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Tuesday, 15 Sep 2020

Written Answers Nos. 492-502

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Ceisteanna (492, 513)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

492. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to workers who may lose work due to possible future localised lockdowns when the pandemic unemployment payment is due to cease for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23461/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

513. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the situation regarding the pandemic unemployment payment in cases in which workers are due to be made redundant or let go after the deadline to apply for the payment and are unable to register for it on time. [23840/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 513 together.

The Government has given approval to keep the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) open to new applications until the end of 2020. The payment was due to close to new applications on the 17th September 2020. It is also open to those who were in receipt of PUP and who returned to work, to reapply for PUP, should they be made unemployed before the end of the year.

Question No. 493 answered with Question No. 475.

Farm Assist Scheme

Ceisteanna (494, 495)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

494. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the amount of income disregarded in respect of the farm assist scheme from 30% to 40%, 50%, 60% and 70%, respectively. [23486/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

495. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the maximum weekly personal rate to a farmer under the farm assist scheme to €250, €300 and €350. [23487/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.

Farm 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 and satisfy a means test. The 2020 Revised Estimates for this Department provides for expenditure of €60.98 million for the Farm Assist Scheme.

The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.

Farm income and any other income from self-employment is assessed at 70%. There are annual disregards of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children.

The approximate estimated annual cost of increasing the income disregard to 40% would be €3 million; to 50% would be €6 million; to 60% would be €9 million; and to 70% would be €12 million. These estimated costs are for a full year and based on current numbers of farm assist recipients.

The maximum weekly personal rate for farm assist is €203.00. The approximate estimated annual cost of increasing this rate from €203 to €250 would be €14 million; from €203 to €300 would be €29 million; and from €203 to €350 would be €44 million. These costs are based on current numbers of recipients in a full year.

Changes to this scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Ceisteanna (496)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

496. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons receiving payments under the fish assist scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in bands of €0 to €50, €51 to €100, €101 to €150 and €150 plus, respectively in tabular form. [23488/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A self-employed fisherman or woman on a low income may apply for Fish Assist which, in itself, is not a separate scheme but falls under the jobseeker's allowance (JA) scheme. In order for a person to qualify for a Fish Assist payment they must satisfy the qualifying conditions for JA in that they must be available for and genuinely seeking work. They must also satisfy a means test. Figures for the years 2015-2019 here refer to recipients at the end of each year; figures for 2020 refer to recipients at the end of August. The payment bands here refer to the personal rate of payment only; additional allowances for qualified adults or children have been removed.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

up to €50

3

3

0

0

0

0

€51 to €100

13

8

7

5

7

3

€101 to €150

11

9

6

13

5

3

€150 +

66

65

51

50

52

47

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (497)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

497. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a payment will be made to those over the age of 66 who are still working but are currently losing out on income to make up the difference between the old age pension and the pandemic unemployment payment. [23499/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an emergency payment payable to people between the ages of 18 up to 66 which is consistent with the other Social Protection jobseeker schemes. It is paid to employees who are not working or self-employed who would be available to take up full-time employment.

People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension. A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain their entire State pension and employment income. If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. A person may also receive an increase for a qualified adult, depending on their means. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or it is reduced.

The rates payable on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is based on previous earnings or income. The maximum rate of €350 is being adjusted to €300 with effect from 17 September and a further rate of €250 is also being introduced. The equivalent rates for State Pension contributory are €470.80 for a couple and €248.30 personal rate. The non-contributory pension for a two person household is €393.60 and €237 for an individual between 66 and 79 years or €247 if they are aged 80 or over.

People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which are significantly more valuable than those generally available to people of working age. These include free travel, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs, fuel allowance and living alone allowance.

Where a person of any age is experiencing financial hardship they can apply for assistance through the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Queries in relation to eligibility should be made by phone to the local Intreo Centre.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Question No. 498 answered with Question No. 475.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Ceisteanna (499, 501)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

499. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [23539/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

501. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the sectoral breakdown of those currently receiving the pandemic unemployment payment. [23541/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 501 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is detailed in the table below. A total of 219,913 people received a PUP the week ending September 12th 2020. This information is published by my Department on a weekly basis and is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/.

PUP Recipients week ending 12 September

Industry sector

Unclassified or unknown

6,517

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

3,063

Manufacturing

12,048

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

874

Construction

16,742

Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles

31,710

Transportation and storage

9,159

Accommodation and food service activities

46,759

Information and communication activities

6,235

Financial and insurance activities

5,704

Real Estate activities

3,363

Professional, Scientific and Technical activities

11,339

Administrative and support service activities

23,289

Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security

5,184

Education

12,854

Human Health And Social Work activities

9,087

Arts, entertainment and recreation

6,136

Other Service activities

9,850

Total

219,913

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Ceisteanna (500)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

500. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of previous incomes in each of the three bands of payment under the pandemic unemployment payment. [23540/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is currently paid at two rates. As outlined at www.gov.ie/en/publication/0b0fc-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment-rates-from-17-september-2020/, from 17th September 2020 the PUP will be paid at three rates. Previous average weekly earnings based on PRSI data for PUP recipients the week ending 12th September are given below in these rate bands. It should be noted that unknown future inflows and outflows to and from the payment will result in changes to these figures. Officials in my Department will continue to publish recipient breakdowns according to the rate in payment each week at www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/.

PUP rate

Weekly Earning bands

Previous Average Weekly Earnings

€203

less than €200

€114

€250

€200 to €300

€240

€300

over €300

€568

Question No. 501 answered with Question No. 499.

Social Welfare Overpayments

Ceisteanna (502)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for an overpayment amounting to €5,063 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23565/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer'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.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer is not engaged in employment or self-employment outside their home.

However, where a carer can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate provision has been made for the care of the care recipient in their absence, a carer may engage in employment, self-employment, education or training courses as long as the duration of these combined activities do not exceed 15 hours per week up to 31 December 2019 or 18.5 hours per week from 1 January 2020.

Following a review, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA for a period from 15 October 2015 to 10 February 2016 as she was engaged in employment outside her home in excess of 15 hours per week over several weeks in this period. As a result, it was determined that she has been overpaid €3888.20 during this period.

The person concerned was notified on 21 March 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. A breakdown of the calculation of the debt was enclosed.

On 30 June 2020 an additional review took place. Following this review it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA for a period from 2 January 2020 to 18 March 2020 as she was engaged in employment outside her home in excess of 18.5 hours per week over several weeks in this period. As a result, it was determined that she has been overpaid €1175.00 during this period.

The person concerned was notified on 28 July 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. A breakdown of the calculation of the debt was enclosed.

The Department is obliged to seek recovery of debts owed to it as quickly as possible, having due regard to the circumstances of the debtor.

Following on from both reviews the total overpayment incurred is €5063.20.

Accordingly, my Department’s Debt Recovery Unit wrote to the person concerned on 3 September 2020, seeking a repayment of €30 weekly.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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