Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
361. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that recipients of the disablement pension and unemployability supplement do not receive the cost of living bonus or fuel allowance; her views on the need to provide additional supports to such persons in view of the cost of living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53581/23]
View answerDisablement Benefit is part of the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme. This scheme caters for people injured or incapacitated by an accident at work or while travelling to or from work. The scheme also covers people who have contracted a disease as a result of the type of work they do.
Disablement Benefit is a compensation payment and can be paid alongside other social welfare payments. People in receipt of Disablement Pension (without another payment) can work, full or part-time. Those who are unfit for work may qualify for Illness Benefit or another social welfare payment based on their social insurance contributions (PRSI). Alternatively, they may qualify for Incapacity Supplement.
Payments under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme, including Disablement Pension, did not qualify for the once-off Cost of Living support payment in November 2023, because there are no limits to the amount that recipients can earn from work or they may already be in receipt of a supplement on an ongoing basis in the form of Incapacity Supplement.
I recognise, however, that to further address the cost of living, such people need additional support. Recipients of Disablement Pension are eligible for other increases in payment rates and double-payments announced under Budget 2024. They will receive the Christmas Bonus and the January Cost-of-Living Bonus, which will provide 100% increases in the weekly rate of payment for recipients in early December and late January respectively. The maximum rate of Disablement Benefit will also increase by €12 per week from January 2024, with an additional €4 weekly increase for qualified children. From January 2023, Disablement Benefit was disregarded from the means test for Fuel Allowance. In November, households getting the Fuel Allowance received a €300 cost-of-living lump sum payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
