Written Answers Nos. 693-712
693. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an invalidity pension appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); when their application is likely to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21726/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. 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.
694. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that were in receipt of the short-term work scheme in each of the past twelve months in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21786/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetween March and August 2020 over 69,500 employers registered for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) with payments worth over €2.8 billion paid out to a total of 663,100 workers.
Revenue has published detailed statistics related to the TWSS on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the scheme to provide as timely and transparent data on the utilisation and impact of the TWSS as possible.
These statistics are published at https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/number-of-taxpayers-and-returns/covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme-statistics.aspx.
695. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21802/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 29 June 2020. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as they were not found to be substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 28 July 2020 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). A review was requested by the person concerned on 25 August 2020 and they were advised to submit further evidence in support of their application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
696. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children whose parents received domiciliary care allowance up to the child turning 16 years of age that had their disability allowance rejected in the past five years. [21805/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment in respect of a child aged under 16 with a disability so severe that the child requires care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be provided to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. The guidelines state that the payment is not based on the type of disability but on the resulting physical and/or mental impairment which means that the child’s care needs are substantially more than another child of the same age. The payment is not means tested. DCA is paid to the parent/guardian of the child.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and as a result of which they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. DA is subject to medical, means and habitual residency conditions. DA is paid directly to the individual.
The Department does not collate the requested statistics due to the differences of the qualifying conditions of the two schemes and the recipients of each scheme being dissimilar.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
697. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be undertaken of the recent decision to cease disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if same will be undertaken as soon as possible in view of the fact the family has limited means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21814/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, disability allowance (DA) was disallowed with effect from 26 August 2020. Based on the information provided to my department, the person concerned was deemed to have means in excess of the statutory limit for her circumstances.
When assessing means for DA, the Department has to establish an acceptable average pattern of earnings which takes account of fluctuations in earnings. In this case, the Department has taken the average earnings over a period of time by taking the cumulative gross and dividing it over the weeks worked less any applicable deductions.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 19 August 2020 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). No request for an appeal or review has been received from the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
698. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment at the same rate will continue in the case of a person (details supplied); if the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment is more applicable in these circumstances; if every effort can be made to ensure the payment is not reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21815/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned has been in receipt of a casual Jobseeker’s Benefit payment since 07/10/2019.
Records reflect that their employment ceased on 18/03/2020. If employment ended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and if the person concerned fulfils other qualifying criteria she may be entitled to a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
In advance of applying for the PUP, the person concerned should check the eligibility criteria on www.gov.ie/DEASP as she must request that her current Jobseeker's Benefit payment be suspended before applying. The person concerned can contact the Maynooth Branch Office which will be in a position to assist her if necessary.
If the person concerned wishes to apply for the PUP she should do so by 17/09/2020.
Alternatively, the person concerned may be eligible for a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment which is a means-tested payment. Until a means test is undertaken it is not possible to advise what rate of payment the person concerned may be entitled to.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
699. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the application for an exceptional needs payment in respect of payment for a funeral in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21816/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of my Department the person concerned made an application on 28/05/2020 for the exceptional needs payment towards the cost of funeral expenses.
This application was refused on the basis that the combined household income is in excess of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate appropriate to the family size.
The person concerned was advised of this decision by letter on 01/07/2020. She was further advised if she was dissatisfied with this decision she could request a review.
To date, the person concerned has not requested a review.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
700. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a State pension non-contributory appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21820/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
An application for state pension non-contributory was submitted by the person concerned on 9 July 2020. Following a means assessment of their income and assets, their entitlement was assessed to amount to a weekly rate of €128.50, with effect from 10 July 2020. The payment comprises a personal rate of €112.00 per week, an Increase for Living Alone of €14.00 per week and a Telephone Support Allowance of €2.50 per week. The person concerned also qualifies for Fuel Allowance of €24.50 per week, commencing in October 2020.
The person concerned was notified of the decision on 6 August 2020, together with the reasons for the decision and their right, if dissatisfied with the decision, to request a review or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. To date, no appeal has been received from the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
701. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of contributions in relation to certain payments (details supplied) in cases in which persons have returned to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21845/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, provides, amongst other provisions, for the attribution of social insurance contributions to insured persons who were beneficiaries of certain Covid-19 income support payments. These payments include the pandemic unemployment payment and the temporary wage subsidy scheme.
The attribution of contributions measure will ensure that the social insurance records of the employees or former employees involved will have, for the period they were beneficiaries of these payments, social insurance contributions attributed to them at the same value as they were paying while employed immediately before going on the payments concerned.
The measure means that people who lost their jobs or were supported to remain in employment arising from the Covid-19 pandemic will not be disadvantaged in accessing social insurance benefits in the future including the State Pension (Contributory).
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
702. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pandemic unemployment payment application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21849/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced on 16 March 2020 as an emergency income support payment for employees and self-employed people, aged between 18 and under 66, who were in employment or self-employment immediately prior to 13 March 2020 and have lost their employment or self-employment due to the downturn in economic activity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To allow for people who may have been on shift work, short time or other atypical work patterns immediately before 13 March 2020, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable where the person was employed or self-employed on or after 6 March 2020. In this case, the person concerned last worked on 23 February.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was initially established on an emergency ad-hoc basis under the Social Welfare Act and was paid out as an Exceptional Needs Payment. However, the Social Welfare (Covid-19) Amendment Act 2020 places the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on a statutory basis as a stand-alone social welfare scheme. This legislation provides that to qualify for payment, a person must, on or after 13 March 2020, have been an employed contributor in the week immediately before he or she ceased to earn an income from the employment concerned and lost his or her employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19.
The person concerned has provided a statement from their employer confirming that they were available to work at weekends and during holiday periods on a regular basis to suit the business needs. It also states that holiday pay is accrued for hours worked and that the person concerned was eligible for holiday pay on and after 6 March 2020. However, in the absence of any confirmation that on or after 13 March 2020 the person concerned had been an employed contributor in the week immediately before they ceased to earn an income from the employment concerned, they do not satisfy the conditions for receipt of payment. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
704. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend farm relief for farmers over 66 years of age in view of the fact that the pension age will increase to 67 years of age in January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21859/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarm Assist is an income support for low-income farmers. To be eligible for the scheme a person must be aged between 18 and 66 years, a farmer, be farming land in the State and satisfy a means test.
The changes introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provided that the State pension age would increase to age 67 in 2021 and to age 68 in 2028. In January 2014, the abolition of the State Pension (Transition) standardised the State pension age in Ireland at 66 years. The changes were made to improve the longer-term sustainability of the state pension system as life expectancy rates rise.
The Programme for Government makes a commitment to defer the planned increase to State pension age from 66 to 67 in 2021. The Government has clearly set out its approach to the pension age question. Legislation will be introduced this year that will ensure that the State pension age remains at 66.
In recognition of the importance of the Farm Assist scheme to low income farmers my Department has also committed under the Programme for Government to conducting a review of the means test disregards for the scheme.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment, where the need is demonstrated. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie
It should be mentioned also that a dedicated telephone helpline has been set up to assist farmers with their queries on COVID-19 restrictions. The helpline is 076 106 4468 (9.30am to 12.30am and from 2pm to 5pm).
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
705. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21860/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 March 2020. 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 7 April 2020. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 22 April 2020.
The Appeals Officer has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Due to Covid-19restrictions, in person oral appeal hearings were suspended since 13 March 2020 and have only resumed again in late July. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
706. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons whose pandemic unemployment payment was cut to date; the number that have appealed the cut; the number that were successful in their appeal; the number that successfully appealed the cut that were self-employed; and the number that appealed and are back on the €350 a week rate. [21872/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, 110,730 people have received at least one Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203, with 58,115 people in receipt on September 1st 2020. Approximately 13,400 people have queried the reduction in their PUP rate. Currently, some 5,583 cases are outstanding. All customers who were successful in their review are paid the higher rate of €350. Figures on the number of successful outcomes, including those that are self-employed, are not available at the present time as officials in my Department are concentrating on updating the individual claim records.
Separately, as part of the forthcoming rerating of claims which is intended to take effect later this month, all cases will be automatically reviewed to take account of any new information which has become available since the last rerating of claims in June. This will includes cases where self-employed earnings are available for 2019.
707. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a vacancy occurred in her Department for the position of deputy secretary general; if she plans to fill the position by open or closed competition; when she plans to advertise the position; when it will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21876/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position of Deputy Secretary General became vacant on 24 August 2020. The Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on arrangements to fill the post in line with standard procedures for appointments.
708. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) and the rate of pandemic unemployment payment paid to them will be reviewed. [21888/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has had their Pandemic Unemployment Payment reviewed. Her payment has been re-rated to the higher weekly amount and arrears will issue this week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
709. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment by welfare district; and the budget cost of the payment for each month from March 2020 to date. [21895/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo manage the delivery of services across the county, the country is split into eight divisional areas. The divisions are based on the location and catchment areas of the Department's various offices, rather than county boundaries. Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) recipients are not assigned to an Intreo or branch office, and so cannot readily be broken into these divisional areas.
Accordingly, where a county may be in two of the Department's divisions, the PUP recipient number for that county has been halved and assigned to each of the divisions concerned. Where the county is unknown, these are not included. The Deputy should also note that county breakdowns are published each week by officials in my Department at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/
|
Division |
PUP recipients on September 1st 2020 |
|
Cork |
21,096 |
|
Mid West |
23,430 |
|
South East |
19,712 |
|
West |
19,261 |
|
Midlands |
12,186 |
|
North East |
21,544 |
|
Dublin / Mid Leinster |
96,807 |
|
North West |
10,603 |
|
Unknown |
317 |
The estimated expenditure for each month of the scheme to the end of August is set out below, and is based on the month of the payment issued date. March contains one payment date; June contains 5 payment dates; the remainder contain 4 payment dates.
|
Month |
Expenditure (€m) |
|
March |
111 |
|
April |
778.8 |
|
May |
824.5 |
|
June |
859.1 |
|
July |
420.4 |
|
August |
310.4 |
|
September |
138.8 |
|
Total |
3,443 |
710. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when the State pension transition payment will be introduced. [21896/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra714. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the State pension age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21900/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 714 together.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a Retirement Payment for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseeker's Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work. I wish to assure the Deputy that I have made the introduction of the new Retirement Payment an immediate priority for my Department. The new payment will be introduced as early as possible for those who are retired from employment. Officials in the Department are currently considering the design of the scheme and assessing the necessary legislation, ICT system requirements and administrative processes required to support the introduction of this payment.
The public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. Therefore, a Commission on Pensions will be established to examine a range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability, eligibility and intergenerational fairness. The Terms of Reference for the Commission on Pensions are currently being developed and options for its membership are being considered. Proposals will be brought to Government in that regard as soon as possible. Once it has concluded its deliberations, the Commission will report to Government by June of next year.
In the meantime, the Programme for Government also sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions. I will introduce legislation later this year to do that.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
711. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for supplementary welfare each month from March 2020 by county to date. [21897/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.
Basic weekly SWA may be paid to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment. In certain circumstances if a person is not eligible for other social welfare payments and their weekly income is below the SWA rate for their family size, a payment may be made to bring their income up to the appropriate SWA rate.
Statistics are not maintained on the number of applications made for the scheme. As at the end of August 2020, there were 13,800 customers in receipt of basic SWA. Of these 13,800 cases, 5,300 have been registered since 1st March 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
712. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for back to school allowance made in 2020 compared to 2019. [21898/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance paid for each eligible child aged from 4 to 11 years on or before 30 September 2020 is €150 while an allowance of €275 is paid for each eligible child aged over 12 on or before 30 September 2020.
The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is being paid. It is also payable to those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
This year, the eligibility criteria for back to school clothing and footwear allowance has been extended to include the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment as a qualifying payment for the allowance. Recipients of this payment will also need to satisfy all the other qualifying conditions in order to qualify.
The scheme opened to new applications on 6 July 2020. To date 38,645 applications have been received. The comparable figure for the same period in 2019 is 32,333.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
