Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
168. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a living alone allowance payment for a widow (details supplied) in County Kerry will be backdated to the date they were awarded widow's contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34750/23]
View answerThe living alone allowance is an additional payment made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who live alone. It is only available to people who are under 66 years of age if they are in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension.
The person concerned was awarded a widow's contributory pension in 2019. However, as she was under age 66, she was not eligible for the living alone allowance at that time. She also stated on her application form that she was not living entirely alone.
An application for living alone allowance was received from the person concerned on 9th October 2022, and was awarded from 15th April 2022. The allowance was backdated for 6 months in accordance with backdating legislative provisions.
This decision has now been reviewed by a Deciding Officer who has further backdated the living alone allowance increase to 31st January 2020, her 66th birthday. The person concerned will receive payment of arrears of the living alone allowance and the telephone support allowance into her nominated bank account this Friday. A decision letter to that effect has been posted to her home address.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
