Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
115. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a motion passed by Monaghan County Council (details supplied) in relation to supporting artists with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24647/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme which the Government launched in April is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
It is important to stress that a payment under the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is not a social protection or income support payment. Rather it is a payment in recognition of the valuable contribution of the arts community and an incentive to encourage people to remain actively employed in the arts rather than seeking employment elsewhere.
My Department provides a range of income supports for people unable to work due to illness or disability. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, which are also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.
Social welfare legislation provides that for social assistance schemes, including disability allowance, all income and assets belonging to a claimant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, is assessable for means testing purposes. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State. Specific disregards apply for certain sources of income.
Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue employment, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings, between €140 and €350, are also disregarded, i.e. 50% of earnings in this band are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earnings above €350 per week are assessed in full.
Budget 2022 measures, will see from June:
- An increase in the upper disregard of €25 per week, from €350 to €375 for both payments
- An increase of €5.10 being applied to the general weekly means disregard entry point for the Disability Allowance. This increase will bring the entry point of the weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance in line with that of the Blind Pension, at €7.60 per week.
Income from the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme will be treated as income from self-employment, and as a result the disregards above will apply. A new web page has been created on Gov.ie which details the ‘Interaction of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme with DSP payments’. This page will be updated as required.
My Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives, any changes to the means assessment of social assistance schemes would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
