Written Answers Nos. 131-145
131. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the pandemic unemployment payment that are due arrears as a result of the heavy workload in her Department; when they can expect to receive these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38948/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date). Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway with a view to issuing payments before the end of the year and as soon as possible.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears for a person (details supplied) for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are being deferred until January 2021; the reason the payments cannot be issued sooner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38957/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway with a view to issuing payments before the end of the year. The person concerned will be notified of any arrears owing as soon as possible.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
133. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears for a person (details supplied) for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are being deferred until January 2021; the reason the payments cannot be issued sooner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38958/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway with a view to issuing payments before the end of the year. The person concerned will be notified of any arrears owing as soon as possible.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
134. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears for a person (details supplied) for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are being deferred until January 2021; the reason the payments cannot be issued sooner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38959/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway with a view to issuing payments before the end of the year. The person concerned will be notified of any arrears owing as soon as possible.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
135. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears for a person (details supplied) for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are being deferred until January 2021; the reason the payments cannot be issued sooner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38960/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway with a view to issuing payments before the end of the year. The person concerned will be notified of any arrears owing as soon as possible.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to ensure social welfare support and protection for persons experiencing symptoms of long Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38971/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
In March of this year, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.
The rate of payment of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with Covid-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of Covid-19, the person can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.
The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit was brought in as a short-term public health measure and is not a long-term income support payment. It is payable for 2 weeks where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of Covid-19 and up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with Covid-19. The purpose of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is to encourage people to not go to work due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation.
In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children.
Apart from these income supports, my Department also provides a support under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
137. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when persons (details supplied) will receive their PPS numbers. [38973/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to three of the six individuals referred to by the Deputy. Letters with details of the PPSNs issued on 24th November 2020.
Officials of my Department have contacted the Deputy's office and the remaining individuals regarding the outstanding applications so that we may proceed to progress their applications.
Upon receipt of outstanding information, these applications will be processed without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
138. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection if an extension will be granted to a person (details supplied) for the submission of documentation relating to a means test for the increase for qualified adult, IQA, part of the person's pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39039/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of this means-tested payment are carried out. The IQA claim of the person concerned is among those being reviewed this year.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are between €100 and €310, a reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and no IQA payment is due. Only the means of the qualified adult are taken into account. In the case of joint bank accounts, or joint ownership of land or property (apart from the family home), half the value or amount is assessed as means for the qualified adult.
My Department wrote to the person concerned, the primary State pension (contributory) claimant, on 9 November 2020 to notify them that their continuing entitlement to the means-tested IQA payment is being examined and to request details of their spouse’s means.
I wish to assure the Deputy that it is never my Department's intention to cause any unnecessary anxiety for pensioners, or their adult dependants. In that context, I am happy to confirm that the timeframe for returning the completed form has been extended by an additional 30 days. The person concerned does not have to submit any supplementary documentation. All that is required at this time is to complete and return the questionnaire.
It is open to customers or their representatives at any time to discuss difficulties with the provision or return of requested information with my officials, who can and do provide flexibility in this regard.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
139. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and any commercial or non-commercial State bodies and private entities subsidised by 50% or more of public funding under the aegis of her Department have implemented social clauses in their public procurement contracts in the past three years (details supplied); and if so, the nature of these social clauses. [39056/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe inclusion of social considerations has been specifically allowed for in the 2014 EU Directives on Public Procurement. The Office of Public Procurement (OGP) sets out, in its Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement, the key factors for policy departments and contracting authorities to be aware of when contemplating and planning the use of social considerations in public contracts.
My Department awarded one contract in 2019, under Article 20 of DIRECTIVE 2014/24/EU on public procurement which used reserved tendering procedures for companies that promote the integration of disadvantaged persons. This gives organisations whose main aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons the right to participate in public procurements.
My Department and all bodies under the aegis of my Department will continue to have regard to the OGP guidance on these matters and to incorporate social and environmental considerations in its tendering where this is appropriate to the type of contract being tendered. They will also ensure that while incorporating social considerations into procurement, value for money is maintained and it does not give rise to discrimination.
My Department and all agencies under the aegis of my Department along with any service partners, community and voluntary bodies and advocacy groups will continue to further examine any future procurements of goods and services with the objective of promoting and facilitating the inclusion of social considerations, including environmental considerations, in a structured manner in accordance with OGP guidelines.
The Department of Social Protection is a member of the Social Considerations Advisory Group, established by the Office for Government Procurement in early 2019. Informed by the ongoing work of this group, the Department will consider the manner in which it might incorporate social considerations within its public procurement contracts.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when all payments previously paid to a person (details supplied), including household benefits and the living alone allowance, will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39076/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for the increase for living alone and fuel allowance, received from the person concerned on 6 November 2020, together with the telephone support allowance have been awarded. Notifications of the awards issued to the person concerned on 12 November 2020.
An application for the household benefits package was received on 18 November 2020. This too has been awarded to the person concerned, and a notification issued on 20 November 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
141. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who remain on illness benefit in the long term, sometimes up to ten years, are not eligible for the Christmas bonus; if she will examine and consider awarding the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39077/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Christmas Bonus will be paid next month to long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all of most of their income.
In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus will, on a once-off basis only, be paid this year to those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of four months or more and who are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It will also be paid to people on equivalent jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more.
The reason Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus is that, in the majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who need to take time out from their employment due to illness.
People who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension, subject to satisfying the relevant medical and social insurance contribution criteria. Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance, subject to the relevant medical criteria.
Recipients of both Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance are eligible for the Christmas Bonus, and may also be eligible for other benefits including Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package.
Any change to the current eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus payment would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
142. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is financially independent is currently being paid €5.45 per day in short-time work support while the person's over-25s colleagues with the same employer and with the same reduced hours of employment are currently being paid €40 per day in short-time work support possibly in breach of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39082/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is subject to age-related rates of payment for persons under 25 years. It is also a means-tested scheme and, in accordance with the legislation governing entitlement to JA, what is known as benefit and privilege is assessed where a person is living at home with parents who are working.
The person concerned was awarded a JA payment with effect from 05/10/2020.
A review of the person’s entitlement has been undertaken which has determined that the person concerned has means in excess of the prescribed limit for receipt of JA. A letter of disallowance issued to the person concerned on 24/11/2020 advising her of this revised decision. A UP80 form has also issued to the employer of the person concerned so that a full review of her JA entitlement can be undertaken from the original claim date of 05/10/2020.
A member of staff at Balbriggan Intreo Centre contacted the person concerned on 24/11/2020 to advise her of the revised decision on her Jobseeker’s Allowance. She was also asked to contact the Intreo Centre should her circumstances change and her eligibility for a payment can be reviewed again. It is open to the person concerned to submit a Jobseeker’s Benefit application in January 2021 so that she may have her entitlement assessed based on the Governing Contribution Year of 2019.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with this decision, she may send in any supporting facts or evidence to my Department and a Deciding Officer will review the decision. Alternatively she may appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office which functions independently of my Department.
Should the person concerned experience financial difficulty she can contact her local Community Welfare Service at the Balbriggan Intreo Centre, where her circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at (01) 6984300.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
143. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacancies in community employment schemes; her plans to fill these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39112/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities that will become available. The CE scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment.
The 2020 CE Budget is €364 million. At the end of February 2020, prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, there were 21,131 participants on CE. At the end of October 2020 there were 19,244 participants on CE.
During the first phase of the Covid-19 emergency earlier in the year, my Department continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes while also introducing a number of contingency measures. These measures included the extension of all existing CE participant contracts for the duration of the emergency enabling many CE schemes and their CE participants to continue to deliver their range of services to the community.
Following the Government's introduction of Level-5 restrictions in October, the Department reintroduced these contingency arrangements and continued to provide funding for CE schemes. Department officials have been liaising with CE schemes to arrange for those participants who were due to finish during the period Level-5 restrictions are in place, to have their contracts extended until restrictions ease, unless a participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age.
While referrals to CE schemes can continue in current circumstances, the number of referrals from Intreo Offices may be impacted by the need to deploy Intreo staff to other frontline duties and in order to comply with public health restrictions. During this period, CE sponsoring authorities are also being encouraged to continue to promote awareness of the benefits of CE in their local communities, ensuring that CE vacancies are well publicised. They can advertise CE their existing CE vacancies free of charge on the Department's JobsIreland website.
Once restrictions begin to be lifted there will be a renewed focus on identifying long-term unemployed candidates for available CE vacancies and to fill the additional places provided for under the July Jobs Stimulus.
I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.
144. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the recent changes in community employment rules (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39113/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39126/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE Scheme in July 2017 to further support progression to employment, broaden CE access to a wider range of people and to standardise the conditions relating to the length of time a CE participant can remain on a CE scheme.
Prior to 2017, there were two available options for participating on CE. Both options commenced with one year of participation with the possibility of either one or two more years, depending on the option taken. Both options were subject to qualification criteria and neither required the CE participant to undertake any training resulting in the achievement of a major QQI award.
In 2017 the new conditions and qualifying criteria were introduced and a saver clause was provided for the existing clients:
‘Participants who commenced on CE prior to 3rd July 2017 will be entitled to remain under their existing CE eligibility rules, where this is to their advantage. If it is more advantageous to the person, the current criteria can be applied.’
The saver clause that was introduced allowed CE participants who commenced under that option to continue on CE for a maximum of three consecutive years with or without working towards a QQI major award, whichever was more advantageous. The 2017 saver clause does not allow those affected to continue to participate on CE for six years consecutively.
The same continuous limitation of three years continues to apply to all CE participants both pre and post 2017. CE participation was never intended to be long-term and the maximum continued participation on CE is three years.
In general CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. CE participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. CE participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do not have to work towards a QQI major award. In either scenario, a maximum of three consecutive year's participation on CE is permissible. A person may re-qualify for CE after a twelve month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment). The same rules and eligibility criteria attached to participation on CE are applied throughout the country.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these work programmes will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme.
While I understand that CE participants may wish to remain on a CE scheme for longer than the permissible time, the Deputy will appreciate that such extensions would have a detrimental effect on other long-term unemployed candidates wishing to avail of the opportunities afforded by CE.
I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.
