Joe Flaherty
Ceist:681. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the Widow and Widowers’ pension. [42039/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Data
Ceisteanna (681)
Freagraí scríofa
There are currently 123,358 recipients of Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension and there are 1,242 recipients of Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non Contributory Pension.
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension is a social insurance based payment made on the death of a spouse or civil partner. It is not means-tested so entitlement is not affected by other income a person may have such as earnings, savings or an occupational pension.
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non Contributory Pension is for those who do no qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Civil Partner's Contributory Pension. This payment is a residency based means tested assistance payment. All income and earnings, including pensions, capital and property, excluding a person’s own home, is assessable as means.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (682)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:682. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42048/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 April 2021. 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 Social Protection. Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27 April 2021.
The case is being considered by an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (683)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:683. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42049/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 April 2021. 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 Social Protection. Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27 April 2021.
The case is being considered by an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (684)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:684. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the operation of the recovery and benefit assistance scheme in cases in which payments by an insurance company to a person take into account payments that her Department would have made to the person arising from the original injury or claim; if such recovery arrangements are in place in respect of a category of payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42077/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Recovery of Benefits and Assistance (RBA) Scheme recovers the value of certain illness-related social welfare payments from compensation awards made to a person as a consequence of personal injuries claims.
Where a compensator intends making a compensation payment to a person as a consequence of a non-fatal personal injury, the compensator must pay the Minister for Social Protection an amount equal to the illness-related social welfare payments that have also been paid as a consequence of that personal injury. A compensator must pay any recoverable benefits and assistance due to the Minister before making a compensation payment to the injured person.
The amount is recovered from the compensator as they are the liable entity.
The specified benefits recoverable under the RBA Scheme are:
- Illness Benefit
- Partial Capacity Benefit
- Injury Benefit
- Disablement Benefit Incapacity Supplement (that is, the increase of disablement pension payable where a person is permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident or disease and does not qualify for any other social welfare payment)
- Invalidity Pension
- Disability Allowance
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is not a recoverable benefit under the Scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Public Services Card
Ceisteanna (685)
James Lawless
Ceist:685. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the difficulties a person (details supplied) is having with obtaining a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42127/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Public Services Card (PSC) appointments were suspended from the beginning of this year due to Level 5 restrictions. However, some appointments were facilitated for urgent cases where the customer had no alternative means of accessing public services other than by acquiring a PSC.
My Department resumed PSC appointments from Monday 17th May, and an average of 1,000 appointments are now being carried out each day.It is the case that some offices of the Department are experiencing high levels of demand for appointments. Additional staff are being assigned to increase the capacity in our offices in respect of such appointments, and that capacity will be increased over the coming weeks.
My Department has contacted the person concerned and arranged an appointment for them. They have since been issued a PSC.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 686 answered with Question No. 650.
Social Welfare Schemes
Ceisteanna (687)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:687. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the income from a retained firefighter (details supplied) is being used to calculate income for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. [42169/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme is a non-statutory scheme which 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.
In order to qualify for BSCFA, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant’s household income to be within the income limits for that year’s scheme.
Income received in the form of Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement (FIS) or Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) is not assessable. However, all income received from employment, including income earned as a retained firefighter, is assessable under the normal rules of this scheme.
The application for BSCFA by the person concerned has not been awarded in this case due to household income being in excess of the appropriate income limit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 688 answered with Question No. 650.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (689)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:689. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons on the disability allowance can avail of the enterprise support grant. [42179/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers financial support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. This support is available to individuals in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment who are interested in setting up their own business. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed and is payable for a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business.
The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is a non-statutory payment to provide financial support to a new business owner, in addition to that provided under BTWEA. Financial support is provided to a BTWEA recipient under the ESG towards the purchase of items of business supports such as mentoring, business equipment and public liability insurance.
I have also introduced an ESG grant for businesses impacted by Covid-19. This grant is available to assist eligible self-employed recipients who close their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment to re-start their business.
I trust this clarifies the position for you.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (690)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:690. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42215/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following the submission of further medical evidence by the person concerned, their case has been reviewed and they have been awarded disability allowance with effect from 7 July 2021. The first payment was made on 1 September 2021.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Ceisteanna (691)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:691. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are issues, delays or otherwise in the application process for persons requiring PPS numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42255/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
My Department introduced an online application service for PPSN applications in December 2020. This service was introduced to ensure that those who need a PPSN can have their application dealt with, even in the event of office closures as a result of COVID-19 public health measures.
While SAFE registrations have resumed in all offices since May, and certain offices have resumed SAFE registration appointments for PPSN applicants, the online service is still available to those who require a PPSN.
It is the case that some offices of are experiencing high levels of demand for PPSNs. Additional staff are being assigned to increase the capacity in our offices in respect of PPSN applications, and that increased capacity will address the number of applications pending
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (692, 693, 718)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:692. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to grant passes under the free travel scheme to persons who suffer from epilepsy, and who are not eligible for driving licences due to their disability, to aid their mobility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42271/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Lowry
Ceist:693. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the provision of making free travel passes available to persons with epilepsy who are temporarily barred from driving for one year due to having a breakthrough seizure; if she will consider uncoupling the free travel pass from other qualifying payments to ensure that there is a direct application process for a free travel pass (details supplied); if she will consider this request as part of her Department’s Budget 2022 proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42273/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Patrick Costello
Ceist:718. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection her position on budget proposals submitted to her by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42719/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 692, 693 and 718 together.
The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 1,005,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2021 is €95 million.
In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
While I am aware of the campaign by Epilepsy Ireland, extending the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving cannot be considered in isolation. There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to a person with any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and, accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
While consideration is always given to any requests to improve or extend eligibility to the free travel scheme, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the free travel scheme would so fundamentally alter the scheme that it would move it away from being a social welfare measure to being a general transport initiative.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
Question No. 693 answered with Question No. 692.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Ceisteanna (694, 696)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:694. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the situation facing family carers promoted to apply for jobseeker’s payment when their industry has not yet opened given the gradual reduction in the pandemic unemployment payment rates from 7 September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42278/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraÉamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:696. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the continuing regulations restraining various industries and businesses from reopening completely or even in some cases partially, it is planned to re-instate the full rates of the pandemic unemployment payment to employees or former employees in the industries affected until the full reopening of society is possible, in view of the significant difference this would make to the persons affected and the reducing number of these persons and the limited duration that will be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 694 and 696 together.
The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an exceptional measure in response to the unprecedented impact on employment and earnings as a result of Government mandated public health measures. To date expenditure on the scheme is over €8.6 billion.
Since the gradual lifting of restrictions and the continuing progress on Covid-19 vaccinations, the number of recipients on PUP has fallen by over 70% from a peak of 481,000 in February to just over 143,000 last week. It is important therefore in the interests of equity and sustainability to restore standard social welfare terms.
To allow as much time as possible for the economy to re-open and for employments to recover, the Government agreed to taper the payment of PUP and withdraw it slowly over a prolonged period between September 2021 and February 2022 to align it with the standard jobseekers payments.
From September the maximum rate of PUP of €350 will reduce to €300, the current rate of €300 will reduce to €250 and the rate of €250 will reduce to €203. These new payment rates will take effect in payments made on 14th September. Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th February 2022.
The Government also agreed that PUP customers currently in receipt of the €203 rate of payment would transition to standard Jobseeker terms commencing in September. The commencement of this process has been deferred until the end of September rather than from early September, as planned. This is in response to the publication, on 31st August, of the Government's Roadmap "Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting".
The Deputies may be aware that in general working age payments including jobseekers payments are not payable with other weekly social welfare payments. However, given the unprecedented circumstances of Covid-19, provision was made for PUP to be paid with certain other specified social welfare payments, including Carer's payments. PUP recipients in receipt of concurrent weekly payments will also be contacted directly during the transition period and their position will be regularised in line with standard social welfare terms.
I hope that this clarifies the position for the Deputies at this time.
Employment Support Services
Ceisteanna (695)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42291/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All persons in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment are required to be seeking full time work and are also required to engage with the Department’s activation service. This obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the Department’s own case officers or those employed by the Local Employment Service or by JobPath companies.
Customers referred to JobPath who are also working part-time will have all activities, including meetings with their personal advisor, scheduled around their work commitments and can continue to remain in their current employment. The JobPath contractors are required to be flexible in the provision of the service in this respect. Their focus will be on exploring opportunities to increase the level of employment in their client’s current role, or looking at possibilities in other areas, including training, which may provide a more sustainable income and a move away from jobseeker payments.
Question No. 696 answered with Question No. 694.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (697)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:697. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the latest figures for the take-up of paternity leave; and the average cost per claim. [42329/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Paternity Benefit is payable at €245 a week, for a maximum of two weeks.
Paternity Benefit is a payment to employed and self-employed people who:
- are on paternity leave from work
- meet the relevant social insurance conditions (PRSI)
It is available for any child born or adopted after 1st September 2016
If a person is already on certain social welfare payments, they may get half-rate Paternity Benefit. They will be paid for up to two weeks. A person can start paternity leave at any time within the first 26 weeks after the birth or adoption.
Paternity Benefit is available to same-sex couples.
The number of Paternity Benefit claims received in 2021 up to 27th Aug 2021 is 18,526.
The number of Paternity Benefit claims received in 2020 was 24,884.
The number of Paternity Benefit claims received in 2019 was 28,153.
The average payment per Paternity Benefit customer in 2021 (1st Jan to 27th Aug 2021) is €264.62.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (698)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:698. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection her estimate for the cost of paternity leave over the next three years if existing duration of eligible claim continues; and the cost if the eligible period is increased by two weeks. [42330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on Paternity Leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is paid for two weeks and is available in respect of any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016. Paternity Benefit is paid at €245 per week, the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.
A decision to extend the period of Paternity Leave for employees would have to be implemented by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has policy and legal responsibility for this area. An extension of this leave would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The estimated full year cost of Paternity Benefit over the next three years for the existing duration of payment is €13.7 million per year. The estimated full year cost to extend Paternity Benefit by 2 weeks, which would double the existing duration to 4 weeks is approximately €13.7 million which would result in an annual expenditure on the scheme of approximately €27.4 million.
These estimates are based on a full year basis and on the estimated number of recipients in 2021. It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated number of recipients.
These estimates do not reflect any additional costs which may be incurred by employers who provide substitution or salary top-ups which, in the Civil and Public Sector, would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (699)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:699. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the payment of illness benefit can continue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42357/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Illness benefit is paid for a maximum of 2 years or 624 claim paid days.
The person concerned commenced claiming Illness Benefit from the 5th September 2019, and his entitlement to payment of Illness Benefit is due to exhaust on the 8th September 2021. A letter issued to the person concerned on the 10th June 2021 advising him that his entitlement to the payment was due to exhaust and also providing details of other social welfare schemes he may be entitled to.
The person concerned may continue to provide medical certificates for the duration of the period in which he is unfit for work in order to receive PRSI credited contributions.
If the person concerned is permanently incapable of work or will be unfit for work for at least one year, it is open to him to apply for the long term schemes Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.
Should the person concerned be in need of urgent financial assistance, it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at his local Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (700)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:700. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will accept a request for an appeal and an oral hearing in respect of the decision made in the case of a person (details supplied); if the extent of this condition now entitles them to a invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42363/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 26 January 2021.
A decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final apart from in some limited circumstances. Social Welfare legislation allows an Appeals Officer to revise his or her decision where it appears to him or her that the decision was erroneous in the light of new evidence or new facts which have been brought to his or her notice.
I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer reviewed the appeal on foot of this additional evidence. The Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or evidence which warranted a revision of her earlier decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 19 August 2021.
I am advised that the Appeals Officer re-examined the file of the person concerned and all papers in the case including the additional correspondence received. The Appeals Officer was satisfied that the additional information indicated that the condition of the person concerned had deteriorated since the application for Invalidity Pension. However, the only decision before the Appeals Officer is that regarding the date of claim of 8 October 2020, the circumstances of the person at that time and the Department’s decision of 14 November 2020 regarding that application.
The Appeals Officer regretted that the most recent correspondence did not provide new facts or evidence which would render her original decision erroneous and therefore a revision of her decision was not warranted.
The Appeals Officer added that it was open to the person concerned to submit a new claim directly to Invalidity Pension section of the Department of Social Protection at any time.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.