Written Answers Nos. 249-261
249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an oral hearing can be facilitated to determine an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47428/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 1 November 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 Employment Affairs and 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.
250. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the public services card is required as proof of identity to sit the driver theory test; if an in-date passport will suffice instead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47430/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
251. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the families and persons who are entitled to fuel allowance and the new telephone allowance. [47431/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to 376,000 low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
To qualify for a fuel allowance under the fuel allowance scheme, a person must satisfy a number of criteria including being resident in the State, having primary responsibility for the heating of a household and being in receipt of a qualifying payment.
A fuel applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory and qualify for a payment. All non-contributory recipients are accepted as satisfying this means test.
Fuel applicants must also satisfy the household composition criteria, i.e., they must live alone or only with the following:
- a qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant or qualified child(ren);
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right;
- a person who is receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or their qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant or qualified child(ren);
- a person receiving short term Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (less than 391 days for JA and less than 15 months/456 days for Basic SWA).
Therefore a social welfare dependant who is living with someone other than those listed above would not be entitled to the fuel allowance.
The new weekly telephone support allowance (TSA) of €2.50 will be paid from June 2018. People in receipt of both the living alone increase and fuel allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. It is expected that approximately 124,000 customers will qualify for the scheme at a cost of €16 million in 2018.
A central objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.
Therefore as stated above only customers who are in receipt of fuel allowance and the living alone increase will receive the new weekly TSA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
252. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rent supplement tenancies active on 31 December in each of the years since the payment was introduced to 2017, in tabular form; and the annual cost of the scheme for each of these years. [47442/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 36,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.
Statistics on rent supplement recipients since 1999 are provided in the attached tabular statement to date, information for earlier years is not readily available.
Rent supplement is a demand led scheme and recipient numbers have declined significantly in recent years. The strategic initiative of returning the scheme to its original purpose that of a short-term income support, facilitated by the introduction of HAP has been the main driver in rent supplement’s base decline. There are currently over 29,000 tenants in receipt of HAP support. Other contributory factors include the continuing improvement in the economy leading to fewer people seeking support due to retaining and securing long-term employment allied with people exiting rent supplement through activation and securing job opportunities. The strategic goal as set out in Rebuilding Ireland is to transfer all long-term tenancies from rent supplement to HAP by 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement: Rent Supplement - Recipient Numbers: 1999 to Present
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
1999 |
41,873 |
128,240 |
|
2000 |
42,683 |
150,590 |
|
2001 |
45,028 |
179,438 |
|
2002 |
54,213 |
252,203 |
|
2003 |
59,976 |
331,471 |
|
2004 |
57,874 |
353,762 |
|
2005 |
60,176 |
368,705 |
|
2006 |
59,861 |
388,339 |
|
2007 |
59,726 |
391,466 |
|
2008 |
74,038 |
440,548 |
|
2009 |
93,030 |
510,751 |
|
2010 |
97,260 |
516,538 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
502,747 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
372,909 |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
338,208 |
|
2015 |
61,247 |
311,059 |
|
2016 |
48,041 |
275,294 |
|
2017 |
36,238 1 |
1 As at end October 2017
253. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of applications for carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied). [47446/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance (CA) can only be paid in respect of care recipients aged less than 16 years where domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is being paid in respect of that care recipient.
DCA was awarded on 2 November 2017 and CA was awarded on 8 November 2017.
As the carer is currently in receipt of another social welfare payment at a higher rate than CA, the allowance will be awarded from a future date.
The person concerned was notified on 8 November 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Social Welfare legislation provides for the backdating of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) applications by a maximum of 6 months if a deciding officer considers that it has been shown that there was good cause for the delay in making the application.
This lady’s entitlement was backdated by 6 months when her DCA claim was awarded on 2nd November 2017. There is no legislative provision to allow for the backdating of a DCA award to exceed 6 months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
254. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person on farm assist would still qualify for the back to work enterprise allowance were they to participate in the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47452/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are dependent on certain social welfare payments to develop an enterprise, while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years (100% in year one and 75% in year two).
In the case of individuals in receipt of Farm Assist, the qualifying period required for access to the BTWEA is 9 months provided that the self-employment is not in relation to their holding and is not a continuation of an existing operation.
Periods spent on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) count towards the qualifying period provided they are preceded by a qualifying payment. Following a period on RSS an applicant will have to re-establish an entitlement to a qualifying payment (e.g. Jobseekers or Farm Assist) prior to applying for BTWEA
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when applications lodged for State pensions by persons (details supplied) will be processed; the reason for the non-granting of a State pension (contributory) to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47461/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons concerned are a couple who both have contributions records based on self-employment.
Since one member of the couple has not yet applied for the state pension (contributory), a decision on his state pension (contributory) cannot be made. An application form has been issued to this person. On receipt of the application, the pension entitlement will be examined and the person will be notified in writing of the decision.
The second member of the couple was notified on 26 July 2017 that there were self-employment liabilities outstanding for the year 2009. Section 110 (1) provides that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions for state pension (contributory) unless all outstanding self-employment contributions have been paid. The person was advised to contact the Department for a pension review once these liabilities were paid.
The Department’s Self-employment Section has confirmed that all self-employment contributions outstanding issues have now been resolved. A Deciding Officer has decided that the person is entitled to state pension (contributory) from their 66th birthday, 3 October 2014. A written notification of the decision has been sent to the person and arrears of pension have also been issued.
The person has applied for an Increase for a qualified adult on their pension for their spouse. This means-tested part of the claim will be referred to the Department’s Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. However, as the person’s spouse has been advised to apply for state pension (contributory) in their own right, they will be awarded whichever payment is more financially beneficial.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
256. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of both domiciliary carer's allowance and a housing support payment (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47474/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy, in relation to housing support payments administered by this Department, is detailed in the following table:
The Rental Accommodation Scheme and Housing Assistance Payment are administered by the Local Authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
|
Recipients as at end of |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
Of which were in receipt of Rent Allowance |
Of which were in receipt of Mortgage Interest Supplement |
|
December 2014 |
27,268 |
1,326 |
97 |
|
December 2015 |
29,305 |
1,044 |
47 |
|
December 2016 |
31,963 |
1,255 |
46 |
|
October 2017 |
34,498 |
1,023 |
36 |
257. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47476/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 7 March 2017.
The evidence before the deciding officer showed that the person concerned was engaged in employment outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week. Accordingly, the person concerned was notified on 17 October 2017 that she was not entitled to CA, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence to show that she is no longer working in excess of 15 hours per week.
Following this review the person concerned was awarded carers allowance from 19 October 2017. The first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 16 November 2017.
Arrears of allowance due from 19 October 2017 to 15 November 2017 will also issue.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
258. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 10 August 2017.
On 13 October 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and this gentleman will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
259. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 29 June 2017. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 16 November 2017. Any arrears due from 29 June 2017 to 15 November 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on the 09 November 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
260. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 13 October 2017 that the appeal for this lady was upheld. She was deemed to be medically suitable for the scheme.
Her file has been passed to a deciding officer to implement the appeals officers’ decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing once full entitlement has been established.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the basis on which a conclusion was reached that a person (details supplied) is cohabiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47487/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was in receipt of the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension. In the course of a review of the entitlement, the claimant advised the inspector that she had commenced a cohabiting relationship in August 2017 and signed a voluntary declaration to this effect.
The claimant has been written to and her response is awaited before a final decision is made on the matter. The claimant will also be advised of her right of appeal in the event that she is unhappy with the Deciding Officer’s decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
