Written Answers Nos. 438 to 455
438. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27252/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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 11 July 2016. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 23 September 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
439. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27253/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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 21 June 2016. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 08 September 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review of the decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of his request. The review will be processed as quickly as possible and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome. If the outcome of the review is not in favour of the person in question, he will have the right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
440. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for disability allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27254/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 11 August 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
441. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in a full year of restoring the diet supplement scheme in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27259/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition.
Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. The research showed that the average costs of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one third of the current rate of personal social welfare payments. A decision was taken to allow existing recipients to continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
There are currently some 3,500 recipients of diet supplement. It is not possible to estimate what it would cost to fully restore the scheme without identifying those that satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme, including the medical conditions. The numbers in receipt of diet supplement had been decreasing prior to the closure of the scheme to new applicants from almost 8,000 in June 2011 to some 6,000 in December 2013.
The cost of diet supplement is provided for under the heading of “other supplements” which also include supplements such as heating and travel. Expenditure under these supplements was some €9.5 million in 2013 and €6.2m has been provided for 2016. Detail of expenditure on these supplements since 2011 is provided in the tabular statement for information.
Changes to any schemes administered by my Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context. In cases of particular hardship that may present, officials in my Department have the legislative power to award a payment under the SWA scheme in cases of exceptional need.
Tabular Statement: Expenditure on Supplements 2011-2016 (Includes Diet, Heating and Travel) €000
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 (Provisional to end of August) |
|
12,766 |
11,248 |
9,526 |
8,125 |
7,380 |
4,527 |
442. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27260/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 2 December 2015. The first payment was issued by his selected payment method on 13 July 2016.
Arrears of payment due for the period 2 December 2015 to 12 July 2016 were issued to the person in question, by his chosen payment method, on 22 August 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
443. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position of a naturalisation case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27281/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraNaturalisation of individuals is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality. I have been advised by that Department that it has no record of an application from the individual concerned for either a stamp 4 or for citizenship.
444. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position of an appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27283/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
445. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have their carers benefit payment reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27286/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a condition for receipt of Carer's Benefit (CARB) that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself.
The care recipient suffered injury in a road traffic accident in August 2015 and CB was initially awarded for a period of 6 months up to 31 August 2016, as it was decided that he required full-time care for that period.
Prior to the expiry of this 6 month period, the carer submitted further evidence in support of a claim for continued payment.
This evidence was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 26 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
An appeal was received on 24 August 2016 and the additional evidence submitted is currently being reviewed. If the review outcome is in favour of the carer, she will be notified of the decision in writing.
Otherwise the case will be forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for their adjudication.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
446. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will be defending findings with the assistance of legal professionals with regard to a case (details supplied). [27307/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of Scope section in the Department of Social Protection is to make statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where appropriate, and the case law from previous court judgements.
Scope decisions may be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office by the employer, employee or self-employee. The Social Welfare Appeals Office operates independently of the Department. It aims to provide an independent, accessible and fair appeals service in a prompt and courteous manner.
In an appeal hearing, the Scope section outlines the decision made by its deciding officers and the basis for the decision. While it is not the practice of Scope section to be represented by legal counsel at Appeal hearings, legal advice is available to Scope section decision makers from the Department’s own legal advisory service. Other parties to the appeal may engage legal counsel at their own expense.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an overpayment in the case of a person (details supplied); if the overpayment is currently the subject of an appeal; the way in which the overpayment occured in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27312/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently repaying €17.51 per week by way of a deduction from his State pension contributory payment in relation to an overpayment, the outstanding balance of which is €2,072.17.
The overpayment was accrued as he failed to disclose that he was in receipt of a State pension contributory of €115.20 per week when he applied for a basic supplementary allowance. The person concerned was paid the full rate of basic supplementary allowance, when entitled to a reduced rate only. The overpayment is not currently the subject of an appeal.
Section 341 (7A) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides for the deduction of the overpayment from the State pension contributory payment of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
448. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every extra week the fuel allowance is payable at current rates. [27450/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost increase in 2017 if child benefit were increased by €30 for children aged 12 years or older. [27515/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2017 of increasing both State pensions by €10 per week; and the cost of full restoration of the Christmas bonus to pensioners. [27522/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra459. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost in 2017 of increasing basic social protection payments by €10 per week. [27523/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 451, 458 and 459 together.
The estimated cost of increasing the duration of fuel allowance by one week per annum is estimated at €8.8 million in a full year.
The estimated cost of a €30 increase in the rate of Child Benefit, in respect of children aged 12 and over, is €135 million in a full year.
A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment to those aged 66 and over is estimated to cost €298 million in a full year. This cost includes a proportionate increase for recipients with qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment. The weekly payments concerned include:
- State Pension Contributory
- Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension – aged 66 or over
- Deserted Wife's Benefit – aged 66 or over
- Death Benefit Pension – aged 66 or over
- State Pension Non Contributory
- Carer's Allowance – aged 66 or over
- Half Rate Carer's Allowance – aged 66 or over
The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. It was partially reintroduced in 2014 with a 25% Bonus payment. A 75% Bonus was paid in December 2015 to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed at a cost of €197 million. The cost of full (100%) Christmas bonus to those aged 66 and over in December 2016 (recipients of the payments listed above) is estimated at approximately €144 million.
The estimated cost of a €10 increase in all weekly Social Protection payments is estimated at €698.5 million in a full year. This cost includes a proportionate increase for recipients with qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment.
The above costings are on a full year basis and assume that, where relevant, each increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming weeks in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.
449. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27475/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 5 August 2016.
The application is currently being examined and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
450. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost in 2017 of increasing family income supplement, FIS, by calculating it on the basis of 75% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the assessable income of the person or persons raising the child or children; and decreasing the number of hours worked by those eligible to more than 15 hours per week. [27514/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants. There are over 55,000 families with almost 123,000 children in receipt of FIS. The estimated spend on FIS this year is approximately €410 million.
FIS is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the weekly family income of the person(s) raising the children. Increasing the multiplier for calculation of the rate of FIS payable from 60% to 75% would result in increased expenditure of approximately €101 million.
The “hours worked” eligibility criterion has been reduced significantly since the introduction of the scheme in 1984, from 30 hours per week to 19 hours per week in 1996. As FIS administrative data does not record information on recipients working below 19 hours per week, it is not possible to estimate the costs associated with this measure. However, further reducing the “hours worked” threshold would obviously have increased expenditure implications.
452. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost increase in 2017 if child benefit were paid for those over 18 until they finish full-time second level education. [27516/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is currently paid to around 619,000 families in respect of some 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure in the order of over €2 billion in 2016. Child Benefit is an important source of income for all families and in Budget 2016 the Government increased Child Benefit by €5 per month, at a cost of €72 million.
Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years.
The cost of extending child benefit to 18 year olds in second level education is estimated at €62.5 million. This costing is based on children turning 18 years in the academic year, it does not include 19 year olds or above that are in second level education.
As Child Benefit is a universal payment, this proposal would not be targeted. It is worth also noting that under EU regulations Child Benefit is defined as a family benefit and is exportable in cases where the claimant is working in Ireland but where the children are living abroad. In 2015, Child Benefit was paid in respect of an average of 7,862 non-resident children of 4,878 families. The total cost of Child Benefit in 2015 in respect of children residing in other EU Member States was €12.7 million. The estimate for 2016 is €13.5 million. We have no way of predicting with any degree of accuracy the potential in-flow in this category for children who turn 18 and remain in secondary education in other Member States.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children
- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
453. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost increase in 2017 of reversing the cuts to the one-parent family payment in order that it continues to be paid until a child reaches 18 years of age. [27517/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2017 of reinstating the income disregard of €147.50 for one-parent family payments and jobseeker's transitional payments. [27518/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 454 together.
The cost of increasing the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) in order that it continues to be paid when the youngest child reaches 18 years of age is not currently available. Customers transitioning from (OFP) move to a multitude of social welfare schemes and so this costing would require a complex exercise across a wide range of datasets within the Department.
I am, however, able to provide the Deputy with the approximate cost to the Exchequer of increasing the age of the youngest child for receipt of OFP to 12 and 14.
Please see this information in tabular form as follows:
|
OFP Increased to age: |
Approximate cost to the Exchequer in a full year |
|
12 |
€9,900,000 |
|
14 |
€13,500,000 |
These costings are based on the profile of lone parents, as of June 2016. It should be noted that they do not take into account potential behavioural changes which may arise on foot of the implementation of these changes. However, they do take into account accrued savings of the Back to Work Family Dividend as individuals would lose entitlement to the Dividend if they moved back to OFP.
With regard to the Deputy’s question of re-instating the income disregard, it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the figure of €146.50 per week for the income disregard for OFP and the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST). The Deputy should note that the disregard of €146.50 only ever applied to OFP. The JST disregard was originally set at €60 per week and was then increased in January 2015 to €90 per week.
Please see the requested information in tabular form as follows:
|
Scheme |
Increase income disregard to: |
Approximate cost to the Exchequer in a full year |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
€146.50 a week |
€18,200,000 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment |
€146.50 a week |
€7,000,000 |
|
Total |
€25,200,000 |
455. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2017 of disregarding maintenance payment when means testing one-parent family, jobseeker's transitional and jobseeker's allowance payments. [27519/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides for a disregard of maintenance payments in relation to housing costs actually incurred (up to a maximum of €95.23 per week) across a range of means-tested social assistance schemes (such as jobseeker's allowance, one-parent family payment, disability allowance and the state pension non-contributory), with half the balance of the maintenance being assessed as means.
Any change would have implications for other social assistance schemes where similar arrangements apply.
It is not possible at this time to provide a cost for this proposal as collating the relevant data across the various schemes would require significant resources.
