Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
492. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if a recipient of the basic income for the arts can be considered capable of work for the purposes of qualifying for the invalidity pension and, therefore, be disqualified. [24361/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for Artists 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 instead of seeking employment elsewhere. The scheme was launched by the Government in April and falls within the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
However, payments under the pilot scheme will be considered income and will therefore be reckonable as income for the purposes of taxation.
Similarly, under social welfare legislation income from the scheme will be treated as income from self-employment for the purpose of its various means tests.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or disability. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions. Expenditure on Invalidity Pension amounted to approximately €730 million in 2021.
A qualifying condition for Invalidity Pension is that a claimant must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. Applicants who are selected to take part in the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme are advised to engage with my Department to determine the impact on their social welfare payment before accepting an offer to participate.
People in receipt of Invalidity Payment who would like to participate in the pilot can request to transfer to Partial Capacity Benefit. This is a flexible scheme that allows people with reduced capacity to return to employment or self-employment with no limit to their earnings while still getting an income support. The rate of the Partial Capacity Benefit is based on the person’s capacity loss which is medically assessed by the Department as moderate, severe or profound. Permission must be granted by the Department to transfer to the scheme in advance of a person engaging in any type of employment or self-employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
