Written Answers Nos. 614-631
614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43207/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department administers the illness benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are ill, they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance, PRSI, and satisfy the PRSI conditions.
Illness Benefit rates are graduated according to a person's average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. Average weekly earnings are calculated by dividing the total reckonable gross earnings, without deductions, in the relevant tax year by the actual number of weeks worked in that year.
The person concerned made an Illness Benefit claim in 2018 so the relevant tax year for this claim is 2016 and her earnings in that year determines her rate of payment.
If the person concerned believes this decision is incorrect, she may ask to have it reviewed setting out in detail the facts on which her review is based and enclose further evidence she considers relevant to her case. On receipt of these details, the Department will review her entitlement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
615. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the illness benefit payment to a person (details supplied) will be normalised; the status of changes to the system which has resulted in delayed or irregular payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department recently moved to a new IT system for illness benefit, IB. Arising from the changeover, some IB customers have experienced payment difficulties which the Department is working hard to resolve.
The person concerned has been paid up to date and normalised payments should now resume.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
616. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43209/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer'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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 8 November 2017.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that as a result they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least 12 months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied. The person concerned was notified on 27 February 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal and subsequently appealed this decision.
My Department were notified on 17 October 2018 that the appeal had been allowed subject to all other statutory conditions being fulfilled. Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 18 October 2018 regarding his hours of employment. Once the information is received the matter will be processed without delay and he will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
617. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will clarify matters (details supplied) in relation to the review of State pension (contributory) pensioners on post-2012 rate bands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43220/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA policy to introduce the total contributions approach, TCA, to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the national pensions framework in 2010, as was the decision to base the entitlements of all new pensioners on this approach from around 2020. In advance of this, on 23 January, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated by an interim “Total Contributions Approach” which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit. This approach is expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role. The TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them - determines their final pension outcome.
People whose pensions were decided under the 2000-2012 ratebands were subject to a significantly more generous regime than those who qualified before or afterwards, as a yearly average of only 20 contributions per year, out of a maximum of 52, could attract a 98% pension. The effect of the 2012 rate band changes, as it impacted upon those new pensioners since 2012, will be familiar to anyone who followed the debate on this matter over the last six years, and it is to mitigate that impact that this reform was always explicitly intended to achieve.
If pre-2012 pensioners were also allowed avail of HomeCaring Credits, their arrangements, as a group, would continue to be significantly more generous than those of post-2012 pensioners. There would also be a very significant cost which would be expected to be of the order of several hundred millions of euros each year. This in turn would significantly impact upon the funds available for future pension rate increases, with consequential implications for pensioner poverty.
It would also mean that, in being able to choose between TCA and the pre-2012 ratebands, those pensioners would, again, have a more advantageous contributory pension regime than those who reached pension age after 2012, and whose choice is between TCA and the post-2012 ratebands. This would be a less fairer approach than the one being adopted by the Government.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €232, over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension, and 70% qualify for this pension at the full rate. This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an increase for a qualified adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
618. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the changes which have been implemented for the payment of illness benefit; the number of issues her Department has dealt with since the changes were made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently moved to a new IT system and this has impacted on payments to some illness benefit, IB, customers. The transition has involved moving from a payment in arrears system to a real-time system for IB.
The Department acknowledges that this move has caused difficulties for some customers leading to a large volume of calls to its helpline and long delays in responding to calls. In order to address this issue, the Department has deployed additional staff to manage customer calls.
I want to assure the Deputy that all IB customers will be paid the correct amount for the period of their illness - as certified by their GP. Any customer who has an urgent financial need can apply to the Department's Community Welfare Service to receive an interim payment. Customers in these circumstances should get in touch with their local Intreo Centre.
My Department is working hard to resolve these payment issues as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
619. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if annual contracts for local employment services will be reviewed; her views on developing a national, community based not-for-profit employment service that recognises rural employment, underemployment and seasonal employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43245/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is expected that there will be no change to the existing approach to contractual arrangements for 2019. Contracts are currently with divisional managers and they will be circulated to Local Employment Services as soon as possible.
All jobseekers develop with their case officer a personal progression plans, PPPs, which is reflective of the individual jobseeker’s personal circumstances. These PPPs take into account the ability to access to local employment types.
Seasonal workers are normally dealt with through our Intreo or JobPath strategies, where case officers will routinely take into account the length of the season for the particular employment type when considering a progression plan.
The focus of my Department is to support those who are unemployed to move to secure, sustainable, full-time employment. Whether this service is conducted through a contracted, community based, or internal activation service, a case officer will take account of all personal circumstances while working with the jobseeker to develop and pursue a progression plan.
In looking to the future, my Department commissioned Indecon to conduct a review of the performance and governance of Local Employment Services and Job Clubs. LES and Job Club providers were aware of the Indecon review and were consulted during the review process. Indecon have completed their review and their reports are currently under consideration by my Department.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
620. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015; when legislation will advance in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department are currently considering the recommendations of the report, and how they can best be progressed, in conjunction with relevant Government Departments.
I intend to come back to Government later in the year seeking approval to legislate, based on the outcome of the discussions with other Departments, and in due course, the Attorney General; and to lay my own report on the review before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
621. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if reports that general practitioners are charging a fee of €10 to sign illness benefit claim forms will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43257/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn August 2018, my Department introduced a new claim form and medical certificate to replace the previous forms used for certification of the Department’s illness and injury benefit schemes. The introduction of new forms is designed to improve the administration of the certification process and to make claim and payment procedures more efficient for everyone involved – patients, GPs, and the Department.
The Department has a contract with GPs on the Department for Employment Affairs and Social Protection panel in respect of medical certification for illness and injury Benefit and wrote to just under 3,500 contracting GPs, setting out the changes involved and will continue to communicate with all panel holders as the new process beds in.
In addition, the Department consulted with the Irish Medical Organization, IMO, - a longstanding representative body with a broad range of GPs in its membership. The Department will continue to consult with the IMO under our framework agreement on a range of issues including e-certification, closed certification and changes to forms. The IMO as it is the body that is recognised as holding the representative rights for GPs.
Some general practitioners have continued to use the old forms after the 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 these old forms.
A number of reports have been received of customers being asked by individual GPs to pay a fee in order to receive a medical certificate. This is at variance with the Department's contract under which the GP is obliged to complete and return specified medical report forms (including medical certificates), free of charge to the patient, when requested to do so by the Department. These reports will be followed up with the individual practitioners.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
622. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to Turas Nua and Seetec for JobPath by county; the number of persons that have completed the JobPath programme by county; the number of those persons that have progressed to further education and training, part or full-time employment and self-employment since commencement of this labour activation scheme by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43293/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath is an employment service, which helps long-term unemployed people to secure and sustain paid employment.
There are two phases to the service. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, a personal advisor, PA, provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the client for a further period of up to 12 months.
These figures are shown by county in the tables:
|
County |
Clients who have started |
Clients who have completed |
Clients who have commenced Full time employment/self employment |
Clients who have commenced Part time employment/self employment |
|
Carlow |
4355 |
1838 |
1007 |
103 |
|
Cavan |
4233 |
1767 |
697 |
168 |
|
Clare |
4535 |
1905 |
961 |
91 |
|
Cork |
16949 |
7206 |
3802 |
354 |
|
Donegal |
9774 |
4388 |
1187 |
354 |
|
Dublin |
37828 |
16322 |
6941 |
674 |
|
Galway |
8481 |
3131 |
1510 |
163 |
|
Kerry |
6551 |
3154 |
1675 |
211 |
|
Kildare |
7864 |
3399 |
2022 |
262 |
|
Kilkenny |
3747 |
1600 |
933 |
69 |
|
Laois |
4326 |
1659 |
878 |
99 |
|
Leitrim |
1772 |
755 |
305 |
47 |
|
Limerick |
9261 |
4359 |
2206 |
141 |
|
Longford |
3823 |
1802 |
673 |
129 |
|
Louth |
8015 |
3586 |
1504 |
229 |
|
Mayo |
5733 |
2497 |
692 |
72 |
|
Meath |
4009 |
1808 |
658 |
70 |
|
Monaghan |
2560 |
1174 |
489 |
150 |
|
Offaly |
5141 |
2248 |
1079 |
181 |
|
Roscommon |
1713 |
673 |
248 |
29 |
|
Sligo |
2934 |
1255 |
460 |
78 |
|
Tipperary |
8224 |
3458 |
1705 |
276 |
|
Waterford |
6729 |
3197 |
1500 |
190 |
|
Westmeath |
6362 |
2826 |
1090 |
308 |
|
Wexford |
9207 |
4569 |
2139 |
334 |
|
Wicklow |
5609 |
2345 |
1060 |
170 |
|
Total |
189735 |
82921 |
37421 |
4952 |
The JobPath providers arrange for the delivery of a broad range of education and training courses with a particular and strong focus on upskilling the long term unemployed. Some of these courses are provided in-house while others are provided by specialist training providers including the Education and Training Boards, ETBs.
Examples of training and development activities include confidence building, motivation, interview preparation, literacy, IT courses and a variety of industry related skill needs.
However, the primary aim of the service is to assist clients in finding sustainable jobs, and as such, the Department does not separately record progression into education or training for those who have taken part in the JobPath service.
623. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a jobseeker's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43302/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe social welfare appeals office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 July 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the deciding officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5 September 2018 and the case will be referred to an appeals officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
624. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness benefit payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43309/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to question No. 202 on 11 October, and the subsequent email received, the Department has investigated the customer's position.
We have re-checked the customer's record, application and eligibility conditions and the customer does not satisfy the required PRSI contributions for the relevant tax years. Therefore, Illness Benefit is not in payment to him.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy and the Department apologies for any confusion that arose.
625. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is an issue with the dedicated phone lines for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to access illness benefit sections in view of the fact that they are not contactable at the moment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra628. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a number of regular recipients of illness benefit are not receiving weekly payments; the measures being taken to address the payment disruptions in view of the fact that delayed payments cause distress for persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 628 together.
My Department recently moved to a new IT system and this has impacted on payments to some illness benefit, IB, customers. The transition has involved moving from a payment in arrears system to a real-time system for IB.
The Department acknowledges that this move has caused difficulties for some customers leading to a large volume of calls to its helpline and long delays in responding to calls, including those from members of the Oireachtas. In order to address this issue, the Department has deployed additional staff to manage calls from customers and from Oireachtas members.
I want to assure the Deputy that all IB customers will be paid the correct amount for the period of their illness - as certified by their GP. Any customer who has an urgent financial need can apply to the Department's Community Welfare Service to receive an interim payment. Customers in these circumstances should get in touch with their local Intreo Centre.
My Department is working hard to resolve these payment issues as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
626. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) received a reduced rate of illness benefit; the reason they received no payment the following week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department recently moved to a new IT system for Illness Benefit, IB. Arising from the changeover, some IB customers have experienced payment difficulties which the Department is working hard to resolve.
The person concerned has been awarded injury benefit at the full rate and is now paid up to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
627. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to illness benefit in view of the fact they are required to have an emergency operation and they are unable to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43316/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the claim for illness benefit, IB, submitted by the person concerned has been received by the Department. However, it has not been decided to date as the person is a qualified adult on her spouse's Jobseeker's Allowance claim.
Arrangements are being made to adjust the Jobseeker's Allowance claim which will allow the Department to proceed with processing the person's IB claim.
A decision on the claim and any payment of IB that may arise will be made to the person as soon as possible.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
629. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public services cards that have issued in 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected number of cards that will issue from October 2018 to year end 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued over 670,500 Public Services Cards, PSCs, in 2017 and, to the end of September 2018, just under 480,000 PSCs have been issued.
Over 2.92 million people are SAFE registered. The average number of SAFE registrations per month, for the last six months, is just over 37,000. This has reduced from an average of over 45,000 per month in 2017. It is expected that the monthly average will continue to reduce as the majority of people are already SAFE registered.
Replacement cards are issued and arise due to lost cards or a change in entitlement from a basic card to a free travel card. Also changes in entitlement within the free travel scheme can affect demand, such as a change from a single free travel entitlement to a spouse or companion entitlement.
Based on the current trends, my Department expects to issue approximately 500,000 PSCs in 2019.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
630. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a review of the decision to refuse their application for a domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43333/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 20 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 3 July 2018 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
A review of this decision was requested on the 24 July 2018. The application is currently being re-examined by a deciding officer who has requested additional information in support of the review. When this information is received a revised decision will be made, if warranted. 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.
631. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness benefit payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43383/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently moved to a new IT system for illness benefit, IB. Arising from the changeover, some IB customers have experienced payment difficulties which the Department is working hard to resolve.
The IB claim from the person concerned has now been processed and she has been paid up to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
