Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason recipients of the partial capacity benefit will not receive a once-off lump sum payment; if she will review this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45971/23]
View answerAs part of Budget 2024, the Social Protection budget, which is the largest in the history of the State, will assist families and vulnerable citizens through a mix of lump sum supports and increases to weekly payments.
The measures introduced include the provision of a targeted one-off €400 Cost-of-Living lump sum, which will be paid in November 2023 to recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Carer's Support Grant. Recipients who are in receipt of more than one of these payments will qualify for only one €400 lump-sum payment.
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme has been designed to allow persons in receipt of this payment to continue to receive a percentage of their previous Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit payment (i.e., 50%, 75% or 100%) while in employment. The scheme has also been designed so there are no restrictions on the number of hours a person in receipt of the payment can work, and there are no restrictions on earnings/earnings limits.
As persons in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit are in employment without any restriction on earnings, they are not eligible for the €400 Cost-of-Living payment.
However, Partial Capacity recipients will receive:
• A Christmas Bonus double payment, paid in December 2023;
• A Cost-of-Living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in January 2024;
• From January 2024, an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
