Written Answers Nos 2042-2060
2042. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Question No. 149 of 25 May 2017, the estimated cost of designing and implementing an auto enrolment pension system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27998/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in my response to parliamentary question number 149 of 25 May 2017, it is my intention to publish and commence the implementation of an Action Plan for the reform of pensions over the coming months. To address low supplementary pension coverage rates, in addition to a range of other long term reform measures, this Action Plan will detail proposals to transition from the current and purely voluntary system to one which will automatically enrol eligible employees into a quality assured retirement savings system from which the individual can opt out should they so wish.
Following publication of this Action Plan, I intend that the detailed evidence building and consultation required to deliver an automatic enrolment system will be undertaken over an initial project planning phase. This will include an investigation of the potential models for delivery and consideration of the costs involved. This information will be used to inform Government in selecting any preferred automatic enrolment operational structure and organisational governance. Decisions around main design parameters such as target membership, minimum contribution rates, financial incentives etc. will also impact on expenditure requirements. Correctly positioning/designing each of these parameters will be fundamental to the success of any system.
Until this work is undertaken during the initial project planning phase and a preferred model chosen, it would not be possible or appropriate to assess the costs of designing and implementing automatic enrolment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2043. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that paid an S contribution prior to 2011 that had been advised by her Department that they had sufficient pension contributions; the basis on which that advice was issued; the format in which that advice was issued; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons now find themselves with insufficient contributions for a full pension payment having followed the Department's advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28003/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the Department’s policy to not predict what a person’s future pension entitlement may be due to the varying factors involved in calculating such pensions.
State pension (contributory) is currently payable from age 66. Under current legislation
- a person eligible for a state pension (contributory) must:
- have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years
- have at least 520 full rate paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance
- (for a maximum rate pension) have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from 1979, or from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment, to the end of the last complete tax year preceding their 66th birthday, or
- (for a reduced rate pension) have a yearly average of at least 10 paid and/or credited contributions recorded from 1953, or from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment (whichever is the later), to the end of the tax year preceding their 66th birthday.
Accordingly pension eligibility can only be determined by a Deciding Officer following assessment of a person’s social insurance record on receipt of a completed application form. Where future pension entitlement enquiries are received, the person is informed that they can request a copy of their social insurance contribution record. It is expected that a new online statement of social contributions request facility, through MyWelfare, will shortly become available. The social insurance record, when combined with Frequently Asked Questions about state pension (contributory), will provide some guidance as to what the person’s future pension entitlement, if any, might be. Detailed information, including the Frequently Asked Questions, is available on the Department’ website www.welfare.ie.
It is likely that there will be a number of changes to state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions over the coming years. State pension age is already set to increase from 66 to 67 in 2021, and to 68 from 2028. In addition, the method by which pension entitlement is assessed is expected to change, moving to a total contributions based model in place of the current yearly-average method.
A contributor who has not yet reached pension age is best advised to maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life. In the event that a person ceases insurable employment before reaching state pension age, they may wish to consider payment of voluntary contributions. Information about voluntary contributions, including eligibility conditions, is available by writing to Voluntary Contributions Section, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford; by email to volcons@welfare.ie; or by telephone on (051) 356 000 or Locall 1890 690 690.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2044. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person is in receipt of invalidity pension, if they have access to a reduced rate of refuse collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28014/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension (IP) is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance (PRSI). IP recipients qualify for the Free Travel pass and, if living alone or with certain “excepted people”, to the Household Benefits Package (HBP). The HBP consists of allowances towards electricity or gas, and the free TV licence.
I have no plans to extend the HBP to cover waste collection charges, as the responsibility for waste management policy rests with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE). DCCAE advise that the charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
2045. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of extending jobseeker's benefit to the self employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28046/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government commits to seeking “to introduce a PRSI scheme for the self-employed and provide a supportive tax regime for entrepreneurs and the self-employed” . This has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister in this Department. Last Budget Day, I was pleased to extend the level of cover available to self-employed PRSI contributors. Self-employed contributors now have access to treatment benefits since last March and will have access to invalidity pension next December. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
It is planned to continue extending cover for other benefits to the self-employed 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.
An Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund as at 31 December 2015 is currently underway. One of the issues being examined by the independent consultants undertaking the Review is the potential costs in future years of extending cover for jobseeker’s benefit to self-employed contributors including the projected PRSI contribution rates which would be required to extend such cover on a revenue neutral basis. It is planned to publish the completed review next August.
The outcome of the review, including the potential costs associated with further extensions of benefits to the self-employed, will feed into the examination being carried out by my Department on extending access to jobseeker’s benefit, in particular.
The Review generally will project the income and expenditure of the Fund over a 55 year period, taking into account policy, economic and demographic changes since the previous review was undertaken. It will also, for example, project the costs of various options for the indexation of benefits and pensions such as indexation to earnings or prices. The findings of the Review will play an important role in informing the debate on policy developments in relation to the Social Insurance Fund in the years ahead including the financial sustainability of the Fund given the expected demographic challenges.
2046. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of extending maternity leave and maternity benefit for mothers of premature babies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28047/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), over 4,500 babies are born prematurely in Ireland every year, which in 2014 was 6.6 percent of all births.
Using this figure of 4,500 premature births per annum, the estimated cost for each additional week of paid maternity leave is approximately €1 million per week.
However, this figure does not take cognisance of the fact that maternity benefit is only payable where the mother has the required number of PRSI contributions. To put this in context there were 65,000 births in 2015 but only 44,453 claims for maternity benefit which equates to about 68% of births qualifying for maternity benefit. If the same percentage is applied to the number of premature births approximately 3,060 mothers of premature babies would be expected to qualify for any additional maternity benefit. This would cost approximately €0.7 million per week.
If the duration of maternity benefit is extended in this way there may be pressure to increase the duration of benefit for all mothers – in that case, based on an annual cohort of 45,000 claimants, each additional week would cost approximately €10 million per week.
It should be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
2047. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the surplus deficit in the social insurance fund for each of the past ten years; and the accumulated surplus at the end of each of those years. [28102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.
It should be noted that the surplus/deficit reported in this table is the difference between the in-year income and expenditure of the fund. This differs from the concept of an actuarial surplus/deficit which compares the liabilities of a fund (to pay benefits, now and in the future, to eligible contributors) with the assets (cash and other investments) held by that fund. Actuarial reviews of the fund are conducted, in accordance with legislative requirements on a five yearly cycle. An actuarial review of the social insurance fund is currently underway and it is expected that the results of this review will be published in the autumn. In addition the fund does not carry a deficit from one year to the next, accordingly the fund is holding a cash surplus of €453m as at the end of 2016.
Social Insurance Financial Position, 2007 to 2016
|
Year |
Income |
Expenditure |
Surplus / Deficit |
Accumulated Surplus/Deficit at end of year |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
2007 |
7,834 |
7,251 |
583 |
3,632 |
|
2008 |
8,144 |
8,400 |
-255 |
3,377 |
|
2009 |
7,280 |
9,784 |
-2,505 |
872 |
|
2010 |
6,710 |
9,461 |
-2,751 |
-1,879 |
|
2011 |
7,544 |
8,870 |
-1,460 |
-3,339 |
|
2012 |
6,781 |
8,632 |
-2,088 |
-5,427 |
|
2013 |
7,318 |
8,431 |
-1,314 |
-6,741 |
|
2014 |
7,891 |
8,617 |
-540 |
-7,281 |
|
2015 |
8,498 |
8,764 |
-119 |
-7,400 |
|
2016 |
9,217 |
8,988 |
453 |
-6,947 |
2048. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on designing, implementing and supporting the Eircode system in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [28145/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department undertook a business change study in 2015 for the Project which cost €7,012.92 inclusive of VAT.
The cost of the contract for IT work detailed above was €298,890.00 inclusive of VAT. The project was completed on time and within budget.
The Department has purchased the Eircode Address Database (ECAD) service to provide ongoing validation of postcodes with addresses at a cost of €36,900.00 p.a. inclusive of VAT. The ECAD also provides access to geocodes as it is correlated directly with GeoDirectory X Y co-ordinates.
There is also an annual Data Access fee of €615.00 (inclusive of VAT) per annum.
|
Year |
Description of costs |
Total Costs |
|
2015 |
Business change study |
€7,012.92 |
|
2015 |
Eircodes IT project |
€298,890.00 |
|
2015 |
Eircode Address Database (ECAD) service |
€36,900.00 |
|
2015 |
Data Access fee |
€615.00 |
|
2016 |
Eircode Address Database (ECAD) service |
€36,900.00 |
|
2016 |
Data Access fee |
€615.00 |
|
Total cost (inclusive of VAT): |
€380,932.92 |
2049. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is taking four weeks to process claims for maternity benefit in view of her recent commitment that this matter would be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28178/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the number of claims awaiting processing where the mother/expectant mother has already commenced her maternity leave has been eliminated. The Department is currently processing claims where the expectant mother is commencing her maternity leave in the current week and the waiting time for these customers has been eliminated. While this does not provide the length of time required to process a claim, I believe it addresses the Deputy’s concern that expectant mothers were waiting for up to 4 weeks to receive maternity benefit payment and I can confirm that there is no longer a waiting period.
The time required to process a maternity benefit claim is not the most relevant factor as claims are processed by reference to the ‘commencement of maternity leave date’ to ensure as many new mothers as possible have their claim awarded by the time they take their maternity leave. Once a decision is made and the claim has been awarded, and where the leave has already commenced, payment issues on the following Monday and this payment will also include any arrears due to the customer at that point.
I want to again take the opportunity to highlight that the Department also facilitates online applications for maternity benefit and an automated decision is made where the customer submits all necessary information and where the detail provided can be validated. I would ask the Deputy to encourage women who are planning maternity leave to use this channel, if possible, as it provides the most effective method of applying for maternity benefit.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
2050. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28239/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received for this child on the 3rd February 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications currently being received, it can approximately 18 weeks to process an application for DCA at this time.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2051. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28261/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18th April 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.
2052. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the means assessment for disability allowance recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28271/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no current plans to change the means assessment for disability allowance (DA).
The recently published “Make Work Pay” report, produced by an interdepartmental group, included a number of recommendations in relation to the disability allowance payment. The Government has decided to implement some of these, while others, including any review of the means assessment for DA, will require further reflection and a consultation process with disability groups which my Department has commenced.
A number of immediate changes were announced at the launch of the report in April including a measure to ensure that people with a long-term disability payment who move off the payment to get a job will retain their free travel pass for a period of five years; this is an improvement on the three year period recommended in the report.
The report’s recommendation, to dispense with the requirement that work be of a ‘rehabilitative nature’ for the disability allowance (DA) earnings disregard, was also accepted. Legislation to give effect to this change is included in the forthcoming Social Welfare & Pensions Bill, 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2053. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the sanction request regarding her Department's recent social protection fraud campaign; the details of the comparative study between the cost of the campaign to date in 2017 and the amount recouped as a result of the campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28276/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. In 2016, some 1.7 million applications for benefit, assistance and access to schemes were received and processed and over 82 million individual payments were made to people across all age groups and to employers. The scale of my Department’s operations and expenditure demands that a robust and integrated range of control and anti-fraud measures are in place. Measures to prevent and detect fraud and enhance controls across the Department’s various schemes are set out in the Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy which covers the period 2014 – 2018.
The recent fraud publicity campaign was designed to contribute to the overall effectiveness of my Department’s control strategy by:
- Promoting discussion on the topic of social welfare fraud and challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime;
- Encouraging the reporting of suspected/known social welfare fraud by concerned members of the public and those who have knowledge of wrongful and possible fraudulent claiming;
- Demonstrating that the Government and the Department takes the issue of social welfare fraud very seriously and that it will investigate and prosecute, where this is found to be warranted; and
- Underscoring my Department’s obligations, as one of the largest spending Departments in the State, to ensure the integrity of the social welfare system.
I am satisfied that the campaign has been effective in achieving all the objectives set for it and it has received a great deal of public support. Bringing the issue of welfare fraud to the fore in media and public discourse has, I believe, raised debate and challenged the culture and perceptions of those who see welfare fraud as a victimless crime. The campaign has also led to a considerable increase in the level of suspected fraud reporting - a 66% increase in overall reporting during the initial campaign launch period. Two months on since the campaign started, 4,641 reports have been received from members of the public, compared with 3,039 for the same period in 2016. Therefore, the objective of increasing the reporting of suspected welfare fraud has also been achieved.
All suspected fraud reports are now being examined and referred for appropriate follow-up action where this is considered warranted and my Department is very grateful for the public’s support in reporting suspected cases of social welfare fraud. Furthermore, the Department’s control and anti-fraud measures have received considerable public attention, as have the use of predictive analytics modelling which my Department is now using to assist in its anti-fraud work.
The level of welfare fraud detected in 2017 that is solely attributable to this campaign would be difficult to measure without making assumptions or inferences as to the role of the campaign in motivating certain individuals to report suspected fraud. It is likely that the campaign will also play a role in deterring welfare fraud in future. It is, therefore, more appropriate to focus on the initial and sustained increased in fraud reporting which was a campaign objective from the outset.
The cost of the campaign was €165,988, excluding VAT. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has sanctioned current expenditure for 2017 up to the limit set out in the Revised Estimates Volume for my Department, subject to a number of conditions. The Department’s administration provision for 2017 includes provision for expenditure on advertising. Such expenditure is not subject to individual sanction in respect of specific advertising campaigns but is subject to a condition that public procurement rules are observed in obtaining the services.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2054. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payment schemes that have a backlog or are in arrears; the way in which the schemes are in arrears; her plans to sanction overtime for departmental staff to clear backlogs in payment schemes; the cost to the Exchequer as a result of backlogs to payment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28279/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe payment schemes operated by my Department are designed to address certain contingencies that may arise in the course of a person’s life. By their nature, at any given time there will be a certain number of claims awaiting decision and my Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to and claims are processed as quickly as possible.
The number of claims awaiting decision at end of May 2017 and the average time to award for each main social welfare scheme is set out in the table.
The time taken by my Department to process claims depends on a number of factors, primarily the conditionality and complexity that applies to the relevant scheme. For example, long term schemes with medical or caring conditionality are relatively complex to decide upon and, consequently, do take longer to process. The quality and completeness of the application form and other supporting material is also an important factor. When the number of people applying to any particular scheme increases significantly, it can put pressure on my Department’s capacity to process those claims in a timely manner.
It is important to remember that someone who is awaiting a decision on an application may already be in receipt of a payment from my Department and that anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties while awaiting a decision on a claim may have recourse to a payment under the Department’s Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, which is operated by the nationwide network of Intreo Centres.
As part of its programme of service delivery modernisation, a number of business process improvement projects have been implemented by my Department in recent years to streamline the processing of claims and enhance operational efficiency. The Department has also developed and implemented new IT systems to improve our claims processing and management. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised. Staffing levels are also kept under continuous review to ensure the best use of available resources.
Provision for overtime is made in the administrative budgets assigned to the managers responsible for the administration of the Department’s schemes and overtime is used, where appropriate, to address increases in applications awaiting decision or seasonal peaks in demand in respect of particular schemes.
There is no additional cost to the exchequer consequent on increases in the numbers of applications awaiting decision, as, if there is an underlying entitlement to a payment, arrears issue in full once a decision on entitlement is made.
|
Scheme |
Awaiting decision at end May 2017 |
Average weeks to award |
|
Carer's allowance |
4,552 |
13 |
|
Child benefit (domestic) |
1,327 |
3 |
|
Disability allowance |
5,863 |
12 |
|
Domiciliary care allowance |
3,263 |
18 |
|
Family income supplement (new claims) |
3,180 |
3 |
|
Illness Benefit |
4,428 |
1 |
|
Invalidity pension |
1,620 |
7 |
|
Jobseeker's allowance |
5,896 |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's benefit |
2,088 |
1 |
|
One-parent family payment |
1,123 |
5 |
|
State pension contributory (domestic) |
3,493 |
5 |
|
State pension non-contributory |
2,334 |
12 |
|
Widow/widower/surviving civil partner contributory pension |
244 |
1 |
2055. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the CES programme based in Killenaule, County Tipperary under the auspices of a company (details supplied) has been wound down in view of the success of the project in placing persons in a large number of worthwhile projects in the parish over many years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28294/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department was unable to offer a contract to Killenaule Parish Enterprise Company, Co. Tipperary, as this company didn’t meet the requirements as laid out by the Department. Every opportunity was given to the Company involved to meet these requirements.
All CE participants with Killenaule Parish Enterprise Company have been transferred to other CE Sponsors within the area and their employment is continuing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2056. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28298/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 20 April 2017. Additional information in relation to the person’s application has been requested by a deciding officer on 13 June 2017. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2057. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an exceptional needs payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28327/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Exceptional Needs Payment in respect of funeral expenses for this customer was processed and paid on 18th April 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2058. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct rate of carer's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28331/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently receiving carer’s allowance (CA) for one care recipient, with an increase for one qualified child. The weekly carer’s allowance payment the person concerned is receiving is €238.80. This payment consists of a personal rate of €209.00 and €29.80 full rate for her child. This is the maximum amount that the person concerned is entitled to under the legislation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2059. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of savings a person is allowed to have before it is counted as means for a supplementary welfare allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28341/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment and/or a weekly/monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, including rent, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENP) and urgent needs payments (UNP).
For the purpose of assessing means when determining eligibility to a basic weekly payment or a SWA supplement, the capital value of savings are assessed as set in the attached tabular statement. The first €5,000 is not assessed in the calculation. The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need and reflects the position that persons with reasonable amounts of capital and property are in a position to use that resource to support themselves.
This assessment of the capital value of savings does not apply to ENPs and UNPs. Where a person applies for an ENP or UNP and has sufficient savings to meet the need, they would normally be expected to provide for the need from that source.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Formula for Assessment of the Capital Value of Savings for Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
Capital |
Weekly means assessed as |
|
First €5,000 |
Nil |
|
Next €10,000 |
€1 per €1,000 |
|
Next €25,000 |
€2 per €1,000 |
|
Any capital over €40,000 |
€4 per €1,000 |
2060. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed to facilitate the award of appropriate social welfare payment such as back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) who has returned to education but is currently being pursued by her Department for alleged overpayment of jobseeker's allowance which may be reviewed in the context of their parallel entitlement to back to education allowance but who has received no payment since January 2017; if immediate steps can be taken to restore appropriate payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28365/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to Back to Education allowance requires that a client is
- in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 234 days or nine months in advance of the course commencing and
- must apply for BTEA immediately before they are starting the course of education.
The relevant qualifying social welfare payment in this instance is for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA). The person concerned claimed JA from the 25th August 2016 and as such did not satisfy the requirement to be in receipt of a payment for nine months in advance of the start of the course in September 2016. In addition the client did not advise the Department that she had commenced on an education programme.
The Department received information that the person concerned was a full time student on a third level course from 12 September 2016 while concurrently in receipt of her JA payment. As a consequence her Jobseeker’s Allowance claim was disallowed for the period 12th September 2016 to the 14th February 2017. An overpayment of €2,233.33 was assessed because she was not entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance payment.
If the person concerned has finished her studies and is unemployed, she can apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance in Blanchardstown Intreo Centre. If she is continuing with her studies from September 2017, she is free to apply for financial support under the Student Grant scheme. Further details are available at www.studentfinance.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
