Robert Troy
Ceist:582. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for the reintroduction of the bereavement grant. [22605/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 May 2018
Ceisteanna (582)
Freagraí scríofa
During the economic downturn, my Department protected primary social welfare rates and in recent years, as the economy recovered, the Government has concentrated resources in improving the core rates of payments, particularly for pensioners. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as the State pension.
It should be noted that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant did when it was in place. These include weekly-paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. In Budget 2016, the Government increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Under the SWA scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses.
In 2017, some 2,800 ENPs were awarded to assist with funerals and burial expenses at a cost of €5.1 million.
Any decision to reinstate the Bereavement Grant would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.