Written Answers Nos. 858-877
858. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will abolish the requirement of a means test for Irish citizens in order that they may qualify for a carer’s allowance, to ensure the continuance of this vital service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46598/24]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by the Department of Social Protection 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 €1.9 billion in 2025.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 98,117 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.
The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance 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 or people in respect of whom care is being provided.
There have been a number of significant improvements made to the means test for Carer's Allowance in recent years. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively since June 2022.
Notwithstanding these improvements an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was established last year to examine and review the system of means testing for carer payments. The Group is due to report its findings in the coming weeks.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. Thus, the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future - commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
859. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if assistance will be provided to the flood victims in Listowel and Killocrim, County Kerry, as a matter of extreme urgency, following the 23 November 2024 disaster that saw upwards of 70 homes destroyed by water; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46634/24]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected by a number of weather events across the country in 2024, including Storm Bert.
The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.
The income test for Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is more generous than that which applies in the case of social welfare schemes generally. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance (including non-Social Welfare recipients).
In October 2023, Government revised the limits under the scheme and approved an additional €3 million in funding for the scheme. Income limit levels for the scheme were also increased in October 2023 from:
€30,000 to €50,000 for a single person;
€50,000 to €90,000 for a couple; and
€10,000 to €15,000 per dependent child.
It should be noted that a reduced or tapered level of support may also be provided in cases where families have income above the limits.
Following a severe weather event, my Community Welfare Staff closely monitor the situation on the ground and engage with the relevant local authorities and other agencies to assess conditions. They are available on the ground in County Kerry offering financial assistance and advice to those living in the affected areas.
Households in Co. Kerry have received support since this storm and there has been no undue delay with any Humanitarian Aid Scheme claims::
Stage 1 - All households that have applied for Stage 1 assistance, have received a payment.:
Stage 2 – Of the households that have applied for Stage 2 support, those claims are currently being actioned by my Department and may require additional information from the customer during processing.
Stage 3 – Applications that have been received seeking Stage 3 support to date, have been referred to the Loss Adjustors for further evaluation.
Due to the complexity involved additional information is also required to progress the remaining claims, and it can take some time for this information to be made available by the client. The Community Welfare Service is paying close attention to all claims received and claims are being processed as quickly as is possible. Where it is necessary to involve the services of a Loss Adjuster, this may also impact on the timeframes involved.
If any household affected by severe weather events needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
860. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46688/24]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
An Appeals Officer’s decision is generally final and conclusive and can only be revised in certain limited circumstances:
(i) by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where new facts or evidence have been provided which were not before the Appeals Officer when he made his decision which, had they been before him, would have rendered the decision erroneous;
(ii) by the Chief Appeals Officer under Section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where it has been established that in making the decision the Appeals Officer has made a mistake in relation to the law or the facts; or
(iii) by an appeal to the High Court on any question of law in accordance with Section 327 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
861. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if Community Employment participants who earn over €20,000 per year due to dependent status are to be included the new auto-enrolment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46769/24]
View answerThe aim of introducing auto-enrolment is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland, and to help provide for better retirement incomes for workers. The legislation to underpin this new savings system was enacted in July 2024 and a Statutory Instrument (S.I. No. 500 of 2024) was signed by the Minister which provides for the commencement of the system from the 30th of September 2025.
The new system will be called 'My Future Fund'. It will automatically enroll all employees, aged between 23 and 60 years of age, who are earning €20,000 or above a year (across all employments), and who are not actively contributing to a supplementary pension scheme.
Those who fall outside the age and earnings threshold – in other words, those aged between 18 and 22 or between 60 and 66, or who earn below €20,000, will be able to join the new retirement savings system by voluntarily opting in if they wish to do so.
Earnings from Community Employment (CE) schemes will not be assessed for auto-enrolment. However, if a CE participant has another job where they are an employee, that income will be assessable for auto-enrolment and, if they meet the eligibility criteria, they will be automatically enrolled for that employment only. They may also opt-in in respect of that employment if they are otherwise outside the age and earnings threshold. In any event, no contributions will be calculated on the basis of earnings from a CE scheme.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
862. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she agrees that those who have been paid a carer's allowance by the State should qualify for the contributory State pension without having to be a full-time carer for 20 years; if, when considering this, she will take into account that a carer does not control how long the person to whom they are providing care lives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46775/24]
View answerThe contributory State Pension is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. Eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is based on a number of criteria:
Being aged 66 or over;
Having entered the Social Insurance system 10 years before you intend to drawdown your SPC.
Having a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions (i.e., 10 years reckonable PRSI contributions).
This Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, carers are not excluded from access to the SPC. Once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the State Pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role including::
PRSI credits (which include Credits for Carers Benefit and Carers Allowance).
Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants faced barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory).
The Pensions Commission was asked to consider how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependants can be accommodated within the State Pension system. The Commission engaged in a public consultation process and had the benefit of presentations from Family Carers Ireland and the National Women’s Council in forming its recommendations on the proposals and the period of care. The Commission recommended that long-term carers should be given access to SPC and defined long-term caring as caring for more than 20 years. Setting the criteria of more than 20 years is in recognition of the existing access to SPC for carers who may have up to 20 years of caring periods.
I was very pleased to implement this important recommendation and, since January 2024, 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 fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions required for eligibility.
Where a person has less than 20 years caring, they may be entitled to avail of up to 20 years HomeCaring periods or the Homemakers scheme or rely on PRSI credits subject to existing qualification conditions of having 520 paid contributions. All caring periods that are registered with the Department will be recorded on a person's contribution record.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
1. The 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
2. 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
3. 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 State Pension (Contributory) with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
863. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection why those in receipt of the State pension do not receive a Christmas bonus, and if she will consider a change to this. [46835/24]
View answerThe Christmas Bonus announced as part of Budget 2025 provided a 100% increase in the weekly rate of payment for eligible recipients in the first week of December.
The Christmas Bonus was paid to over 1.38 million long-term social welfare recipients. This includes recipients of the State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
864. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to abolish the means test for the carer’s allowance; the timeline for same; and whether this will include rate increases. [46836/24]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by the Department of Social Protection 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 €1.9 billion in 2025.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 98,117 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.
The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance 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 or people in respect of whom care is being provided.
There have been a number of significant improvements made to the means test for Carer's Allowance in recent years. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively since June 2022.
Notwithstanding these improvements an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was established last year to examine and review the system of means testing for carer payments. The Group is due to report its findings in the coming weeks.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. Thus, the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future - commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
865. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the annual report under section 6 of the Gender Recognition Act for 2023 will be published. [46843/24]
View answerThe annual report under section 6 of the Gender Recognition Act for 2023 is published. The report is available on the Gov.ie site under Gender Recognition - Annual Reports.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
866. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection to details how much training is provided to Departmental staff answering phone calls from the public; what that training consists of; if they are trained in means-testing and how different payments interact; the amount of time that elapses between the beginning of training and those staff members receiving calls from the public; the measures in place to monitor the accuracy and factual correctness of information provided to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46850/24]
View answerThe Department's Customer Charter 2023-2026 outlines the level of service customers can expect when interacting with the Department. It includes commitments to providing clear, accurate, and comprehensive information, ensuring courteous and respectful engagement. Additionally, it sets out measures to improve quality customer service through a Customer Action Plan. To fulfil these commitments, the Department is very active in the delivery of learning, training, and development to frontline staff.
The training provided to staff encompasses a comprehensive programme, typically lasting several weeks, with the aim of developing and supporting staff to handle telephone enquiries effectively, professionally and accurately. It comprises a combination of classroom-based training sessions, e-learning modules and supervised practical experience. This programme includes an overview of the key services provided by the Department, data protection responsibilities, scheme-specific legislative and operational guidelines including means testing where applicable, along with a comprehensive overview of the IT and information systems utilised.
To develop their customer services skills, staff undertake a frontline customer service course provided by the Department’s Learning and Development Unit. In addition, staff also undertake a telecommunications skills course covering call handling and use of the telecommunication systems and equipment. Detailed reference, training and support documentation is also provided to staff and regularly updated.
The duration of training varies across the Department and is dependent on the levels of previous experience and the complexities of the schemes they will be dealing with. More than 100 schemes are administered by the Department, ranging from means-tested and income-tested payments to universal and contribution-based payments. Following training, staff are supervised as they transition to handling calls independently and receive ongoing support and mentoring thereafter. Monitoring of call volumes and wait times, information provided to customers and staff performance and development is continually reviewed, with ongoing support and training provided. Frontline staff are promptly informed of any scheme or system developments that may impact customer payments, ensuring they can provide the most up-to-date information to customers. While calls to the Department are not recorded, sample call content is monitored and observed for quality and training purposes to improve customer satisfaction and review the information provided.
The Department of Social Protection values customer feedback and has a structured process in place to ensure that all customer comments, compliments, and complaints are addressed effectively. Customers can provide feedback through various channels, including completing the online customer feedback form on the Department's website or emailing the customer service team at Customerservice@welfare.ie. Additionally, the Department also conducts customer satisfaction surveys to measure the levels of customer satisfaction with the department’s contact centre service.
The Department provides alternatives to phone contact channels: our website (www.gov.ie/dsp) provides comprehensive information on all schemes and services and customers also use the MyWelfare.ie portal to apply for services, check the status of their applications, and access a wide range of online services. Additionally, customers may contact the Department email, post, social media and through in-person visits.
These measures are all part of our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of the services the Department provides.
867. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has in place a time limit for the carrying out of investigations into overpayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46888/24]
View answerWhile it is acknowledged that most people on social welfare are claiming the correct entitlement due to them, my Department has a duty to ensure that it pays the right person the right amount of money at the right time. Therefore, it is important that all schemes operated are subject to on-going control reviews and eligibility checks.
Control reviews, which may lead to overpayments being assessed, can arise from targeted and random case selections, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. In this context, it should be noted that customers in receipt of a Social Welfare payment are required to report any change in their circumstances (income or means) to the Department. There is no specific time limit in place for the carrying out of investigations into overpayments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
868. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is eligible for fuel allowance given they are 82 years of age and require the support. [46909/24]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. This payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April to assist households with their energy costs.
Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long term social welfare payments with their heating needs.
The person concerned applied for the fuel allowance in January 2023. As they failed to submit the supporting documentation requested on 3 March 2023, my Department was not in a position to determine their entitlement, if any, to the Fuel Allowance. A disallowance letter issued to the person concerned on 4 April 2023.
It is open to the person concerned to re-apply for this allowance and submit the required information. I have arranged for a fuel allowance application to issue to the person concerned. Once a completed application is received my department will determine their entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
869. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under her remit since 1 November 2024. [46935/24]
View answerThe State Boards operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. No appointments were made to these boards during the period in the question, that is from 1st November to date.
870. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to ensure that individuals facing life-limiting illnesses are not burdened by unnecessary bureaucratic procedures when applying for financial assistance as in the case of a person (details supplied). [1004/25]
View answerAccording to the records of the Department, the person concerned was initially in receipt of a Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) payment. Upon cessation of this payment, the person concerned submitted three claim applications for financial assistance to the Department; Disability Allowance (DA), Invalidity Pension and basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). Disability Allowance and basic SWA are both mean-assessed payments. As part of the application process for these payments, a person is asked to provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of each claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.
I can confirm that on review of all three applications, the person concerned has been awarded an Invalidity Pension at the new weekly rate from 02/01/2025. Their first payment including any arrears due issued to their nominated bank account on 16/01/2024. Arrears will be paid at the previous weekly rate from 12/12/2024, which is the day following their last working day. A letter advising the person concerned of this outcome has issued to them on 07/01/2024.
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. The person concerned application for a basic SWA has been closed as their primary payment, Invalidity Pension, has now been awarded.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties with cost of living/household/essential expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income, it is open to make an Additional Needs Payment application by completing a SWA1 form and providing any necessary supporting documentation. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.
I understand that a Designated Person contacted the person concerned on 08/01/2025 to discuss the outcome of their applications further, as well as to advise them of any other financial assistance that may be available to both the person concerned and their family. The Designated Person has provided her contact details to the person concerned and remains available to be contacted directly to discuss any information pertaining to available assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
871. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider updating the rule regarding fuel allowance for those on benefit payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1023/25]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year). It is paid from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €400 million in 2025. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty.
Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, as in the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment due to illness. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid. Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.
Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). Recipients of both of these payments are eligible for Fuel Allowance, subject to fulfilling all other qualifying criteria.
Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the Fuel Allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
My Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources. Additional Needs Payments, where appropriate, can be paid to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. Also under this scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income.
Additional Needs Payments are not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
872. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied). [1043/25]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
An Appeals Officer’s decision is generally final and conclusive and can only be revised in certain limited circumstances:
(i) by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where new facts or evidence have been provided which were not before the Appeals Officer when he made his decision which, had they been before him, would have rendered the decision erroneous;
(ii) by the Chief Appeals Officer under Section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where it has been established that in making the decision the Appeals Officer has made a mistake in relation to the law or the facts; or
(iii) by an appeal to the High Court on any question of law in accordance with Section 327 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
873. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the application for the working family payment for persons (details supplied). [1074/25]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
In order to qualify for WFP, a family's income must be below a prescribed limit which varies in accordance with the number of qualified children. All family and household income is assessable for WFP and includes an applicant's and their spouse/partner's average net weekly assessable earnings from employment plus any other income such as other social welfare payments, income from self-employment, etc.
To qualify for Working Family Payment the applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be in employment working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight as defined in legislation.
An application from the person concerned was received on 10 October 2024, further documentation was requested and provided, the claim has been awarded from 17 October 2024. Arrears due to the person concerned from the 17 October 2024 have issued.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
874. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied). [1157/25]
View answerInvalidity 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 contribution conditions.
The person concerned was awarded IP with effect from 24 October 2024 and received first payment to his nominated bank account on 9 January 2025. He received all arrears due to him for the period 24 October 2024 to 8 January 2025, less Illness Benefit paid during the overlapping period, to his account on 16 January 2025. The person referred to was notified of the decision in relation to his IP claim on 9 December 2024. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
875. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when payments will recommence for a person (details supplied) further to the decision of the chief appeals officer regarding the unlawful disallowing of their claims for jobseeker's allowance and supplementary welfare in 2020, when they will receive the payments unlawfully withheld from them; the reasons for the continued delay in processing the claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1177/25]
View answerI wish to confirm that the Jobseeker's Allowance application for the person concerned has been awarded and any arrears due have been calculated.
All arrears payments due, including periods of Fuel Allowance entitlement, Christmas bonus payments, cost of living payments and annual budget changes have been included in the calculation and this payment is being processed this week for issue to the person concerned at the end of the week.
876. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) who has been waiting three years for a decision; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1249/25]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 7 June 2022. To qualify for IP, a claimant must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution years before the relevant date of their claim.
The person in question does not have the required 260 paid PRSI contributions in Ireland. The claim was refused on 1 July 2022 on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied and the person referred to was notified of the decision on the same date.
As the person concerned had previously worked in Romania, a request was made to the Romanian Authorities for their social insurance contribution record. As is the procedure in such instances, an application was also made on her behalf to the Romanian Authorities for an equivalent IP payment from them. Her contribution record has now been received and she satisfies the contribution conditions for a pro-rata Invalidity Pension under Bilateral/EU Regulations. However, she must also satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme.
The Romanian Authorities have requested a detailed medical report (DMR) for the application with them which was made on behalf of the person in question by my Department. When completed, the same DMR will be used to establish if she satisfies the medical conditions for her IP claim here. The DMR was first requested from my Department's Medical Review & Assessment (MRA) Area on 18 April 2023 but has not been completed to date. Following further contact with MRA section, a Medical Assessor has now requested further medical evidence from the person referred to in order to complete the DMR and this information was requested from her by letter on 16 January 2025. When the additional medical information is received, it may be the case that the person concerned will be requested to attend for an in-person medical assessment for the purposes of completing the DMR. If an in-person medical assessment is required, arrangements will be made to have an appointment arranged for the individual in question at the earliest possible date.
The person referred to is currently in receipt of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment from my Department and she will continue to receive this payment while a decision is awaited on her IP application. The information also available to my Department indicates she may have an entitlement to Widows Contributory Pension and an application for this payment has issued to her.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
877. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied). [1251/25]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week is payable for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) to assist households with their energy costs.
The Fuel Allowance payable at the weekly rate of €33.00 was awarded to the person concerned from 4th October 2024. Arrears covering the period 4 October 2024 to 16 January 2025 will issue to the person concerned on Friday 17 January 2025. Thereafter, it will be paid weekly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
