Written Answers Nos. 747-771
747. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review being undertaken regarding the issue of child maintenance payments; the scope of the review; the progress made to date; when it is anticipated the review will be complete; her plans to publish this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is reviewing the maintenance and liable relative procedures, insofar as they relate to the one-parent family payment scheme.
This review is nearing completion, and my officials will shortly be liaising with the Department of Justice and Equality, which is the Department responsible for Family Law Acts, with a view to jointly considering the next steps in relation to family maintenance arrangements.
748. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she will publish the four-year plan for the period 2018-21, an integrated framework for social inclusion; the reason for the delay in publishing the plan in view of the fact that the previous plan concluded in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37492/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling poverty remains a fundamental aspiration of Irish society and the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a firm commitment to develop a new Integrated Framework for Social Inclusion, to tackle inequality and poverty. This will be a successor to the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) and its 2015-2017 update which concluded last year.
My department is developing the new four year plan for the period 2018-2021. Like its predecessor, the plan will have a ‘whole of Government’ approach that aims to improve outcomes for the vulnerable and marginalised in our society, while recognising a shared responsibility across Government to implement actions to achieve the overall objectives. The theme of the new plan is one of active inclusion, which will enable every citizen, notably the most disadvantaged, to fully participate in society, including having a job.
The primary focus will be the reduction of consistent poverty, which in 2016 was 8.3%. This will be achieved through a three pronged approach: supporting incomes through as high as possible a level of employment, and encouraging and assisting people to enter the workforce; setting targets for the level of relevant welfare payments designed to reduce relative poverty among those who cannot (or cannot find) work; and finally improving access to quality services such as health, education, childcare, training, housing, community supports in order to minimize deprivation for all groups and, in particular those who are on relatively low incomes.
Following a public consultation process and discussions with colleagues, both internally and in other departments, to identify specific actions for inclusion, drafting of the plan by my officials is at an advanced stage. It is my intention that the plan will be published in Autumn 2018.
749. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons receiving the working family payment by the size of their employer (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37501/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of August 54,847 people were in receipt of Working Family Payment. I regret, however, that it is not currently possible to produce the requested breakdown of this total by employer size.
750. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to enable working persons in receipt of a contributory widow's pension to access illness benefit when sick in the interests of fairness in view of the fact that such benefits are available to all other workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37505/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlements under the social welfare system are primarily based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system.
Firstly there is the contributory principle which links the PRSI contributions that a person has paid and their entitlement to a range of benefits and pensions. Where a person has sufficient PRSI contributions, then benefits and pensions may be paid, subject to legislative provisions, where a particular contingency arises, and without a means test.
Secondly there is the solidarity principle where the benefits and pensions that are paid are not directly related to the amount of PRSI contributions paid by insured persons. PRSI contribution income is instead redistributed to support contributors who are more likely to have an income need as a result of circumstances that have arisen in their lives. In this regard, it should be noted that most PRSI contributors do not experience all of the contingencies during their life. For example, one contributor may never require access to Invalidity Pension whereas it may be a crucial support for another. It should also be noted that access to Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension is available to those who have been married or in a civil partnership only, and that scheme will not benefit someone who has been single all their life.
The purpose of the benefits and pension system is to provide a person with an adequate income. The rate of payment is set with this objective in mind, and the fact that there are a number of ways one can qualify for a pension does not mean someone may qualify for multiple PRSI-funded payments at the same time. As is common with social security systems across the world, the Irish social welfare system generally applies the principle of one person, one full payment.
It can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, e.g., an unemployed person may also become sick and incapable of work. The PRSI paid by the person and their employers only provides coverage for one payment at such times. Under the legislation for the schemes, if a person experiences more than one of these contingencies at the same time, generally he or she can receive only one core payment. Amending the social welfare system to allow Illness Benefit (or Jobseekers Benefit if they are unemployed) to be paid in addition to a pension such as a Widow’s pension would be a significant change to the system, as it would in effect be a double payment, providing certain people with the income currently paid for two people, and would greatly increase costs. This extra cost would have to be financed from either an increase in the rate of PRSI contributions, an increase in the Exchequer subvention to the scheme, or a reduction in the rate of payments.
There are a number of supports in the social welfare system which benefit widows, including those of working age such as the Fuel Allowance Scheme. To receive Fuel Allowance, Widows pension recipients must also satisfy the other conditions for that payment, i.e., be unable to provide for their heating needs from the resources of their household, live alone or only with one of a list of exempted persons, and satisfy a means test.
In addition, a widow aged between 60 and 65 years, whose late spouse/civil partner received the Household Benefits package from this Department, may qualify for that package if they otherwise satisfy all other conditions and receive a relevant qualifying payment.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
751. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a meals grant application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37529/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The Department was a member of the Inter-Departmental Advisory Group for the Review of the DEIS Programme undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills (DES), following which DEIS Plan 2017 was published in February 2017. The Plan sets out targets and actions aimed at improving the educational outcome for pupils at greatest risk of not reaching their full potential by virtue of their socio-economic circumstances.
Some 240 additional schools, including DEIS and non-DEIS schools, were identified to receive support under the school meals scheme from September 2017 in consultation with DES, which has developed a more robust and responsive framework for assessing individual schools levels of concentrated disadvantage as part of this process.
In 2018 the Department liaised with DES with a view to including additional non-DEIS schools in the scheme, deemed in need of support under the school meals programme, from September. The individual schools were contacted and invited to participate in the scheme.
The school referred to by the Deputy was not identified by DES as requiring support under the school meals programme and I regret that funding cannot be provided at this time. Their application was refused on 12 September 2018 and a letter issued to the Principal to that effect.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
752. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the number of staff in the social welfare appeals office by 25%; the necessary resources required to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37559/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new increasing demands in a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
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.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year approximately 85% of all claims are awarded and just 1% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Department is concerned that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
A number of new Appeals Officers have joined the Appeals Office over the past 12-18 months to replace staff leaving on retirement. Given the complexity of the appeals process it takes some time for new staff to be trained up and develop expertise and this has led to somewhat longer processing times during this period. The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office.
753. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be issued on a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) further to the oral hearing on 2 August 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37571/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision.
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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
754. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason her Department issued directives to community employment scheme area supervisors advising them that support is being discontinued for private members' clubs that receive membership fees from their members, a move which will impact severely upon clubs based in rural areas that receive minimum membership and which is particularly applicable to pitch and putt clubs in that category; if this directive will be reviewed and withdrawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37575/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment (CE) programme is a community centred labour market initiative established for the purposes of social inclusion and activation, to help long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable groups to enter the workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment.
CE projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Such projects provide a valuable service to local communities while at the same time providing training and educational opportunities to jobseekers. The Department’s priority in supporting CE is having access to schemes that can provide job seekers and other vulnerable groups with good quality work experience and training qualifications to support their progression into employment.
Eligible work placements under CE are those which:
- Respond to an identified community need;
- Provide development for participants in areas involving heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport and the environment;
- Have the agreement of relevant trade unions; Do not displace or replace existing jobs;
- Offer valuable work experience for participants.
I understand that the pitch and putt club to which the Deputy is making reference has been approved for the placement of a CE participant.
755. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a way of making the system for EU child benefit payments (details supplied) simpler and easier to reassess on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37576/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department regularly reviews its processes to ensure the most efficient and customer friendly methods are used at all times.
Processing and payment of family benefits where more than one country is involved is governed by EU Regulations 883 of 2004 and 987 of 2009.
In the case of the named individual, Ireland is competent to pay a top up payment (a supplement) equal to the difference between the amount of family benefits paid by the UK and the amount that they would be paid if Ireland was the fully competent Member State. The Department must ascertain the amount paid by the UK in child tax credits and child benefit in order to calculate the amount due.
Notifications of the amount of UK family benefits in payment are issued annually in April to recipients and the Department requests this information after it has been sent to claimants.
The Department will continue to review this policy and if a simpler method is feasible this will be examined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
756. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will be brought to a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37604/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 18th April 2018. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 25th June 2018 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
An appeal of this decision was requested on the 3rd August 2018. As part of the appeals process the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. If a revised decision is not made, the case will be referred for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the deciding officer's review as soon as it is completed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
757. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a basic social welfare or supplementary allowance payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37605/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made an application for a basic supplementary welfare allowance payment and was requested to provide bank statements for the period November 2017 to May 2018. She provided the requested documentation on 13/9/18.
An appointment has been made for her with a designated person on 20/9/18, when her application will be progressed and a decision made accordingly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
758. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment from the Department. An Illness Benefit customer who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who will review the restriction, if any, on their capacity for work. A person assessed with a moderate level of work incapacity will receive 50% of their current payment, a person assessed with a severe level will receive 75% of their payment and a person assessed with a profound level will get full payment.
Following enquiries, an application in respect of the person named has not been received in the PCB section. The Department has been advised by the Deputy that the application was sent by registered post to a Dublin office. In this context, the tracking number has been requested from the Deputy so that further internal investigations can be undertaken to trace the application form.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
759. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding pensions for carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37639/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department provides a range of income supports for carers including carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient.
Credited contributions, normally known as credits, are awarded to recipients of carer’s benefit and of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of these payments qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the previous two years or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid carer’s leave from work.
Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.
In addition, all carers, including those who do not qualify for a payment or for credits, may qualify for the homemaker scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for state pension (contributory). Years spent caring on a full-time basis are disregarded when calculating the state pension (contributory) rate of payment.
Through the award of credits and the homemaker’s scheme, the social insurance system already gives significant recognition of the service provided by carers. Awarding paid contributions would be contrary to the principle that entitlement to social insurance benefits, as a right, is directly linked to the actual payment of PRSI contributions on income and to do so would have cost implications which would need to be considered in a budgetary context.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the key role carers play in society and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. However, any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
760. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of ensuring the State contributory and non-contributory pensions are available to all those who reach 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, legislation passed in 2011 provides for an increase in the State pension age in three separate stages. In 2014, the State pension age was standardised at 66. This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 has stated that future changes in State pension age will be decided on research into life expectancy.
As a result of considerable demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by roughly €1 billion every 5 years. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age.
Census 2016 has confirmed that the population of over 65’s increased by 19.1% to approximately 638,000 over the preceding 5 years. The ratio of the number of people of State pension age and above relative to the size of the working age population is projected to change from the 2015 rate of 4.9:1 to 2.7:1 by 2045. This will be paralleled by an increase in the number of years spent in retirement and over which pensions payments are required.
In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. Its abolition was not expected to save that amount of expenditure in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit (although at a lower rate than the rate of the State pension), or claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult in respect of their spouse’s pension.
It is estimated that the net saving in 2019 is likely to be in the region of over €85 million, and this is expected to increase over time.
However this would not be the total cost of reducing the State pension age for existing State pension payments. If the age for the State pension (contributory) and the State pension (non-contributory) were both reduced to 65 from 66, rather than the reintroduction of State pension (transition), there would be an additional cost as the State pension (contributory) does not have the retirement criterion that the State pension (transition) did. There would, therefore, be an additional cost to the Social Insurance Fund, paid in respect of people who would still work while aged 65, in addition to receiving the State Pension (contributory). There would also be an additional cost in respect of those with insufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for the State pension (contributory) who, prior to 2014, would still have to work until 66 to qualify for a pension. It is unclear what that additional cost would amount to, but it would mean that the cost would be significantly higher than the estimated cost for re-introduction of the State pension (transition).
The Deputy should note that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so.
Where this is not possible, there are specific measures which apply to someone claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
761. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of reinstating the transitionary pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreasing pension age, to moderate the increase in pension duration, is a means by which pensions can be made sustainable in the context of increasing longevity. In order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, legislation passed in 2011 provides for an increase in the State pension age in three separate stages. In 2014, the State pension age was standardised at 66. This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 has stated that future changes in State pension age will be decided on research into life expectancy.
As a result of considerable demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by roughly €1 billion every 5 years. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age.
Census 2016 has confirmed that the population of over 65’s increased by 19.1% to approximately 638,000 over the preceding 5 years. The ratio of the number of people of State pension age and above relative to the size of the working age population is projected to change from the 2015 rate of 4.9:1 to 2.7:1 by 2045. This will be paralleled by an increase in the number of years spent in retirement and over which pensions payments are required.
In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. Its abolition was not expected to save that amount of expenditure in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit (although at a lower rate than the rate of the State pension), or claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult in respect of their spouse’s pension.
It is estimated that the net saving in 2019 is likely to be in the region of over €85 million, and this is expected to increase over time.
The Deputy should note that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so.
Where this is not possible, there are specific measures which apply to someone claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
762. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps being taken to deal with the delay in illness benefit payments which is creating hardship for individuals and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37696/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has recently introduced a new claim form (called “IB1”) and a new medical certificate (called “MED1”) to replace the previous MC1 and MC2 forms for certification of the Department’s Illness and Injury Benefit schemes. This change is part of a programme of modernisation in the Department’s Illness Benefit section which took effect from Monday 6 August.
Some GPs have continued to use the old forms after this changeover date. In order to facilitate the continued payment of Illness and Injury Benefit to our customers, the Department has, to date, continued to accept old MC1 and MC2 forms where provided by GPs. However, the continued use of old forms by some GPs is causing delays to our processing times, as the old forms are not compatible with the new system, with each one requiring manual inputting into the Department's payment systems.
Payments are now up to date. Customers affected by a delay in their payment, and who were in need of financial assistance, were asked to contact their local Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centres. Community Welfare staff were made aware of the payment delays and were available to assist those customers affected.
763. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if further consideration will be given to awarding an exceptional needs grant in the case of a person (details supplied); if consideration will be given to an increase in rent support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37741/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rent supplement claim of the person concerned is currently under review. Written notification of this review issued to the person concerned on 6/9/18 requesting completion and return of the review form with supporting documents regarding her current circumstances within 14 days, i.e., on or before 20/9/18. On receipt of the requested documentation, a full review will be carried out to determine continued eligibility to a rent supplement.
If the person concerned is experiencing undue financial hardship, it is open to her to contact the Community Welfare Service at 087 2950536 or write to the Community Welfare Service, Loc 447, P.O. Box 700, Naas, Co Kildare to submit an application for an emergency needs payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
764. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a social welfare payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); if the payment can be made with some urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37742/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been in receipt of a jobseeker's transition payment since April 2012. During the course of a recent review of entitlement, an officer of the Department made several attempts to meet with her at her home but she was not present on these occasions. Her jobseeker's transition payment was suspended pending confirmation of her residency. The person concerned attended the Newbridge Intreo Centre on 21/9/18 and clarified her present circumstances. Her jobseeker's transition payment has now been fully restored.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
765. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payment will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); if payment will be restored in full; if this parliamentary question will be accepted as an appeal against the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37745/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has failed without good cause to attend an Activation Review Meeting on the 25 of July 2018 or to make contact with their Case Officer to rearrange this meeting. The sanctions imposed have led to both a penalty rate and a benefit suspension on their payment. Decisions in relation to the imposition of sanctions on Jobseekers Allowance payments are undertaken in accordance with Section 141A of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005.
The person concerned may have their payment restored when they attend an Activation Review Meeting and engages with their Case Officer. An appointment for 19 September 2018 at 15:00 has been arranged. If the customer is unhappy with the decision, they may submit a formal appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
766. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37750/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Exceptional Needs Payment application was received from the person concerned on 6/9/18 to assist with the purchase of a cot and a buggy for her baby whom she is expecting on 20/9/18.
The application was disallowed as no exceptional need was established.
A letter of notification was sent to the person concerned on 06/09/2018, which includes information on their right to have this decision reviewed by an independent Review Officer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
767. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appropriate payment in respect of a person (details supplied) will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37757/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Allowance on 27/08/2018. Supporting documentation was requested and was supplied by customer on 13/09/2018. The claim was awarded on that date with arrears backdated to 20/08/2018. This claim is now in payment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
768. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to implement the recommendations of an organisation (details supplied) for a universal basic pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37767/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlements under the social welfare system are primarily based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system.
Firstly, the State pension non-contributory is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State pension contributory, which is not means-tested, but is based on social insurance contributions, is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Accordingly, it is important to ensure those qualifying for the State pension contributory have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions, paid or credited, over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement.
The idea of a universal State pension, paid at full rate to everyone over 66, regardless of their contributions or their means, has been proposed on a number of occasions, and officials in my Department have examined such proposals a number of times. There are significant issues regarding the scope such a pension would have, particularly in respect of its interaction with public service pensions, and with occupational pensions in companies that were previously part of the public service. Additionally, consideration would have to be given to the treatment of retirees who are not resident in the State, but who have built up a contributory pension entitlement over the years that they worked here and paid PRSI. There are also potential legal issues regarding treating occupational pensions differently when they are in the public or private sector.
These factors make precise costing of such a pension challenging. However, it is clear that regardless of decisions made regarding these factors, the cost would be very substantial, and officials in my Department believe that the additional cost could be expected to be over €1 billion per annum, and potentially substantially more depending on some of the factors I mention above.
Clearly, this would either be very expensive or, if introduced on a cost-neutral basis, require very significant diversion of funds from elsewhere, e.g. a large reduction in the current rate of the State pension, substantial increases in the rate of PRSI deductions, or equivalent measures reducing tax relief on occupational and private pensions, which would impact very significantly upon the take-home pay of the workers affected, and act as a disincentive to such pension provision.
The biggest beneficiaries would be people who, not only contributed less to the Social Insurance Fund, but who have significant additional means, resulting in their not qualifying for a non-contributory pension, which is paid at up to 95% that of the maximum contributory pension rate. Those who contributed most to the system, including those with no additional means, and widows depending on a single pension from the state, would receive no benefit at all from the additional spending involved. However, such people could be significantly impacted by any subsequent restraint in increases in the rate of the pension caused by the larger state pension bill faced by the Exchequer.
Any changes to pension entitlements would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
769. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if arrears of qualified adult allowance and qualified child allowance are due to a person (details supplied) in regard to an illness benefit claim; if so, when the arrears will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37774/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department experienced some delay following the introduction of a new system for Illness benefit. The change is part of a programme of modernisation in the Department’s Illness Benefit section which took effect from Monday 6 August. Some GPs have continued to use the old forms after this changeover date which the Department has, to date, continued to accept in the interest of paying our customers However, the continued use of old forms by some GPs is causing significant delays to our processing times, as the old forms are not compatible with the new system, with each one requiring manual inputting into the Department's payment systems.
However the claim form for the person concerned is now processed and he is in receipt of their full entitlements under the Illness Benefit Scheme and any/all arrears owing to him has been paid.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
770. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a required medical form can reissue in the case of a person (details supplied) as part of his application for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37775/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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 medical form referred to has been received by the department. This gentleman has been awarded IP with effect from the 9 August 2018. Payment will issue to his nominated post office on the 4 October 2018. Any arrears due from 9 August 2018 to 3 October 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on the 17 September 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
771. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a file relating to a person (details supplied) will be forwarded from the non-contributory section of her Department in County Sligo to the appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37785/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned, who passed away on 25 March 2017, had been in receipt of a State pension non-contributory, which is a means-tested scheme.
Following the submission of the Schedule of Assets of the deceased's estate, a Deciding Officer reviewed the deceased's pension entitlement and assessed an overpayment. The decision was notified to their personal representative on 13 August 2018, granting a right of appeal.
An appeal of the decision was received by the Department on 24 August 2018. The appeal is being dealt with, alongside other appeal cases, on a date-of-receipt basis. The Deciding Officer will, within the next two weeks, forward the case file and appeals submission to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
