Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
522. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons in receipt of the disability allowance to go back to weekly payments if it is their preference (details supplied). [24121/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only. These were introduced on a ‘payment in advance’ basis so people did not have to wait two weeks for a payment.
It is not possible to introduce different payment cycles for different individuals or for different categories of individual. The payment frequency can only be processed on a single welfare scheme basis. All payments on each scheme, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into someone’s bank account, have to be processed in the same way.
Some welfare scheme payments have now reverted to a weekly payment pattern, including One-parent Family Payment, Working Family Payment, Illness Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit.
The Department’s view is guided by the public health guidelines. Those payments which are remaining on a fortnightly payment pattern will continue to be reviewed by the Department in line with the best available health advice.
