John Brady
Question:434. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of young people aged 18-29 years who are registered to vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10829/24]
View answerRegister of Electors
Questions (434)
Written answers
Local authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register.
My Department does not collect data on the age profile of the electoral register.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (435)
Marian Harkin
Question:435. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection how plans are advancing in introducing a pay related benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9967/24]
View answerWritten answers
I secured Government approval last November for the design proposals for a new Jobseeker's Pay Related Benefit scheme and approval for the draft Heads of Bill on 9th January this year. The draft legislation is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.
My Department is working on the necessary arrangements to facilitate the introduction of the scheme in quarter 4 of 2024.
People entering unemployment often do so with established financial and other commitments, so it is appropriate to provide a stronger short term ‘cushion’ against income shock while a person seeks new employment and adjusts their outgoings following a job loss.
The benefit will be available to newly unemployed employees who have a strong and recent attachment to the labour market. The weekly rate of payment for people who have at least 5 years paid PRSI contributions will be 60% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of €450, for the first 3 months. The rate will change to 55% of earnings subject to a maximum of €375 for the following 3 months. A further 3 months will be paid at the rate of 50% up to a maximum €300.
For persons who have between 2 and 5 years paid contributions, the rate will be 50% of previous earnings, subject to a weekly maximum of €300 and 6 month’s duration.
I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (436)
Seán Sherlock
Question:436. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a rent supplement claim in respect of a person in County Cork (details supplied); and if any documentation is outstanding which may be pertinent to the application in advance of a decision being made. [9968/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Rent Supplement (RS) scheme administered by my Department, provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.
The responsibility for the provision of rent support to those with a long-term housing need has transferred from the Department of Social Protection to the local authorities. Persons with a long-term housing need should contact their local authority where information is available regarding suitable housing supports including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for RS and a letter subsequently issued to them in which they were asked to provide additional documentation in support of their application. While the requested documentation has been partly received, the following item remains outstanding:
• Proof of rent paid from the person's own resources for six months out of past twelve months.
Upon receipt of the requested documentation, the person's application will be assessed, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Legislative Measures
Questions (437)
Emer Higgins
Question:437. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill to ensure benefits akin to adoptive and maternity leave are provided for the care of newborn infants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9980/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of benefits that support parents of newborn and young babies. Entitlement to these benefits follows on from having an entitlement to the corresponding leave.
The legislation governing the different forms of leave is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Any question relating to leave entitlement should be directed to that Department.
All parents, including those whose babies have been born through surrogacy, have access to Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit, subject to their satisfying the qualifying conditions.
In Budget 2024, I provided for a €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January. As a result, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at a rate of €274 per week. Any further changes to the rates would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
In addition, in Budget 2024, I provided for the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit from 7 weeks per parent to 9 weeks per parent from August of this year. This leave and benefit must be availed of within 2 years of the child's birth or adoption.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (438)
Paul Murphy
Question:438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection why 'S' class contributions do not quality for carer’s payment; if there are any exceptions to this rule; if there is consideration around changing this; and if not, why not. [10056/24]
View answerWritten answers
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.
At the outset it is important to clarify for the Deputy that the payments of Carer's Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the annual Carer's Support Grant are not subject to any social insurance requirements.
Carer's Benefit is made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
Only Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions paid at classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards Carer's Benefit. Contributions paid at class S (self-employed contributions) do not count.
Where a carer cannot satisfy the PRSI conditions attached to the Carer's Benefit payment, the non-means tested payment of Carer's Allowance is available.
Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. Where all qualification criteria for the particular scheme are satisfied, this class of PRSI gives access to the following benefits:
• Adoptive Benefit,
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory),
• Invalidity Pension,
• Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed),
• Maternity Benefit,
• Parent's Benefit,
• Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension),
• Paternity Benefit,
• State Pension (Contributory),
• Treatment Benefit, and
• Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed social insurance contributors in recent years without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than for employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
Any changes in access to additional schemes, including Carer's Benefit, for self-employed contributors would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including the appropriate contribution rates.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (439)
Seán Canney
Question:439. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person paying PRSI contributions between the ages of 66 and 70 can use those contributions to reach the threshold of 520 contributions to access a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10164/24]
View answerWritten answers
In September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from the 1st January 2024 is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland.
Under this system, there is now flexibility for those reaching State Pension age to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) at any age from 66 up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment.
A person can use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional entitlements and, if a person has less than 520 PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement.
Those who defer claiming their State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work, will have access to certain short-term contingency payments during the period of deferral.
The situation remains unchanged where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (Contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State Pension (Contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC for the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (440)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what the average wait time for an additional needs payment application is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10206/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income. The ANP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the Designated Persons (DPs) in the CWS administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.Work on hand for ANPs is within the scheme's normal processing levels and fully completed applications, where the required documentation is supplied, are processed generally within ten days. Where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the claim is processed on the same day. CWOs are very experienced and can generally assess when a case is so urgent that it requires an immediate response. They have the facility to issue an immediate manual cheque payment to clients and approximately 19% of clients who present to CWOs in person each week receive a payment on the day that they attend.
When considering an application from people in financial difficulty for any payment under the SWA scheme, the DP must consider all of the relevant circumstances when examining a case in determining the most appropriate scheme type and level of assistance required. The DP may ask for a number of supporting documents to ensure the customer receives a level of payment appropriate to their needs. Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to the need for additional information or documentation and the time it takes for the information to be provided. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed quickly. The CWS is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (441)
Colm Burke
Question:441. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to issue, given this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10227/24]
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 19th September 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 9th November 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 15th November 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (442)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when maintenance payments to carers will be disregarded as means for social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10237/24]
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.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.
The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and provided, and that a means test is satisfied. The application of the means-test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need.
Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance.
• In June 2022 the income disregards were increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• As part of Budget 2024, the weekly income disregard will be further increased in June from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• Increase in the capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000.
There are a range of other supports for carers provided by my department which are not based on a means assessment. These include Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant which is a payment for all carers regardless of means or social insurance contributions. I increased the Carer's Support Grant as part of Budget 2021 to €1,850, its highest ever rate.
While maintenance payments are currently considered as income in the means test, the Deputy may be aware that the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published in November 2022 and the Government accepted the Group's recommendations regarding the social welfare system.
These changes include decoupling child maintenance and social welfare and represent significant reforms, which will be of great benefit to many people including carers and lone parents. Amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes are required.
Disregarding child maintenance payments in the means test for social welfare payments, including Carer’s Allowance, will mean that many people currently on a reduced rate of payment will see their payment increase and some additional carers will now qualify for a payment.
I was delighted to publish the necessary primary legislation before Christmas and I am very pleased at how quickly we have been able to bring the Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Once the Bill is enacted I intend to commence its provisions in due course.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (443)
Duncan Smith
Question:443. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that the €500 grant towards the cost of a hairpiece, wig or hair replacement for people who suffer hair loss due to illness is not restricted, therefore preventing people who suffer from alopecia to avail of this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10246/24]
View answerWritten answers
In general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, my Department administers the Treatment Benefit scheme which provides certain dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable.
As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion to the range of services available under the medical appliances strand of the scheme. A new grant was provided from 28 May 2022 towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease such as cancer and also a number of types of alopecia.
The types of alopecia covered are:
• alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis),
• primary scarring alopecias (including cicatricial alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris alopecia),
• chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium),
• alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.
My Department keeps schemes under regular review to make sure they meet their objectives. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, I would ask that he send me the details.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (444)
Pauline Tully
Question:444. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on advertising and promotions within her Department in 2023 and for January 2024, in tabular form. [10273/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to ensuring that the public are aware of the welfare supports and services that are available to them and that they are notified of any scheme changes which may affect them.
Public information and advertising campaigns are an important part of our work and cover national and regional print media, as well as radio, digital and social media. These campaigns are essential to ensure that people are aware of their entitlements.
All promoted campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer using the best mix of media formats to ensure that our messages reach the public effectively.
Advertising expenditure in 2023 including all media fees, and spend incurred to 1 February 2024, is outlined below in tabular form, and is €1,738,451.22 in total (VAT Inclusive).
2023 Advertising Spend
|
Total |
€1,462,679.07 |
2024 Advertising Spend to 1 February 2024
|
Total |
€275,772.15 |
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (445)
Duncan Smith
Question:445. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate when an appeal by a person (details supplied) to the Chief Appeals Officer against a refusal to award him the invalidity person will be heard, and if same can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10277/24]
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 there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office.
My officials have tried to contact the Deputy's Office seeking clarification regarding this matter.
Redundancy Payments
Questions (446)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:446. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected time scale for employees to receive information on their redundancy entitlements (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10324/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, provides for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. The purpose of the Redundancy Payments Scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their job by reason of redundancy in cases where the employer can prove to the satisfaction of my Department that they are unable to make the payment.
It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties, an application from the employer on behalf of an employee may be submitted to the Department for payment from the Social Insurance Fund.
I can confirm that applications were submitted to my Department online under the Redundancy Payment Scheme, at the beginning of February 2024.
Processing of these applications is underway. The majority of the employees have now received their redundancy lump sum entitlement from my Department. Officials from my Department been actively engaging with the employer to resolve any outstanding queries that have arisen for the remaining applications that are currently under review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (447)
Michael Creed
Question:447. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in County Cork (details supplied) has been refused illness benefit. [10396/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department received an application for illness Benefit from the person concerned on 19 January 2024. They did not qualify for an Illness Benefit payment as they are in receipt of Widower's Contributory Pension.
A person cannot receive payment of both Illness Benefit and Widower's Contributory Pension at the same time. The Widower's Contributory Pension is payable at a higher rate than Illness Benefit and, as such, the person concerned is currently better off continuing to receive this payment.
The person concerned may continue to submit medical certificates for the duration of their absence from work in order to receive PRSI credited contributions on Illness Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
Departmental Properties
Questions (448)
Matt Carthy
Question:448. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the ground rents payable by her Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10422/24]
View answerWritten answers
With the exception of the Department headquarters in Dublin, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, which is held by the Minister on behalf of the Social Insurance Fund, all commitments in relation to the rental of properties occupied by the Department of Social Protection, including ground rent, are discharged by the Office of Public Works.
The Office of Public Works is responsible for the delivery of office accommodation to meet the operational needs of Government, including the Department of Social Protection and can provide details of all properties owned or leased.
The agencies under the remit of the Department; the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Authority, and the Social Welfare Tribunal do not pay ground rent.
Legislative Measures
Questions (449)
Ivana Bacik
Question:449. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on recent legislation which passed in Westminster to create an optional bereavement certificate for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks’ gestation; and her plans to introduce such a similar initiative here. [10428/24]
View answerWritten answers
The UK government recently introduced a voluntary scheme to allow parents to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their baby loss.
Delivering on baby loss certificates was part of the UK government’s response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review. The review was commissioned in 2018 and was led by 2 independent experts and looked at a range of options to improve NHS care for parents who experience a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or a termination for medical reasons.
The recommendation in relation a certificate of baby loss is one of 73 recommendations made in the review, all of which are intended to support the UK government and the NHS in creating a forward-looking approach to improve the safety and care experience for all those who have a pre-24-week baby loss. The recommendations set out a comprehensive plan for changes in the NHS and wider UK society to minimise the trauma that pregnancy loss can bring.
Consideration of the range of issues and recommendations raised by this review in the UK are largely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health however my officials will be happy to engage as appropriate with that Department in relation to the matter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for you.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (450)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:450. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the number of applications received for exceptional needs payments from County Clare in the past 12 months; how many were granted; how many were rejected, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10440/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The statistical reporting was revised in 2022 to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment. Statistics for the scheme are prepared and published on a quarterly basis.
Table 1 shows the number of Additional Needs Payments registered, awarded and disallowed in 2023 for County Clare. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information. A number of claims are closed without a decision, mainly owing to customer not finalising their claim.
I encourage any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 – Additional Needs Payments registered, awarded and disallowed in 2023 for County Clare
|
- |
2023 |
|
Registered |
4,010 |
|
Awarded |
2,713 |
|
Disallowed |
931 |
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (451)
Patrick Costello
Question:451. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for the fuel allowance; the number of refusals for the fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10513/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season - from September to April - at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum instalments - one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The records of the Department indicate that 411,395 households were in receipt of Fuel Allowance at the end of December 2023. Those who qualified for Fuel Allowance last year automatically receive the payment again this year provided they continue to fulfil the eligibility requirements. They do not therefore need to re-apply.
The Fuel Allowance is paid, in conjunction with primary social welfare schemes, across a number of IT systems with differing functionality for recording processing activity, and consequently detail on the number of applications received and refused is not readily accessible. Provisional data indicates that
• 74,565 applications were received in 2023 of which 9,682 were disallowed.
• 63,150 applications were received in 2022, of which 12,257 were disallowed.
• 38,718 applications were received in 2021, of which 9,231 were disallowed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (452)
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 answerWritten 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.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (453)
Michael Creed
Question:453. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has had their disability allowance withdrawn. [10525/24]
View answerWritten answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that the person concerned was in receipt of DA effective from 30 July 2003 to 6 February 2024. The person concerned had a nominated agent to collect his weekly DA payments at his nominated Post Office. My Department periodically reviews claims to ensure there is continued entitlement.
As part of a review, an information request letter was sent to the individual concerned on 21 December 2023 to complete a household composition form. This letter was returned to the Department on 4 January 2024 with the notification that the person concerned was “Gone Away“ from that address.
On foot of this information, their DA Payment was suspended effective from 6 February 2024.
I can confirm that my Department received representation on behalf of the person concerned on 26 February 2024, notifying of a change of circumstance and supporting documentation that the person concerned had moved into a nursing home. A response issued to the Deputy on 28 February 2024 notifying of the requested information required to reinstate the person's DA payment.
In order to reinstate the DA payment, my Department needs confirmation from the person concerned, or an appointed agent, notifying of a change in his circumstances.
Where a person is unable to collect their payment due to serious illness or loss of mobility, they can appoint another person to collect the payments on their behalf. The nominated person only has the authority to collect payments as a type 1 agent.
An agent type 2 may be appointed in cases where a person is permanently unable to act for themselves or a person is not in a position to discharge their responsibilities. In this type of situation, part 6 of the Agent Form must be completed by a medical practitioner.
I can confirm that, when this requested information is received, a decision will be made on his DA payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.