Michael McGrath
Ceist:171. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [5048/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLabour Activation Measures
Ceisteanna (171)
Freagraí scríofa
All jobseekers are required to engage with the Department’s activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the Department’s own case officers or those advisors employed by JobPath. JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment (CE), catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers.
When referred to the JobPath service, the intention is that the client would work with the Personal Advisor to overcome barriers to employment and to obtain and sustain employment. Jobseekers are supported through the service for 12 months, have access to supports while in employment (for up to a period of 12 months) and can be referred to education or training programmes/courses as appropriate.
CE Schemes provide long-term unemployed people with part-time experience as a stepping stone back to employment. However, they are not full-time sustainable jobs.
In order to manage the allocation of activation support places effectively the Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave the JobPath service early in order to take up a place on such a scheme. After 12 months with the JobPath service however, and if at that point the client is not undertaking an education or training programme or has not secured employment, the Department will arrange for the client to progress onto the most appropriate intervention thereafter. The JobPath service is therefore an element of the overall activation service being delivered by the Department.
It is a legislative requirement that people in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance must participate in such employment services or schemes as the Department deems appropriate. A failure to engage with any employment service or scheme can result in the application of sanctions, but all decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are taken only by Department officials and not by the JobPath companies. The process for sanctioning clients who do not engage with the JobPath activation process is exactly the same as the process for clients who fail to engage with the Department’s own activation service.
The primary goal of the Department’s employment services is to move people from unemployment to full and sustained employment. As I am sure you will appreciate, it is not always possible to find employment that matches individual expectations.
The initial data on the impact of the service is encouraging, showing high satisfaction levels among clients of the service, and that people who engage with the service are more likely to secure employment than those who do not. The results of an independent customer satisfaction survey recently undertaken (JobPath Performance Data Report, which is published on the Department’s website) indicates that jobseekers feel that they are receiving a good service, and that JobPath has improved their chances of securing employment.
The department continues to monitor the delivery of the service and will publish performance data on a quarterly basis this year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (172)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal over a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 January 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
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.
Community Employment Schemes Places
Ceisteanna (173)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reduce the number of community employment scheme members for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) aims to help the long-term unemployed to re-enter the workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine. To this end, CE also provides training and development to participants.
With the ongoing welcome reduction in the Live Register, issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on all employment schemes, including CE are all being considered. In any consideration of these schemes, it will be important also to be cognisant of the valuable community and voluntary services delivered to local communities. I hope to be in position to bring a Memo to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Public Services Card Provision
Ceisteanna (174)
John Brassil
Ceist:174. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection if a new public service card will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Public Services Card (PSC) has been introduced to enable individuals to gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. A PSC is currently issued following a registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of data already held by the Department.
The PSC is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the free travel pass and the social services card of this Department and to make it easier for providers of public services to verify the identity of customers. 61% of all adults now have a PSC and over 2.4m cards have issued to date. Face-to-Face registration is taking place countrywide in 100 offices of the Department.
My Department will contact the person in question in the near future and make arrangements for him to be brought through the registration process.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (175)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:175. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5086/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 24 January 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility
Ceisteanna (176)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:176. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend entitlement to jobseeker's benefit to persons who have paid S-class contributions in the relevant year for assessment of entitlement; when these changes will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5119/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core to the Programme for Government is improving the position of the self-employed generally, including the commitment to introduce an enhanced PRSI scheme for the self-employed.
Making progress on this commitment has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister in this Department. On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce a number of important measures which will benefit the self-employed.
From March 2017, the self-employed will have access to the treatment benefit scheme which includes free eye and dental exams, and contributions towards the cost of hearings aids. Treatment benefit entitlements will also be extended from October 2017 so as to provide further dental and optical benefits (these improvements will benefit both the self-employed and employees).
More significantly, self-employed contributors will be eligible for the Invalidity Pension from December 2017. For the first time, this will give the self-employed access to the safety net of State income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability without having to go through a means test. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
The self-employed will also benefit in 2017 from the further increase in Earned Income Tax Credit announced by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, as well as the extension of entrepreneurship supports. These measures are all part of the Government’s policy of making work pay and encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship. I plan to continue extending cover for the self-employed to other benefits on a phased basis in future Budgets.
In 2017, my Department will examine the extension of social insurance to cover new risks and contingencies, including developing proposals on a form of jobseeker’s benefit where a person's business fails or they can no longer continue working in their profession or trade. I look forward to introducing further improvements for the self-employed in future Budgets.
Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility
Ceisteanna (177)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:177. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person making a claim for jobseeker's benefit in 2017 who is currently paying a class-A contribution, but who has 52 paid class-S contributions only in 2015, the relevant year for assessment, has an entitlement to jobseeker's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5120/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The jobseeker's benefit scheme provides income support for people who lose work and who have the required number of qualifying social insurance contributions. The 2017 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure on jobseeker’s benefit of €343 million.
The PRSI contribution classes that count towards qualifying for jobseekers benefit are PRSI Class A, H and P. Individuals who are self-employed cannot typically access jobseeker’s benefit as PRSI Class S contributions do not qualify a person for jobseeker’s benefit. To qualify for jobseeker's benefit a person must satisfy the conditionality for the scheme including the contribution condition. They must have at least 104 weeks' qualifying PRSI contributions paid since they first started work and 39 weeks' qualifying PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, or 26 weeks' qualifying PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks' qualifying PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which your claim is made. So, for claims made in 2017, the relevant tax year is 2015.
However, a self-employed person who has sufficient social insurance contributions as an employee could qualify for jobseeker’s benefit provided they either give up their self-employment or if their self-employment is considered to be subsidiary employment.
To be considered as subsidiary employment the relevant employment should be in addition to the jobseeker’s usual employment. Also, either the amount of earnings or profit from the occupation cannot exceed €12.70 per day, or the jobseeker must have a minimum of 117 PRSI contributions, paid immediately preceding the date of the claim or in respect of the last 3 complete contribution years. However, the individual must satisfy all conditions of the jobseeker’s benefit scheme, including being available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. If the jobseeker does not have the relevant number of qualifying contributions they may be eligible for jobseeker’s allowance or if engaged in farming they may qualify for farm assist.
Any decision to change the qualifying PRSI classes for jobseeker's benefit would be a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.
Invalidity Pension Eligibility
Ceisteanna (178)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:178. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend entitlement to invalidity pension to persons who have paid S-class contributions in the relevant year for assessment of entitlement; when these changes will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5121/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Invalidity pension is a pension payment for insured people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability. In Budget 2017, I announced the extension of cover for invalidity pension to the self-employed on a similar basis as employees. This is in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government for an improved PRSI scheme for the self-employed.
For the first time, the self-employed will have access to the safety net of State income supports if they have a serious illness or injury that prevents them from working, without having to go through a means test. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed. Given that this is a major change in the social protection system, significant adjustments to operational systems and processes will be required to support this measure.
Therefore, the measure will come into effect in December 2017.
I trust that this provides clarity on the issue for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (179)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for withdrawal of a carer's allowance and the household benefits package in the case of a person (details supplied); when payment is likely to be restored in view of the hardship for the person's family in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must be resident in the State and can only leave the State on holidays for 3 weeks in any calendar year. It is a further condition for receipt of CA that the carer’s means must be less than the statutory limit.
The person concerned was notified in writing on 18 July 2016 that payment of CA would be suspended from 28 July 2016. This was due to evidence which had been received by my department which indicated that the person concerned may have been absent from the State and may not have fully disclosed her means.
While the review of entitlement is ongoing, it has been decided to reinstate payment of CA. Because her spouse is claiming an increase in his jobseeker’s allowance in respect of her, CA has been re-instated at half-rate.
The person concerned has been notified of the current position on 1 February 2017.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits Reviews
Ceisteanna (180)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when rent supplement and jobseeker's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Payment of jobseeker’s allowance in the case of the client concerned was suspended due to concerns regarding address. As the client provided proof of address and evidence to the Social Welfare Inspector her payment suspension has been lifted.
The client concerned has been requested to provide up to date documentation relating to her rent supplement claim. On receipt of same, her ongoing rate of rent supplement entitlement can be reassessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Child Benefit Payments
Ceisteanna (181)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payment of child benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned first received child benefit in respect of her eldest children from June 2001, the month after her arrival in the State. Payment in respect of her next two children commenced in each case from the month following their birth.
In May 2016, a claim was received in respect of two additional children who were born in 2011 and 2013. No reference had been made to these children in previous correspondence and their births were only registered on 16 May 2016.
Payment in respect of these two children was awarded from June 2016 in accordance with the Department’s late claims legislation. The person concerned was informed of the decision in writing and advised of her right of appeal. As no further correspondence was received the case is considered to be finalised.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (182)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 17 November 2016.
When the application was examined by a deciding officer (DO), it was found that the application form was partially incomplete and that there was some other required documentation outstanding. The person concerned has recently been requested to supply the additional information required by the DO to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.