Written Answers Nos. 221-240
221. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently availing of carer’s benefit; the estimated cost of the benefit in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18589/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit is a payment 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.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
There were 3,928 persons in receipt of Carer’s Benefit as of 31st March 2024.
The Carer's Benefit estimated expenditure for 2024 currently stands at €58 million.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
222. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update as to when a school (details supplied) will be included in the new programme of national school meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18644/24]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. he Programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Following the expansion of the Programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the Programme that has taken place in recent years. As part of this significant expansion plan, all remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school was interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.
Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children and late last year these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from 8th April 2024.
My officials advise me that the school referred to by the Deputy did not express an interest at the time in response to the initial call, under which 900 schools are now being included in the Programme. This school and the other remaining Primary Schools who have not yet joined the scheme will now be able to express an interest to receive Hot School Meals as part of a process I launched last week. My Department will contact them by email shortly to notify them of the Expression of Interest process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
223. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money being paid by her Department to private bus companies under contracts for the free travel scheme; the reason these companies are not precluded from charging a booking fee on scheduled services and particularly on services where the buses are often forced to refuse passengers due to being at capacity, thus forcing people who need to ensure they get on the bus to pay the booking fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18646/24]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. A total of €16.4m was paid across all private operators in the Free Travel scheme in 2023, including bus and ferry operators.
The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIÉ public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by private transport operators countrywide.
Under the Free Travel scheme, there is no requirement or impediment for transport operators to provide additional services such as a seat booking service. Some travel operators have introduced online booking services for customers who wish to guarantee their seat on a particular service. This is entirely a matter for the transport operator concerned.
Customers wishing to avail of Free Travel do not have to pre-book services with any operator participating in the Free Travel Scheme. They can continue to present on their preferred day of travel and avail of Free Travel using their Free Travel Public Services Card.
It is open to any Free Travel customer who wants to be guaranteed a seat on a particular service to book their seat in advance, where a pre-booking facility exists. My Department has no control over the fee a transport company may charge for their seat booking facility.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
224. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 463 of 12 December 2023, the estimated revenue that will be raised in each of the years 2024 to 2030 by the proposed increases in all classes of PRSI, disaggregated by PRSI class, employer, employee and self-employed, in a scenario (details supplied), in tabular form. [18667/24]
View answerThe table below sets out the estimated PRSI yield that would be raised for each of the rate increases in the years concerned.
In calculating the estimated yield from the specified employer PRSI rates on the portion of earnings in excess of €100,000 for classes A,B,C,D,E and H a 'netting off' approach has been taken to ensure there is no double-counting. The net yield is the difference between the "in excess of €100,000 rate" and the "standard" employer PRSI rates specified by the Deputy for classes A,B,C,D,E and H in the table.
My Department does not have a first year cost estimate given that such an estimate would require a fuller analysis to be undertaken. Therefore, the estimated yield in 2024 is based on a full year basis.
These estimates do not take into account any possible behavioural changes in response to the higher PRSI rates being modeled.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
*revenue generated with respect to the rates of employer PRSI across classes A, B, C, D, E and H on the portion of individual incomes in excess of €100,000 net the revenue generated with respect to the standard rates of employer PRSI across classes A, B, C, D, E and H.
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18683/24]
View answerThe living alone increase is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including state pension (contributory), state pension (non-contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (non-contributory) pension, widow's/widower's pension under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, incapacity supplement under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, deserted wife's benefit, and who are living alone.
It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension.
The living alone increase is not means tested and the payment is made as an increase to the recipient’s primary social welfare payment.
As the person concerned is not in receipt of a primary social welfare payment, they are not eligible for the living alone increase.
I have arranged for a state pension (non-contributory) application to issue to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed application, their entitlement to the primary payment will be examined. If they qualify for this payment, their entitlement to the living alone increase will then be examined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18686/24]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. ANPs are awarded at the discretion of the Designated Persons administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP to assist with the cost of crime scene cleaning at their home and the replacement of some damaged household items. The person’s application was processed, and they were awarded a payment of €500. A letter confirming this award and affording the person concerned the option of seeking a review and/or appeal of the decision issued to them on 15/03/2024. Payment was available for collection at Kilcock Post Office on 21/03/2023.
Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act. To date, my Department has not received any request for review or appeal of the decision of the Designated Person.
If the person concerned requires is experiencing financial difficulties with other expenses, it is open to them to make a new application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. Alternatively, if the person has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case will be urgently reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18687/24]
View answerDisability 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 confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 10 August 2022 and they were awarded the maximum personal rate of DA and an increase in payment for a qualified child with effect from 10 August 2022.
Based on information received, a review of the DA claim of the person concerned was undertaken. As part of the review, on 5 March 2024, the person concerned was requested to complete a household composition form and provide additional information to establish their means.
I can confirm that some of the requested information was received through the Deputy on 13 March 2024. However, a further information request was issued on 21 March 2024 for the outstanding details.
Following a review of this case and the information received, the person concerned has been assessed with weekly means of €50.00 derived from maintenance received, entitling them to a reduced personal rate of €189.50 per week with effect from 15 May 2024, with the first payment of their new rate commencing on that date.
The person concerned was notified of the decision via correspondence dated 23 April 2024.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a PPS number might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18699/24]
View answerFurther to Dáil Question number 236 dated 18/04/2024, the person concerned applied for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number on 27/03/2024. The person has been contacted on several occasions and asked to provide evidence of a valid reason for their PPS Number request. As this information remains outstanding, their application cannot be processed.
In order to obtain a PPS Number, a person must provide evidence of their identity, their address, and the reason they need a PPS Number. If a person is applying for a PPS Number to work in Ireland, they must have a signed offer of employment from their employer confirming when their job is due to start or when it started.
Other examples of why a person may need a PPS Number are:
• to apply for a social welfare payment
• to access medical services
• to apply for or exchange a driver’s licence
• to access other public services
• to register for a course in a school or college
It is unclear if the person has a valid reason for requesting a PPS Number. In order to clarify the matter, an official from my department will again attempt to make contact with the person concerned to discuss their application.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family payment or other allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18700/24]
View answerAs the details supplied within the parliamentary question for the person concerned do not match the records of my department, and without information relating to the circumstances of the person concerned, my officials are unable to advise on an income support payment.
My department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of supports to assist an eligible person who is parenting alone including the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, described below:
• One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age.
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme which a person may qualify for if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.
A person can also apply for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme provides income support to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs). The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Qualifying conditions for all schemes and application forms can be found at www.gov.ie. If the person has any queries regarding the schemes available to them, they can also call the National Intreo Contact Centre, by freephone on 0818 405060 for further information. Alternatively, if the Deputy can provide contact information for the person concerned to the dedicated public representative mailbox for the Eastern Region at TDREPSEASTERNREGION@welfare.ie, an official will phone the person directly and provide information on the appropriate schemes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available for a first-time job applicant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18702/24]
View answerThe Intreo Employment Service delivered by my Department offers a comprehensive range of employment services and supports. Employment Personal Advisors offer advice and guidance on job search tools and techniques and employment opportunities.
An Employment Personal Advisor from the Maynooth Employment Services Office, located at Claremount House, Kelly’s Lane, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, W23 X5N5 has contacted the person concerned to offer our support.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the carer's allowance has been improved in recent times to meet requirements of more persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18707/24]
View answerThe 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 Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. In 2024 the expenditure on the Carer’s Allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.1 billion and there are currently 96,406 people getting this payment.
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. The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was also increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
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.
Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the income disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235.00 for a carer who is part of couple. These are the highest disregards in the Social Welfare system.
These changes meant that carers on a reduced rate moved to a higher payment. In addition, many carers who previously did not qualify for a payment due to their means are brought into the Carers Allowance system for the first time.
In acknowledgement of the particular challenges faced in light of the current cost of living crisis, I announced a number of measures as part of Budget 2024, which directly benefit family carers:
• In November, a €400 a lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carers Support Grant.
• A Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to people in receipt of Carers Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
• January saw an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly carers payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates.
• In late January/early February, a once-off double Cost of Living Support Payment was paid to qualifying Social Protection recipients, including carers.
In addition, in January 2020 the number of hours a person in receipt of Carers Allowance could work, study or attend a training course was increased from 15 to 18.5 hours. This measure was prioritised in response to the carers who expressed that they found 15 hours to be too restrictive, not only for work but for education and training purposes.
Notwithstanding these improvements, as part of Budget 2024, I announced my intention to establish an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine and review the system of means test for carers payments.
I have asked this Group to report to me on the matter by Quarter 3 of this year.
I can assure the Deputy that I am keenly aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face, and I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by my department under review.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the return of the funeral bereavement grant may be envisaged other than by way of an exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18708/24]
View answerThe Bereavement Grant, which was a once-off payment of €850 for funeral costs, was discontinued in January 2014. The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716 at a cost of €20.3 million. It is estimated that the cost of reintroducing the grant would be close to €31 million per annum and would increase annually. Accordingly, any decision to reinstate such a universal grant would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including its actual effectiveness in helping people with funeral costs.
It is worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the former grant.
These include weekly-paid Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory and Non-Contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner grant of €8,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State Pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death, extending to 12 weeks in respect of Carer’s Allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Under the Supplementary Allowance scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. This is a more targeted and efficient manner of assisting people with bereavement expenses in addition to the range of supports already set out.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision continues to be made for those retiring at 65 years of age; the extent of any recent progress in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18709/24]
View answerThe Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the State pension age of 66. The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at age 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66.
This support is provided for under the Jobseeker's Benefit or the Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) scheme. To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme including the relevant PRSI social insurance contribution requirements. There is no requirement to sign-on periodically with this particular scheme.
A person who does not meet the conditions for Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds may be eligible for the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.
Since January 2024, a person can opt to defer State Pension (Contributory) until they are age 70 years of age; however, a person who retires at age 65 will continue to be eligible for the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds until age 66 provided that they satisfy the qualifying conditions.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently in hand in respect of means-tested social welfare payments and non-means-tested payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18710/24]
View answerThe 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 Chief Appeals Officer continually monitors the number of appeals on hands and processing times. Every effort is made to ensure that appeals are dealt with expeditiously at every stage of the process and processing times are kept to a minimum. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice.
The below tables show a breakdown of appeals on hands for both means tested payments and non-means tested payments as of 31st March 2024.
|
Means Tested Schemes |
Appeals on hands |
|
Back To Work Scheme |
3 |
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
10 |
|
Carers Allowance |
1048 |
|
Diet Supplement |
1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1726 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
445 |
|
Farm Assist |
44 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
9 |
|
Heating Supplement |
2 |
|
Homemakers |
1 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
1 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
2032 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance Transition |
81 |
|
Jobseekers Means |
174 |
|
Liable Relatives |
7 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
291 |
|
Rent Allowance |
2 |
|
Rent Supplement |
22 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
185 |
|
SWA/BASI |
541 |
|
Travel Supplement |
1 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
7 |
|
Total |
6633 |
|
Non Means Tested Schemes |
Appeals on hands |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
4 |
|
Carers Benefit |
74 |
|
Carers Support Grant |
94 |
|
Child Benefit |
203 |
|
Dental Benefit |
31 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
2 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
235 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
816 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
17 |
|
Illness Benefit |
161 |
|
Injury Benefit |
8 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
416 |
|
Jobseekers 65 |
16 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
1105 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit for the Self Employed |
32 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
21 |
|
Medical & Surgical Appliances |
5 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
37 |
|
Optical Benefit |
17 |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
54 |
|
Parents Benefit |
11 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
56 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
7 |
|
Recoverable Benefits |
6 |
|
Scope |
90 |
|
PRSI Refunds |
1 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
375 |
|
State Pension Contributory Forecast |
1 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
36 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
26 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
7 |
|
Total |
3964 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to examine the situation whereby women who left full-time employment to care for a relative or family member and returned to the workforce with insufficient time to enable them to make the necessary contributions can meet the necessary contributions to qualify for a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18711/24]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the State Pension system currently gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). This was recognised by the Pension Commission in its report which recommended that long-term carers should be given access to the State Pension (Contributory) and defined long-term caring as caring for more than 20 years. It was also recognised that long-term carers may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years of paid contributions.
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.
As the Deputy is aware, one of the key measures introduced from the 1st January 2024 is the introduction of long-term carer's contributions. Long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to satisfy the minimum 520 contributions condition.
My Department launched an online system for people to register for long term caring contributions. If a person has cared for less than 20 years (1040 weeks), the period will be registered and used for State Pension (Contributory) if/when they have additional periods which accumulate to 20 years or more. The care does not have to be provided for consecutive years. It can be a combination of any periods during the working life where a person was unable to be in paid employment for more than 18.5 hours per week due to caring responsibilities.
A person with less than 20 years caring may be entitled to avail of homecaring periods subject to existing qualification conditions of having 520 paid contributions. A combination of 20 years homecaring periods and 20 years paid contributions can be used to qualify for a full rate pension.
In the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer to build up additional entitlements.
If a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period of deferral to establish entitlement. A person will also have the option to continue working between age 66 and 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate, should they choose to defer their State Pension (Contributory).
Finally, 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.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for a decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18712/24]
View answerMy Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently.
I am sure that the Deputy can appreciate how processing times can vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
My Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average, for all the main scheme areas. Both the carer's allowance and carer's benefit claims are being processed an average of two weeks quicker than they were compared to a year previously and Child Benefit claims are being processed an average of one week quicker than they were compared to a year previously.
The table below gives the average weeks to award for all main schemes as of December 2023.
|
Scheme |
Average Weeks to Award |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
6 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
1 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
7 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
4 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
5 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
4 |
|
Disability Allowance |
10 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
11 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1 |
|
Child Benefit (Dom & FRA) |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
7 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
6 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
5 |
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for determination of appeals has been shortened; the average length of time for processing appeals at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18713/24]
View answerThe 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 below table shows a breakdown of the average processing times for all appeals over the past 10 years and from 1st January 2024 to 31st March 2024.
Appeal Processing Times for appeals 2014 – 31 st March 2024
|
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
2014 |
21.1 |
28.6 |
|
2015 |
18.1 |
25.5 |
|
2016 |
17.6 |
24.1 |
|
2017 |
19.8 |
26.4 |
|
2018 |
24.8 |
30.0 |
|
2019 |
22.1 |
26.9 |
|
2020 |
15.5 |
27.1 |
|
2021 |
13.9 |
25.5 |
|
2022 |
15.0 |
26.0 |
|
2023 |
17.6 |
29.2 |
|
Jan – March 2024 |
23.2 |
30.4 |
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming and streamlining the appeal process in recent years. A modernisation project is currently in progress to develop and implement a new appeals business process and IT system. This project aims to provide an enhanced and responsive appeals service for customers. A new IT system was introduced on 6 November 2023. The next phase of the system, which will be implemented in Quarter 3 2024, will provide functionality on the MyWelfare platform for making appeals. This will provide a secure, comprehensive, online appeals service for customers. It will improve the customer experience by offering an additional online channel, facilitating 24/7 access to view current appeal status. It will also reduce the administrative overhead of validating and registering appeals.
The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice.
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of pension applications for contributory-related State pension received in each of the past five years to date; the number granted, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18714/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy on those schemes is provided in the attached tabular statement.
Table 1: State Pension (Contributory) claims registered, awarded, rejected and pending, by year
|
Year |
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Pending at end December |
|
2019 |
41,551 |
20,737 |
16,063 |
4,883 |
|
2020 |
38,808 |
17,155 |
13,742 |
5,231 |
|
2021 |
42,233 |
19,258 |
15,176 |
4,032 |
|
2022 |
43,633 |
18,776 |
12,207 |
6,942 |
|
2023 |
47,241 |
21,096 |
14,866 |
6,885 |
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which her Department has in place an appropriate method for determination of eligibility for domiciliary care allowance, given the number of children who are now deemed eligible on the basis of special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18715/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living, in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding/diet, communication, speech/language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, including any other additional needs.
However, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability/diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the disability/diagnosis in terms of the level of associated care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability/diagnosis. The decision and assessment process that applies in the consideration of whether a child satisfies the criteria for DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
It should be noted that all applications are decided by a Deciding Officer, on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child, based on the personal details provided in the completed application form (DomCare1), including the signed details from the child's GP/other medical professional on this form, along with any additional information and/or documentary evidence such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise, if provided by the applicant in the application process.
In relation to the DCA medical assessment process, all applications are referred to a departmental Medical Assessor (MA) for their professional opinion. Based on the information provided in the application process, including any supporting (medical) evidence if provided, the MA considers the severity of the child's disability/diagnosis, the expected duration and the associated care needs and provides their professional opinion in relation to the child's eligibility for DCA. In making a decision on the application, the Deciding Officer has regard to the MA opinion in the decision process.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which she and her office continue to ensure the making of a basic payment to applicants of social welfare payments while the primary application is being processed in order to alleviate hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18716/24]
View answerThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
The Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need, who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. This assistance is subject to the person having the right to reside and satisfying the Habitual Residence Condition.
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is paid at rates up to €230 per week with increases for adult and child dependents. Currently there are 13,154 recipients of a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
