Written Answers Nos. 513-521
513. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1, €5 and €10 increase, respectively, in first and full-year terms, in each social insurance payment, with proportionate increase for qualified payments, disaggregated by payment type. [35497/23]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of a €1, €5 and €10 increase in social insurance payments are as follows:
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €1 increase
|
Full year cost of a €5 increase
|
Full year cost of a €10 increase
|
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Pension Payments |
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
27.1 |
134.7 |
269.2 |
|
Widow/er's Contributory Pension (Aged 66 and over) |
4.8 |
23.8 |
47.6 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged 66 and over) |
0.1 |
0.7 |
1.5 |
|
Working Age Payments |
|
|
|
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (Aged under 66) |
1.5 |
7.3 |
14.6 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged under 66) |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
3.1 |
15.7 |
31.3 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
0.1 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
|
Disablement Pension |
0.3 |
1.3 |
2.5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2.8 |
13.8 |
27.7 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1.9 |
9.6 |
19.3 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Self Employed |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.2 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
1.0 |
5.1 |
10.1 |
|
Paternity Benefit & Parent’s Benefit |
0.4 |
1.8 |
3.6 |
|
Total Social Insurance Schemes |
43.6 |
216.9 |
433.4 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. Any different first year cost would depend on when, during the year, the increase is introduced. 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 and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
514. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of the free travel scheme to the Exchequer. [35522/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by, for example, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, Luas, Local Link and services provided by around 80 private transport operators.
The budget allocation for Free Travel for 2023 is €95 million.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are availing of the free travel scheme. [35523/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by, for example, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, Luas, Local Link and services provided by around 80 private transport operators.
The scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 living legally and permanently in the State and certain people under age 66 who satisfy the qualifying criteria.
At the end of June 2023, there are 1,072,195 Free Travel recipients. When spouse and companion passes are taken into account, some 1.75 million people currently benefit from the Free Travel scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €50 and €100 lump sum payment in 2023, for each social insurance payment, with proportionate increase for qualified payments, disaggregated by payment type. [35524/23]
View answerThe estimated cost of a once-off €50 and €100 lump sum payment for the claimant, and each Qualified Adult where appropriate, for each social insurance payment is outlined below:
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
€50 Lump sum €m |
€100 Lump sum €m |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
€28.5 |
€56.7 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
€6.2 |
€12.5 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
€0.2 |
€0.4 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€3.1 |
€6.1 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€0.2 |
€0.3 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
€0.0 |
€0.0 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
€0.0 |
€0.0 |
|
Disablement Pension |
€0.7 |
€1.9 |
|
Illness Benefit |
€2.8 |
€5.6 |
|
Injury Benefit |
€0.3 |
€0.6 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
€0.5 |
€0.9 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) |
€2.0 |
€4.1 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
€0.2 |
€0.3 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
€0.0 |
€0.0 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
€1.0 |
€2.0 |
|
Paternity & Parent's Benefit |
€0.3 |
€0.6 |
|
Total |
€46.0* |
€92.0* |
*Rounding may affect totals
NOTE: These costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. Cost estimates associated with once off payments are time sensitive, depending on the date the payment is made.
517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which disability or other allowance might be available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35567/23]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The Household Benefits (HHB) Package helps towards the costs of electricity or gas bills. It also includes the television licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household.
The HHB package is payable to recipients of qualifying social welfare payments such as DA.
A completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement.
To date, no application for DA has been received. An application form has been posted to the person concerned on 11 July 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
518. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will record the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35568/23]
View answerFirst, I wish to offer my sincere sympathies to the family of the person concerned on their recent bereavement.
I can confirm that the date of death has been recorded on our systems.
Where a person in receipt of disability allowance (DA) dies and his/her surviving spouse is in receipt of a social welfare payment in their own right, then the surviving spouse is entitled to receive six weeks of their deceased spouse's payment in addition to their own.
In this case, the deceased person had received an additional week's payment following their date of death. The remaining five weeks after death payment issued by cheque to the spouse of the person concerned on 11 July 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a death benefit or allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35572/23]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I understand that the care recipient has passed away and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of my Department to express our sincere sympathy to the person concerned and their family on their recent bereavement. We appreciate that this may be a difficult time for them.
To support the person concerned in their transition from their caring role, the payment of Carer’s Allowance will continue for a further 12 weeks from date of death.
Further support for carers who wish to receive assistance in the transition from the role of carer is provided by our Intreo Service. An appointment with their local Intreo Centre allows them to get advice about opportunities for employment and training, as well as information about income support payments.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
520. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list the case of a person (details supplied) for appeal in respect of basic supplementary welfare or disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35578/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned in respect of Disability Allowance was registered on the 15th March 2023. 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.
These were received on 1st June 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 14th June 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
An appeal by the person concerned in respect of Supplementary Welfare Allowance has not been registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, an appeal application form has been forwarded to the person concerned.
On receipt of the completed application form the appeal will be registered and processed in the normal manner.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
521. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35579/23]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over who have a legal right of residence and habitually reside in the state, and who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or only qualify for a reduced-rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
As outlined in previous related Parliamentary Question replies, the claim of the person concerned is under review. On 19 June 2023, the Deciding Officer wrote to the person, setting out evidential requirements to assess the satisfaction or otherwise of the habitual residency condition, to determine Irish state pension eligibility.
To date, no supporting documentation has been provided to the Deciding Officer.
As the Deputy has previously been advised, if the requested documentation is made available to the Deciding Officer, they will complete their review and notify the person of the outcome, in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
