Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2012
111 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Social Protection when will payments for partial capacity payment commence; the persons who will be eligible; the way the new payment will be advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8892/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme was formally launched on Monday 13th February 2012. Full details of the scheme have been published on my Department's website and an information leaflet has also been published. My Department will also be engaging with representative bodies in the disability sector to further enhance awareness of the new scheme.
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme is open to people who are in receipt of Invalidity Pension (IP) or who have been in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) for a minimum of six months. Participation in the scheme is voluntary and the scheme is designed in particular to respond to the needs of people who have sought to avail of ‘exemptions' in order to take up employment opportunities. The limitations on hours worked which applied under the ‘exemptions' arrangements do not apply to the new scheme.
The introduction of the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme marks an important and positive development of the social welfare system. The scheme recognises that the welfare system, which categorised people as ‘fit to work' or ‘unfit to work', did not reflect the reality for many existing welfare customers. It provides an opportunity for people with disabilities, and assessed to have an employment capacity which is restricted when compared to the norm, to avail of employment opportunities while continuing to receive an income support payment.
112 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a carer’s allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8902/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the above named person. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
113 Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions, if any, in place for recipients of jobseeker’s payments who are close to retirement age; if there are any transitional arrangements in place or plans to introduce same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8931/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit is paid to people up to 66 years of age at which stage eligibility for a State Pension commences. There are three categories of State Pension to which a jobseeker client may be entitled — State Pension (Transition) which is paid at age 65, State Pension (Contributory) which is paid at age 66 and the means tested State Pension (Non-contributory) which is also paid at age 66.
There are a number of transitional arrangements in place for jobseeker clients moving onto State Pension:
They are automatically advised to apply for one of the State Pension payments three months in advance of reaching the eligible age;
Where a person's entitlement to jobseeker's benefit exhausts between age 65 and 66, they may continue to receive jobseeker's benefit up to 66 provided they have 156 paid social insurance contributions;
A number of people aged 55 and over who have left the labour force are in receipt of Pre-Retirement Allowance (PRETA) which is payable until they reach pension age. This is a means-tested payment and the people on this scheme are not required to sign-on as they do not need to be available for work. This scheme has been phased out for new clients from July 2007 in order to encourage and facilitate people to continue to work up to and beyond pension age.
There are no plans to introduce any other transitional arrangements for people approaching pension age.
