Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
169. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the methods of payment open to persons receiving a disability payment through her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10353/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides two payment options for customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). There are a number of social welfare schemes to support people who are ill, people with disabilities. and carers. Provisional 2021 transaction volumes, broken down by payment method, for this group of social welfare schemes are set out in tabular form below.
2021 Schemes by Payment Method
|
Scheme |
CHEQUES |
EFT payments |
Post Office payments |
Total |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
3 |
36,336 |
17,166 |
53,505 |
|
Carers Benefit |
2 |
172,702 |
10,070 |
182,774 |
|
Carers Allowance |
727 |
2,928,915 |
1,644,751 |
4,574,393 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2,768 |
4,669,646 |
3,161,815 |
7,834,229 |
|
Illness Benefit |
151,729 |
2,518,741 |
53,061 |
2,723,531 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
770 |
2,440,690 |
507,849 |
2,949,309 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
26,576 |
226,865 |
8,997 |
262,438 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
2,776 |
27,391 |
444 |
30,611 |
|
Total: Payments |
185,351 |
13,021,286 |
5,404,153 |
18,610,790 |
|
Percentages |
1.00% |
69.97% |
29.04% |
100.00% |
Customers on disability related schemes are offered a choice of payment method. My Department’s consistent position has been that it will respect customer choice as appropriate and make payments in line with customer preference where choice is available.
