Paul Donnelly
Question:281. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if the household benefits package increased by €10 per month. [49292/23]
View answerSocial Welfare Benefits
Questions (281)
Written answers
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. Approximately 508,000 households are in receipt of the gas/electricity element of the HHB package.
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.
If the increases to the electricity/gas element outlined by the Deputy were introduced in 2024, the estimated additional yearly cost for those estimated to be in receipt of electricity/gas element of HHB (520,000) would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€10 |
€45 |
520,000 |
€62.4m |
All proposals, including the proposals outlined by the Deputy could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (282)
Paul Donnelly
Question:282. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants currently being processed within her Department for the State pension contributory. [49293/23]
View answerWritten answers
In October 2023, there were 3,864 State Pension (Contributory) claims cleared. This figure comprises of 1,552 awarded claims, 1,442 disallowed claims and 870 withdrawn claims. There were 6,629 claims pending at the end of October.
Pension Provisions
Questions (283)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:283. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on auto-enrolment for retirement savings system for employees; when she expects it to be operational; if she will confirm if there will be a central processing authority to manage and administer the AE system on behalf of the participants; when she expects the legislation to underpin this to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49317/23]
View answerWritten answers
The introduction of an Auto Enrolment Retirement Savings System is a Programme for Government commitment, and a key priority for me as Minister for Social Protection.
Last year, I published 'The Design Principles for Ireland’s Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System', which sets out the new system in detail. Implementation of the AE system has been gathering pace since then, with the first enrolments expected to begin in the latter half of 2024.
A dedicated project team in the Department of Social Protection is solely focused on implementing the agreed design, including by drafting the necessary legislation that will underpin it, designing the organisational structures and the technical system to operate it, and communicating this landmark reform to stakeholders and the public.
A key element of this design is the establishment of a Central Processing Authority (CPA), which will be established to manage and administer the AE system on behalf of the participants. The CPA will initially operate on an administrative basis within the Department of Social Protection. In time, the CPA will become a statutorily independent public agency operating under the auspices of the Minister for Social Protection. The legislation to underpin the establishment of the CPA is currently being drafted, with my officials working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
It is my intention to publish the AE Bill during this current session of the Dáil, with initiation of its passage through the Oireachtas immediately thereafter. This will be a major milestone in progressing towards the implementation of AE.
Work also continues on putting the administrative and operational processes in place, in order to ensure that contributions in the AE system can commence in the later half of 2024.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (284)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:284. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the current timeline for the implementation of the extension of child benefit to 18 year olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49324/23]
View answerWritten answers
The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 18 year olds each year at an estimated cost of €21.6 million in 2024.
With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.
This is a significant change to the Child Benefit payment which will require technical and operational changes to the social welfare system before implementation. For this reason, the change will take effect from September 2024. Where a child in full time education turns 18 in the meantime they will be covered by the extension from September 2024 until they turn 19.
There are a number of measures in the Budget which will be of benefit to the person to whom the Deputy refers. They will receive the double Child Benefit Payment in December, and as they are in receipt of Disability Allowance, before the end of the year they will also receive a Christmas bonus double week payment, a €400 cost of living lump sum, and a €100 lump sum in respect of each qualified child. From January, the personal rate of payments such as Disability Allowance will be increased by €12 bringing the maximum personal rate to €232 per week. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will be increased by €4 per week bringing the weekly rate to €46 for children aged under 12 and €54 per week in respect of children aged 12 or over and this can continue to be paid until the child is aged 22 where they remain in full-time education. Recipients of Disability Allowance will also receive a double week cost of living payment in January.
The School Transport Scheme is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Weather Events
Questions (285)
Pat Buckley
Question:285. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection when a family (details supplied) will receive payment for the recent flooding in east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49334/23]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. The scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) in this Department.In dealing with emergency events, the CWS generally adopts the following three-stage approach:• Stage 1: Provide emergency income support payments (food/clothing/personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event.• Stage 2: Replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items.• Stage 3: Identify what longer term financial support is required including plastering, dry lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring, and painting.An income test is applied to claims which determines the household’s capacity to meet the costs of restoring their home to a habitable condition. All household income will be considered when determining entitlement to payment. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance. Humanitarian Assistance is designed to provide hardship alleviation, to people affected by an emergency event. The amount allowable in any case is the amount the Officer administering the scheme determines is required to replace essential losses and to make any essential repairs. The scheme does not replace items damaged or lost with items of similar value. Rather, the intention of the scheme is to return a person’s home to a habitable state and make essential repairs only. Where financial assistance is required for structural damage and the estimated cost as outlined in builder’s quotes is more than €5,000, the case will be referred to the Loss Adjusters appointed by the Department of Social Protection for consideration.According to the records of the Department, the person concerned made an application for support under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. A request for further information in support of their claim subsequently issued to them on 08/11/2023 and the response was only recently received. A Community Welfare Officer is currently engaging with the person concerned with regard to this claim.Separately, the person concerned applied for an Additional Needs Payment under Stage 1 of the Scheme and this claim was awarded. Cheques totalling €1,060 were issued to the person on 21/10/2023.I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (286)
Seán Canney
Question:286. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the working limit for eligibility for home carers from 18.5 hours to 21.5 hours to allow for an increase in the number of carer's available to care for vulnerable people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49380/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. At end of October, there were 95,192 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2023 is estimated at almost €1.6 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
A primary qualifying condition for the carer income supports provided, is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
While the family carer support payments provided are premised on the provision of full-time care and attention by the carer, they do provide flexibility in terms of allowing carers to engage in training, education or work up to 18.5 hours per week. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. This was increased from 15 hours as part of Budget 2020 in response to requests from carer's organisations and carers themselves who found the 15 hours too restrictive.
I consider the 18.5-hour limitation represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer to engage in employment (or education or training), thereby supporting a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion.
Any changes to the eligibility conditions for any of the carer related statutory schemes operated by my department would need to be addressed in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (287)
John Paul Phelan
Question:287. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to state for each category of welfare payment administered by her Department in 2022, the total amount paid in cash; the total amounts paid directly to a bank account; the amounts lodged directly to an account at a post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49382/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides two main payment options for its customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer bank accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer. A small number of ad-hoc payments are also made by cheque.
Based on an analysis of Departmental systems, the table below breaks out the apportioned total value of payments made directly to customers in 2022 by payment method.
|
Scheme |
Total |
Bank Account |
Post Office |
Cheque |
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
1,136,457 |
538,448 |
595,213 |
2,796 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
6,564,401 |
4,818,996 |
1,730,486 |
14,919 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Contributory) |
1,725,279 |
1,089,722 |
633,715 |
1,842 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Death Benefit) |
10,718 |
5,548 |
5,127 |
43 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
1,641,487 |
641,435 |
982,262 |
17,790 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
613,977 |
385,242 |
228,636 |
99 |
|
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory) |
12,252 |
7,407 |
4,843 |
0 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
498 |
143 |
355 |
0 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
121,595 |
41,655 |
75,777 |
4,164 |
|
Farm Assist |
55,665 |
37,137 |
18,348 |
180 |
|
Exceptional and Urgent Needs |
57,664 |
38,260 |
14,099 |
5,305 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
475,459 |
280,625 |
188,539 |
6,295 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit Self-Employed |
10,341 |
5,094 |
5,247 |
0 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
63,886 |
26,473 |
37,395 |
0 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
263,300 |
263,007 |
0 |
293 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
202 |
202 |
0 |
0 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
13,454 |
13,325 |
0 |
129 |
|
Parental Benefit |
64,980 |
64,885 |
0 |
95 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
387 |
387 |
0 |
0 |
|
Redundancy and Insolvency Payments |
21,550 |
21,550 |
0 |
0 |
|
Covid Related Layoff Payments |
1,155 |
1,155 |
0 |
0 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
128,352 |
128,352 |
0 |
0 |
|
Other Working Age Supports |
23,266 |
3,557 |
266 |
19,442 |
|
COVID-19 - Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
197,202 |
174,718 |
22,482 |
0 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
329,016 |
329,016 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
48,871 |
48,871 |
0 |
0 |
|
TUS - Community Work Placement |
90,178 |
90,178 |
0 |
0 |
|
Job Initiative |
11,865 |
11,865 |
0 |
0 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
31,943 |
31,627 |
313 |
0 |
|
Youth Employment Support Scheme |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
40,270 |
37,111 |
3,149 |
10 |
|
JobsPlus |
4,198 |
4,198 |
0 |
0 |
|
Work Placement and Experience Programme |
2,588 |
2,028 |
558 |
0 |
|
Other Employment supports |
10,596 |
9,905 |
633 |
0 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2,015,920 |
1,231,794 |
778,926 |
5,200 |
|
Blind Pension |
12,815 |
8,885 |
3,905 |
0 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
993,158 |
676,441 |
314,378 |
2,339 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
224,476 |
188,059 |
35,830 |
587 |
|
Carer's Support Grant |
327,533 |
238,205 |
88,713 |
615 |
|
Illness Benefit |
614,072 |
580,141 |
6,978 |
26,953 |
|
Injury Benefit |
9,191 |
8,171 |
132 |
888 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
765,981 |
645,958 |
119,080 |
943 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
25,717 |
25,441 |
191 |
85 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
69,553 |
60,926 |
2,445 |
6,183 |
|
Medical Care |
144 |
123 |
0 |
21 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
49,175 |
46,676 |
2,489 |
0 |
|
COVID-19 Illness Benefit |
187,110 |
176,771 |
2,126 |
8,213 |
|
Child Benefit |
2,286,442 |
1,956,934 |
327,997 |
1,511 |
|
Working Family Payment |
361,090 |
359,990 |
1,100 |
0 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
11,228 |
11,228 |
0 |
0 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
85,868 |
59,707 |
25,961 |
200 |
|
Other Vote 37 funded Child Related Payments |
8,693 |
5,321 |
3,228 |
143 |
|
SIF Funded Child Related Payments |
24,149 |
18,140 |
5,382 |
626 |
|
Rent Supplement |
75,149 |
62,445 |
9,753 |
2,951 |
|
Telephone Support Allowance |
18,381 |
13,209 |
5,164 |
0 |
|
Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF] |
281,512 |
202,304 |
79,085 |
0 |
|
Fuel Allowance [Vote 37 + SIF] |
576,402 |
424,986 |
151,416 |
0 |
|
Miscellaneous Services funded by Vote 37 |
13,964 |
13,055 |
905 |
0 |
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (288)
John Paul Phelan
Question:288. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of single people with no dependents who received more than €24,000 in social welfare payments administered by her Department during 2022; to provide a breakdown of those recipients by the total amount received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49383/23]
View answerWritten answers
In 2022, there were 1,607 single people with no dependents who received more than €24,000 euro in Social Welfare payments. This figure is inclusive of arrears payments which may have related to a period before 2022. Individuals who received any increase for a qualified child or adult have been removed from this analysis. Furthermore, anyone who received Child Benefit, Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory), Back to Work Family Dividend and Working Family Payment have been excluded from this analysis. This figure only includes individuals whose marital status is single.
The breakdown of these individual by the amount that they received is shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Recipients of Social Welfare payments, by payment value.
|
Payment value (€) |
Recipients |
|
24,000 to <25,000 |
591 |
|
25,000 to <26,000 |
316 |
|
26,000 to <27,000 |
249 |
|
27,000 to <28,000 |
123 |
|
28,000 to <29,000 |
87 |
|
29,000 to <30,000 |
59 |
|
30,000 + |
182 |
|
Total |
1,607 |
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (289)
Claire Kerrane
Question:289. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider a special pardon for family carers who engaged in work (details supplied) during Covid-19, given the circumstances at the time and the small number of recipients who would be in this category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49386/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2023 is estimated at almost €1.6 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their full-time caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
While the family carer support payments provided are premised on the provision of full-time care and attention by the carer, they do provide flexibility in terms of allowing carers to engage in training, education or work up to 18.5 hours per week. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
Any carer engaged in employment (training and education) must show that the person they are caring for has adequate care while they are working. Where a carer has commenced employment, or increased the hours they are working, the onus is on the carer to notify the department of the change in their circumstances.
If there is a particular case of concern to the Deputy, could I suggest that it is brought to the attention of my department and my officials would be happy to examine it.
I hope that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (290)
Thomas Pringle
Question:290. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she plans to extend child benefit payments to young people over the age of 18 years who are in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49411/23]
View answerWritten answers
The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 18 year olds each year at an estimated cost of €21.6 million in 2024.
With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.
This is a significant change to the Child Benefit scheme which will require technical and operational changes to the social welfare system before implementation. For this reason, the change will take effect from September 2024. Where a child in full time education turns 18 in the meantime they will be covered by the extension from September 2024 until they turn 19.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Offices
Questions (291)
James Lawless
Question:291. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection what provisions are made to accommodate clients who wish to conduct business through Irish in local social welfare offices. [49439/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to providing a high standard of service in either Irish or English to its customers.
Currently, the Department has almost 200 staff in our various Intreo and Departmental offices throughout the country that are available to provide services through Irish.
My Department is committed to the continued development and training of staff to facilitate the provision of services through Irish and encourages staff to avail of the range of training supports to enhance fluency in the Irish language. We have increased our refund-of-fees scheme from 80% to 100% to cover Irish language courses. We currently have 40 staff engaged in Irish language courses with Gaelchultúr.
In customer-facing areas – Local Offices (Intreo Centres and Branch Offices) - staff can provide telephone/ face-to-face services through Irish. In situations where staff who are able to conduct a service in Irish are unavailable, an interpreter service is offered. This service, which can be arranged at very short notice, can be provided either by 3-way phone call, or in-person, as required.
Pension Provisions
Questions (292)
Brendan Griffin
Question:292. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension will be awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49453/23]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
My Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 5 October 2023. Their medical reports have now been examined by a Department Medical Assessor and she has been determined medically suitable for IP. To complete the review of their entitlement, further information on her employment completion dates and household composition is required. A Deciding Officer wrote to the person in question for this information on 10 November 2023. Upon receipt of same, the IP claim will be finalised and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (293)
Willie O'Dea
Question:293. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision regarding an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49461/23]
View answerWritten answers
In May 2022, my Department conducted a medical review of the customer concerned in relation to their continued entitlement to Disability Allowance (DA).
Based on the evidence submitted by the customer, she was found to be not substantially restricted in seeking suitable employment, by reason of a specified disability, which is expected to last for a period of at least one year. As a result of this determination, her entitlement to DA was terminated on 17 October 2023. She subsequently appealed this decision, and a review was undertaken.
Further medical evidence was submitted by the customer on 23 October 2023. This is currently with the Department’s Medical Assessors for their opinion. Based on the opinion of the MA, a Deciding Officer will determine whether the claim will be reinstated, or the case will be referred to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for an appeal on the decision.
Once this review is completed, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in writing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (294)
Brendan Griffin
Question:294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal for carers allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49477/23]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 was registered on the 21st July 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 papers were received on 1st August 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 9th August 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Appeals Officer was contacted regarding this case, and has confirmed that a decision will be issued shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Employment Rights
Questions (295)
Paul Murphy
Question:295. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will instruct her Department to investigate a case (details supplied); if she will ensure this person receives compensation for the time they were unable to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49561/23]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The person concerned is in receipt of IP from my Department from 10 October 2019. He was in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit prior to this date. He has been awarded a Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Increase from 10 February 2022. His application for 2023 Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Increase were awarded in April 2023. The person concerned requested a review of the full entitlement to these allowances for 2022 which required a Social Welfare Inspector's report to establish an entitlement. As the review of his 2022 entitlement is now completed, the arrears of the allowances, for an unpaid period in February 2022, have been processed and will be paid to his nominated bank account on 16 November.
The person in question is in receipt of a Free Travel Pass from my Department and an application for the Household Benefits Package issued to him on 9th November 2023. The person concerned is receiving all entitlements applied for under the illness related schemes administered by my Department and has received his full entitlements to date.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Public Transport
Questions (296)
Robert Troy
Question:296. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be reissued a free travel card. [49566/23]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that an official of my Department was in touch with your office last week to confirm that, following a review, a Free Travel card has been reissued to the person concerned. Telephone contact was also made with the person concerned last week to inform them that the Free Travel card has been reissued.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (297)
Brian Stanley
Question:297. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person on a ARF (Approved Retirement Fund) pension and less than 65 years of age would be classified for PRSI purposes as Class A. [49647/23]
View answerWritten answers
Approved Retirement Funds, or ARFs, are funds managed by a qualifying fund manager into which an individual may invest the proceeds of their pension fund when they retire. Any amounts withdrawn from an ARF are referred to as a distribution.
Under social welfare legislation, any payments received by way of pension are not regarded as reckonable emoluments for the purposes of self-employed Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI). However, unlike annuity products, ARFs are not pensions but investment products and are treated as assets. As such, distributions from ARFs are liable for Class S self-employed PRSI and not Class A as referred to in the Question.
Distributions after age 66 are not liable for Class S PRSI deduction; they are recorded under PRSI Class M, that is no social insurance liability.
If any person has concerns about how a distribution from an ARF is being treated for PRSI purposes, they should contact their fund manager to ensure that the correct PRSI Class is being returned.
It should be noted that the Class S PRSI contributions credited to a person’s record as a result of ARF distributions may entitle the person to the range of social insurance benefits available to Class S contributors.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (298)
Bernard Durkan
Question:298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of eligibility for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49711/23]
View answerWritten answers
Fuel Allowance is an administrative scheme and is payable to people who satisfy the conditions of the scheme and who either live alone or only with certain qualified people.
I can confirm that my department received an application for fuel allowance from the person concerned on 17 October 2023.
Based on the information provided to the Department, the person concerned does not qualify for the allowance as they are not living alone, as their household includes another individual who is not in a qualifying fuel allowance category.
A letter notifying the person concerned of this decision issued on 8 November 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (299)
Denis Naughten
Question:299. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claimants in receipt of working family payment based on the number of children in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49728/23]
View answerWritten answers
Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
Please see below number of Working Family Payment Recipients by Family Size as of 9th November 2023:
Working Family Payment Recipients by Family Size
|
Family Size Recipients |
Number of WFP |
|
One child |
15588 |
|
Two children |
15068 |
|
Three children |
8591 |
|
Four children |
3448 |
|
Five children |
1120 |
|
Six children |
365 |
|
Seven children |
119 |
|
Eight or more children |
79 |
|
Total Recipients |
44378 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (300)
Bernard Durkan
Question:300. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review can be undertaken of the recent decision to refuse an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49813/23]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
My Department received an application for IP from the person concerned on 25 September 2023. Based on the information supplied, it was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Notification of the decision issued to the person in question on 21 October 2023 along with the reasons why the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. This letter also advised of her right to seek a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. No such request has been received to date.
If a review of this decision is requested, the person concerned will need to submit additional medical evidence in support of any review of the decision to refuse her application.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (301)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:301. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when the legislation involving child maintenance payments being excluded from social welfare means tests will be signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49822/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November and the Government has accepted the Group's recommendations regarding the social welfare system. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. These changes will decouple child maintenance and social welfare and are significant reforms, which will be of great benefit to lone parents.
As a consequence, child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments. This measure will mean that many lone parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase and some additional lone parents will qualify for a payment. It is estimated that this measure will be of direct benefit to approximately 16,000 lone parents at a cost of approximately €10 million per year.
These changes require amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes. In terms of the changes to primary legislation, the draft Heads of Bill have undergone pre-legislative scrutiny at the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and work on drafting the Bill is at an advanced stage. It is my intention to publish the legislation before the end of this year.
I trust this clarifies the position.