exit from their previous payment. Fifty per cent of that amount is payable in year two.
Working Family Payment and Back to Work Family Dividend can be paid concurrently.
The full year cost of extending the means tested Jobseeker's Transitional Payment for four years and paying it until the youngest child in an individual family reaches age 18 would be very difficult to estimate accurately. This is because, for example, in addition to population and family demographics, many customers will be in receipt of other payments, such as Jobseekers Allowance, Back to Work Family Dividend and Working Family Payment; others may not be in receipt of a payment; while still others will be in employment and may not qualify for a means tested payment. Therefore the numbers who would qualify were the scheme to be extended for four years is not known.
The current approach aims to support lone parents by reducing long-term welfare dependency, and associated poverty, among this group by focusing on their access to education, training, and employment support services. Access to these services will enhance their skills-set and job-readiness, thereby assisting with their transition into the workforce, and with their subsequent attainment of financial independence.
For these reasons, I have no plans to change the position at this time. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
385. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the one-parent family payment scheme age cut-off to 14 years of age. [23961/23]
View answerThe One-Parent Family Payment is a means tested payment for lone parents under 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7. The Jobseekers Transitional Payment is also means tested, and is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme for lone parents under 66, who are not cohabiting and whose child/children are between 7 and 14 years old. Where their youngest child is aged 14 or over, lone parents may qualify for the Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The Working Family Payment is also available to recipients of One-Parent Family Payment who are working for at least 38 hours per fortnight and who satisfy the qualifying conditions. Lone parents who move off the One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment into employment may qualify for the Back to Work Family Dividend.
The full year cost of paying One-Parent Family Payment until the youngest child reaches age 14 would be very difficult to estimate accurately. While people whose youngest child is aged between 7 and 14 may already be in receipt of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, others will be in receipt of the Back to Work Family Dividend, while still others might not be in receipt of any social welfare payment. The numbers who would qualify for One-Parent Family Payment, were it extended, are therefore not known.
As a result, I am advised that the Department is not in a position to provide the costing requested.
386. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of recipients of the benefit for over-65s; the full year cost of this scheme in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23962/23]
View answerBenefit Payment for 65 year olds is a payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
At the end of April 2023, there were 4,076 recipients of Benefit Payment for 65 year olds. The estimated full year cost in 2023 will be circa €51.4 million.
387. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the weekly payment rate for carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit to €325 per week, by payment in tabular form. [23963/23]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly payment rate for Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit to €325 per week is shown in the table below.
|
Scheme |
Cost (€m) |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
297.5 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
15.6 |
|
Total |
313.1 |
These costings are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
389. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional €10 per week payment to all recipients of disability-related social welfare payments in total, and by payment type, in tabular form. [23965/23]
View answerThe estimated full-year cost of providing an additional €10 per week payment to all recipients of disability-related social welfare payments is €150.9m as shown in the table below:
|
Scheme |
Cost (€m) |
|
Disability Allowance |
87.4 |
|
Illness Benefit |
27.1 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
31.3 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
1.3 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.4 |
|
Disablement Benefit / Pension |
2.5 |
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
0.6 |
|
Total |
150.9 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults where relevant. Costings are provided for direct disability related payments only.
390. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate on what basis a deciding officer has ruled that a person (details supplied) does not qualify for disability allowance despite his continuous medical condition over the past ten years and likelihood for this to continue; if the matter can be referred for full appeal and an oral hearing as per this parliamentary question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24004/23]
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
My Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 2 December 2022. Based on the evidence supplied, his application was initially disallowed on the grounds that both the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied, and he did not satisfy the conditions of being habitually resident in the state. On receipt of further medical evidence and a valid Stamp 4, the HRC conditions were deemed to be met and the person concerned was disallowed solely on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was still not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing on 15 March 2023.
Following a request, a review of the decision of 15 March 2023 was carried out and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 29 March 2023. They were given the right to request a review or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). I can confirm that no request for a review or an appeal has been received to date.
This parliamentary question cannot be referred as a request for appeal. An appeal request can be submitted in writing by the customer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO), outlining their reason for an appeal. The person concerned may wish to submit additional supporting documentation to support their application.
Contact details of the SWAO are as follows:
Social Welfare Appeals Office, FREEPOST, D’Olier House, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, DX2 XY31 or by email to: swappeals@welfare.ie
Additional information on submitting an appeal can be found on www.gov.ie/socialwelfareappealsoffice
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
