Brendan Griffin
Question:452. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection why a payment has been reduced for a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10517/24]
View answerTuesday, 5 March 2024
Questions (452)
Written answers
The Department provides a wide range of income supports and employment supports to assist jobseekers and workers with disabilities.
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person in receipt of an invalidity or illness payment to enter employment or self-employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment. The amount of payment is set at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous payment depending on the extent to which their condition is assessed to impair their capacity to work. Partial Capacity Benefit has also been designed so that there are no restrictions or limits on earnings or on the number of hours a person can work.
As a standard part of its operations to ensure payment integrity, the Department undertakes periodic reviews of claims in payment to ensure that people are on the correct rate of payment. These reviews include an assessment of whether or not a person continued to satisfy the conditions for receipt of the scheme.
The person concerned had been awarded PCB at a 50% rate as their incapacity to work had been determined by the Medical Assessor on the 8 May 2020 as 'Moderate' and this was valid for one year. Their claim was medically reassessed on the 20 October 2022 and they continued to receive PCB at the 'Moderate' rate, again valid for one year.
Their claim was further medically reassessed on 14 February 2024 and the Medical Assessor determined that the person concerned has a 'Mild' incapacity for work. They therefore no longer satisfy the conditions for receipt of the scheme.
The person concerned was notified of this on 26 February 2024 and advised 'Before a final decision is made on your claim you are being afforded the opportunity to furnish, within 7 days of the date of this letter, any statement or evidence you may wish to make available to the Deciding Officer in the matter.'
The Deciding officer awaits a reply from the customer prior to making a final decision on their continuing entitlement to PCB.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.