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Public Services Card

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Ceisteanna (1231)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1231. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consequences or processes that are followed when persons cannot attend an appointment for a PSC when invited to do so by her Department due to medical reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24786/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Department has a variety of arrangements in place to ensure that citizens can SAFE register and obtain a Public Services Card (PSC), irrespective of their location or place of residence. As at 30 April 2018, the number of Departmental customers in payment with a PSC was 1.63 million persons.

The majority of these SAFE registrations are through attendance in person at the local INTREO Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. Customers may be invited to attend, or can make contact themselves to arrange an appointment or make an appointment online. There are over 100 SAFE registration locations nationally. It is the intention that, in due course, registration would be available at all departmental locations.

Arrangements are also in place for other persons, mainly pensioners in receipt of payments at Post Offices, who can complete SAFE registration and access a PSC by postal methods. Customers who fulfil the relevant criteria are written to offering this option. This procedure provides a more convenient method of registration for these individuals. Over 300,000 customers have availed of this option. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case which might fulfil the relevant criteria in regard to this option, I will ask my officials to make contact with the individual concerned.

Having regard to mobile SAFE registrations, these are carried out specifically on request and usually at community/group settings to register customers unable to attend in person at DEASP locations due to mobility, disability or incapacity challenges.

The primary legislative provisions for SAFE registration and identity verification are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended). The legislation requires a person to satisfy the Department as to their identity and ultimately allows for disallowance or disqualification from receipt of a benefit in the event that it is not done.

The Department makes it clear to customers in receipt of social welfare payments or Free Travel entitlements that they need to complete a SAFE 2 registration to access, or continue to access, payments and entitlements.

The Department also issues reminder letters to customers, as required. Customers may also book a different time/date to suit them, either online via www.mywelfare.ie, by contacting the Department’s offices, or by walking in to ask for the next available appointment.

In this context, I want to make it clear that customers who face bona fide challenges to in-person attendance will not be disadvantaged, in terms of access to or eligibility for payments and/or availing of Free Travel entitlements.

The decision to stop a payment is never made lightly and the Department will consider all elements of eligibility to that particular payment or entitlement. However, where a customer does not satisfy the Department in relation to identity in line with legislative requirements, a payment can be disqualified. In advance of any such disqualification, the Department makes every effort to engage with the customer to explain the process and the consequences of potential disqualification.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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