Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Thursday, 15 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 286-294

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (286)

Pat Deering

Ceist:

286. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have a decision on their application for a carer's allowance. [7835/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 7 December 2017.

The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (287)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

287. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7838/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Invalidity 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 gentleman concerned on the 29 January 2018. In order to establish medical suitability, forms for completion issued to the person concerned on 6 February 2018. On receipt of the completed forms the claim will be processed as quickly as possible and he will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Ceisteanna (288)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

288. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was not entitled to the full contributory pension; the options available to seek an increase in their pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7860/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday, based on an assessed yearly average of 24 contributions, covering the period from April 1981 to end-December 2012. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 969 reckonable contributions and credits, and is in receipt of the correct rate of contributory pension based on this social insurance record. The person was notified in writing of their pension award on 2 April 2013.

The person has no recorded contributions for the tax years 1983/84 to 1987/88, 1992/93 to 1995/96, and 2002 to 2003 inclusive, and has less than 52 contributions for some years during their social insurance contribution history. This affects their overall yearly average and, consequently, their rate of weekly pension entitlement.

If the person concerned considers that they hold additional information which may impact on their pension eligibility, they should submit the details without delay to enable my Department to have the matter investigated.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently announced proposals that pensioners who qualified for state pension (contributory) since September 2012, and whose rate of entitlement was impacted by the 2012 rate band changes, may apply for a review to have their entitlement considered under a new Total Contribution Approach (TCA). It will take some time to draft and pass the necessary legislation, and then develop the systems and procedures necessary to administer the new pension entitlement option. Accordingly, it is not necessary for any person to contact the Department about their situation. Instead, the Department expects to start issuing invitations to these pensioners from late 2018 to apply for a review under the new pension eligibility arrangements, and to notify any periods spent caring for which HomeCaring credits may be due. Review applicants will be notified of the outcome of their review and any applicable higher rate of entitlement will be paid to them. Such payments are expected to commence from early 2019. Where an increase is awarded, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Ceisteanna (289)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an investigation into a carer's allowance payment will be concluded in the case of a person (details supplied); when the payment will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7888/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 such a disability that they require that level of care.

CA was in payment to the person concerned from 2 January 2014. Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

A review commenced in this case in 2017. As part of this review the matter was referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI).

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the person concerned had not fully disclosed her means to the Department.

The person concerned was notified on 27 October 2017 that because of this her payment was being suspended from 2 November 2017.

On 17 November 2017 the SWI contacted the person concerned requesting her to furnish documents. On 5 December 2017 the SWI received some documents and a letter from the person concerned requesting further time to furnish the outstanding documents. To date no further documents have been furnished.

Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (290)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

290. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the file of a person (details supplied) who submitted a carer's allowance appeal on 8 November 2017 is expected to be forwarded to the appeals section; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7895/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 17 August 2017.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the applicant’s means are less than the statutory limit which in this case is €257.60 weekly. The application was disallowed as her means were determined to exceed the statutory limit.

The person concerned was notified on 5 October 2017 of this decision the reason for it and her right of review and appeal.

A review of this decision was requested on 20 October 2017 and following this review the deciding officer decided that her means still exceeded the statutory limit and consequently there would be no change to the original decision.

The person concerned was notified of the outcome on 7 November 2017 and of her right of appeal.

My department were notified on 17 November 2017 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). A submission in support of the decision has been forwarded along with the file on 13 February to the SWAO for determination.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Ceisteanna (291)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

291. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is only in receipt of a €202 contributory State pension in view of the fact they have made social insurance contributions since 1964-65; if their situation can be reviewed in the context of new proposals to deal with contributory State pension recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7926/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned is in receipt of state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 982 reckonable paid and credited contributions. They are in receipt of a reduced state pension (contributory) based on a yearly average of 20 contributions, covering the period from October 1964 to end-December 2013 inclusive.

The person has no recorded reckonable contributions for the tax years 1968/69 and 1970/71 to 1997/98 inclusive; this affects their overall yearly average and consequently, their rate of weekly pension entitlement. If the person concerned considers they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence of the missing periods of employment to my Department and their pension entitlement will be reviewed.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Government recently announced proposals that pensioners who qualified for state pension (contributory) since September 2012, and whose rate of entitlement was impacted by the 2012 rate band changes, may apply for a review to have their entitlement considered under a new Total Contribution Approach (TCA). It will take some time to draft and pass the necessary legislation, and then develop the systems and procedures necessary to administer the new pension entitlement option. Accordingly, it is not necessary for any person to contact the Department about their situation. Instead, the Department expects to start issuing invitations to these pensioners from late 2018 to apply for a review under the new pension eligibility arrangements, and to notify any periods spent caring for which Home Caring credits may be due. Review applicants will be notified of the outcome of their review and any applicable higher rate of entitlement will be paid to them. Such payments are expected to commence from early 2019. Where an increase is awarded, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (292)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

292. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7927/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 22 November 2016.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.

The person was requested to provide bank statements and evidence pertaining to the cessation of his self-employment, but did not do so.

Accordingly a deciding officer decided that he was not entitled to CA.

The person concerned was notified on 3 May 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

A review of this decision was requested on 22 May 2017. Although some documents were supplied on 25 July 2017, there were still bank statements which had been requested outstanding. As a result, the deciding officer decided not to revise the original decision.

The person concerned was notified on 4 October 2017 of the outcome of this review and of his right of appeal.

Further documents were received on 11 January 2018. However, specific bank statements for the period from October 2016 to the closure of one of the accounts are still outstanding.

On receipt of these, the case will be reviewed once more and, if necessary, the case will be referred again to the Social Welfare Inspector.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (293)

Seán Canney

Ceist:

293. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent allowance both nationally and specifically for the Dublin area on 31 December in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the related reductions in expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7935/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting some 33,400 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for 2018. Details of the total rent supplement recipients and associated outturn under the scheme are provided in the tabular statement. Recipient numbers for Dublin are also provided but costs associated at a county level are not maintained.

HAP has been the main driver in rent supplement’s base decline since its introduction in 2014 with over 33,000 active HAP active tenancy arrangements now in place. The targeted transfer of those with long term housing needs from rent supplement to HAP is in line the strategic initiative of returning rent supplement to its original purpose, that of a short term income support.

Other factors which have assisted in the decline of recipients include the continuing improvement in the economy and on-going transfer to other housing solutions including RAS.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Tabular Statement: Rent Supplement - Recipient Numbers & Expenditure (Years 2012 to 2017)

Year

Total Recipients

Total Expenditure€000

Dublin Recipients

2012

87,684

422,536

32,584

2013

79,788

372,909

29,541

2014

71,533

338,208

26,453

2015

61,247

311,059

23,758

2016

48,041

275,294

20,561

2017

34,378

231,221[1]

16,309

[1] Provisional

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (294)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

294. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a situation facing elderly persons in receipt of a contributory State pension, living alone increase, fuel allowance, household benefits package and a medical card, who live alone in under-occupied homes and who would consider taking in a person to help address the homeless and housing emergency, but risk losing many of their entitlements if they do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7960/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The payment of the living alone allowance, fuel allowance and household benefits package (HHB) is considered secondary, or non-primary, in nature which is incorporated into the person’s qualifying payment. The effect of the living alone allowance is to increase the rate of payment to such people, recognizing that there are economies of scale associated with living with another person. In relation to the qualifying criteria for a medical card, this is under the remit of the Minister for Health.

These secondary payments are in some cases subject to a means or household composition test. A person does not have to live alone to receive fuel allowance or HHB, however they must only live with certain accepted people or someone who is in receipt of a qualifying payment in their own right. In the case of HHB a person aged 70 or over is not subject to a means or household composition test.

Significant costs would arise if the criteria for these schemes were relaxed to allow persons in under occupied houses to accept tenants without affecting their secondary entitlements. There would also, clearly, be significant administrative challenges in determining whether such co-residents of pensioners would in fact become homeless if they could not reside at the pensioner’s address.

While a pensioner allowing another person to live with them might reduce such additional allowances previously held by the householder, the economies of scale from living together should mean that a weekly contribution by the person moving in would more than compensate for any such reduction in payments from my Department.

The criteria for the Department’s supplementary schemes are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. The guidelines for supplementary schemes are kept under review. However, any decision to change the requirement for these schemes would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Barr
Roinn