Written Answers Nos. 444-463
444. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 4 May 2022, the progress that has been made in attempting to have funds recovered following the transfer of funds to an incorrect bank account in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27233/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware incorrect bank details were provided by the person concerned when completing their application form. My Department’s Accounts Branch contacted the recipients’ bank with a view to having the monies recalled. Unfortunately the efforts to date have been unsuccessful. My Department will issue formal correspondence to the company involved seeking to have the money refunded. Once the money has been refunded the Department will then be in a position to re-issue the payment to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
445. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if Ireland has a social security agreement policy with South Korea, whereby if mandatory pension contributions which are being made by Irish citizens working there at present can be included in their pension contributions at retirement age in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27255/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has negotiated Bilateral Social Security Agreements with a number of countries, including with the Republic of Korea which came into effect in 2009.
The main purpose of these Agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has such agreements. This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in one or more of these countries to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in these countries.
Each State Pension claim is then considered on its own merits and within the terms of the relevant scheme guidelines.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind and provides my office with the details, I will have the matter examined.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
446. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a welfare payment appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27266/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 March 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. The Appeals Office has now sent a reminder of its request to the Department. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal 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.
447. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review her recent announcement concerning the means disregard in respect of the living alone allowance for claimants choosing to accommodate people in their homes by renting out rooms and amend the qualification conditions to allow people living with a single adult son or daughter to claim this benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27272/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to recently announce a series of measures which will remove barriers facing social welfare customers who choose to accommodate people in their homes.
I am introducing a new means disregard of up to €14,000 per annum, in respect of those who rent a room in their home. This brings social welfare rules in line with the Rent a Room Relief Scheme, which has been operated for many years by the Revenue Commissioners. This new disregard means that a social welfare customer will be able to rent out a room in their home for up to €14,000 per annum and this income will not see their means-tested social welfare payment impacted, including for the Fuel Allowance or the Household Benefits Package.
I am also introducing a change in the rules for those who receive the Living Alone Allowance. This change will facilitate continued payment of the Living Alone Allowance to those who accommodate people (but not immediate family members), via rental or otherwise, in their own home. This amendment will apply mainly to the benefit of pensioners making accommodation available, including to arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Research has consistently shown that those living alone are more at risk of poverty than those who live as a couple or family. This is particularly true of older people who live alone. The main objective of the living Alone Allowance payment is to compensate for the additional individual costs of living alone, when compared to a couple or a family unit. To apply the change I am introducing to include immediate family members would mean it would no longer be a supplementary, targeted payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
448. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current process for international protection applicants to apply for a PPSN; the current processing times for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational Protection applicants can apply for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) online on mywelfare.ie or by contacting their nearest PPSN Allocation Centre.
My Department also offers a service via various Non-Governmental Organisations who work with International Protection applicants and assist them in dealing with the PPSN application process.
My Department does not collect data on processing times for International Protection applicants. However, the national average processing time for PPSN applications is currently three weeks. Applications for most counties are now being dealt with within one to four weeks where the application has been fully completed and the required supporting documentation has been provided.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
449. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that family carers are limited to an 18.5 hours working week when receiving carer's allowance and carer’s benefit, when other social welfare benefit schemes allow 19.5 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27308/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
The Carer's Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
There have been a number of significant improvements to the Carer’s Allowance scheme regarding the relaxation of the full-time care and attention requirement so as to enable carers to engage in education, training or work.
From August 1999, the full-time care and attention requirements were relaxed to introduce some flexibility and allow carers to work for up to 10 hours per week. As of June 2006, this was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week. In Budget 2020, this was further increased from 15 to 18.5 hours per week. This measure was prioritised in response to carers who had stated that they found the previous number of 15 hours to be too restrictive.
Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
The Deputy refers to other social welfare benefit schemes allowing 19.5 hours of work per week. Other schemes operated by my Department have different objectives. As a result, these schemes and payments will have different eligibility criteria and rules including the setting of working hours thresholds. The objective of these schemes is either to assist people move into employment or supplement their income from employment.
For example, the Community Employment programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed, or otherwise disadvantaged, to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. Participants are required to work for a period of 19.5 hours per week for the Sponsor to be eligible for a grant towards the cost of wages.
The Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment designed for employees on low incomes with child dependents. This employment must be ‘full-time’. This is defined as not less than 38 hours every fortnight. Any combination that reaches 38 hours each fortnight is acceptable.
I consider the limit of 18.5 hours to represent a reasonable balance between meeting the care recipient's requirement for full-time care and the carer's need to maintain contact with the workforce. Any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
450. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that carer's allowance and carer's benefit are not included in the Benefit of Work Estimator, the State’s free online calculator tool which helps job seekers to find information on welfare payments in order to make an informed decision about their return to work; if there are plans to include these two allowances in the Benefit of Work Estimator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27309/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to supporting them through a range of supports and services.
My Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
The Carer's Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The provision of full-time care and attention requirement is moderated somewhat by allowing a carer to work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hours. Budget 2020 changed the rules so that those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant could increase the number of hours they work, study or attend a training course from 15 to 18.5 hours. This measure was prioritised in response to the carers who expressed that they found 15 hours to be too restrictive, not only for work but for education and training purposes.
There are currently two separate Benefit of Work Estimators available on Gov.ie which aim to show Department customers how starting work or increasing work hours could affect their payments. One is for those in receipt of jobseeker and one parent family payments, while the other is for those in receipt of disability or illness payments. The latter was created as a result of a Make Work Pay Report Recommendation in relation to people with disabilities.
The Deputy’s suggestion would involve creating a new Benefit of Work Estimator specifically for those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit. The creation of a new estimator for this cohort would need to be considered by my Department in the context of a range of factors such as IT resources, development costs and potential usage.
It should be noted that the current income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple.
As part of Budget 2022, I announced measures which will allow carers to have a higher weekly household income, as well as a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer’s Allowance payment, as follows:
- From June, the income disregarded in the means test for Carer’s Allowance will increase to €350 for a single person, and to €750 for a couple.
- In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by this Department under review and will ensure that consultations with carer’s representative groups continue so that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met.
In the meantime, my officials will examine the merits of the proposal outlined by the Deputy.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
451. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are available to frontline workers who are unable to work due to long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27359/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. Provisional outturn for illness, disability and caring related payments was €4.8 billion in 2021.
It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Long-Covid, like all other conditions that impair or restrict the person's capacity to work, is covered by the range of disability-related payments provided by my department, which are not condition-specific.
In March 2020, 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 who are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.
The rate of this enhanced Illness Benefit is higher than the normal maximum personal rate of standard Illness Benefit, for a limited period. This is to allow the person to comply with medical advice and self-isolate while having their income protected.
Enhanced Illness Benefit is payable for 7 days 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.
Enhanced Illness Benefit is a temporary measure that has been extended until the end of June. €106 million was spend on the enhanced Illness Benefit in 2021.
In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period but for a maximum of two years, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Additional payments may be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children.
Where a person becomes permanently incapable of work due to their illness, they can apply for long-term payments. Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment and Invalidity Pension is based on a person's social insurance record. Secondary benefits may also be payable if people meet the eligibility criteria.
Apart from these income supports, my Department also provides means-tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for Illness Benefit. My Department may also make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
My Department keeps the range of income supports under review in order to make sure they meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
452. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the domiciliary care allowance relative to a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved based on the medical reports provided and the outline of the daily care that is given by a person. [27373/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child Patrick was received from the person concerned on 09 February 2022. Their application was disallowed as per Department's decision dated 14 April 2022, as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.
The person concerned appealed this decision. As part of the appeals process, their application was re-examined by a deciding officer. Following a review of all the information supplied, including the application form and all supporting documentation provided in support of their application and subsequent appeal, it has been decided that the person concerned does meet the qualifying conditions for receipt of DCA. Their application has been awarded and backdated 6 months, as provided for under legislation, effective from 1 September 2021. Backdating of payment was allowed following consideration of the evidence provided by the applicant relating to the good cause for not sending an earlier application. Payment will commence on 21 June 2022. Arrears owing will also issue on this date.
The person concerned was notified in writing of the details of this revised decision on 25 May 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
453. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering increasing access to or the amount allocated to families in the back-to-school allowance to reflect the increase in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27375/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme 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. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions namely:
- The child must meet the age criteria,
- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
- The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
- The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
Following a review of the scheme the income limits for one parent families were increased this year to bring them in line with the income limits for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that cohort of customers. The income limits were also increased to ensure that the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2022 will not negatively impact on an individual’s entitlement to the allowance.
The rates of payment were increased this year by €10 to €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and to €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
454. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has seen an increase in the number of failed applications for the domiciliary care allowances due to a disability not being appropriately identified through the standard operating procedure assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27376/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of children, aged under 16, who have a severe disability resulting in the need for substantial extra care and attention compared to other children of the same age without that disability. The child must be likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child and not solely on the particular disability.
While statistics on overall awards and refusals are available, information on awards or refusals in relation to particular medical conditions is not routinely collated. It should also be noted that children can have multiple diagnoses.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
455. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has made any changes to the eligibility for the domiciliary care allowance payment to reflect the changes made to the assessment of needs process by the HSE in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27377/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of children, aged under 16, who have a severe disability resulting in the need for substantial extra care and attention compared to other children of the same age without that disability. The child must be likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child and not on the particular disability.
Before a decision is made on a claim for DCA, the deciding officer forwards the application in its entirety, including all the medical evidence supplied, to one of the Department's medical assessors for their professional opinion on the care needs resulting from the disability. The deciding officer, having received the opinion of the medical assessor, then examines the application in full before making a decision.
All medical evidence provided by qualified professionals in regard to the diagnosis of the child's medical condition, the prognosis of the condition and the impact on the child's care needs is carefully considered by both the medical assessor and deciding officer before reaching a decision on
eligibility.
An applicant may supply evidence, medical or otherwise, and this can include reports from specialists or other professionals who know the child and their individual needs but there is no specific requirement to provide this information.
As part of the Budget 2022 measures, the period of time in which DCA is paid in circumstances where a child up to the age of 16, is hospitalised on a full-time basis for an extended period has increased from 13 weeks to 26 weeks since January 2022.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
456. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if decisions have been made on applications for a living alone increase in fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27408/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn incomplete application for Fuel Allowance was received in my Department on 21st April 2022. As this allowance is a means tested payment a letter issued to the person in question on 24th May 2022 requesting information in relation to their means. In order for a decision to be made on the application, 3 months statements for all accounts held both solely and/or jointly in any financial institution and details on any other property other than their primary residence are required.
Their application for an Increase for Living Alone Allowance was received on 11th May 2022 and awarded with effect from 5th November 2021. The maximum back-dating period allowable has been attributed. The weekly payment of €22.00 and any arrears due has issued to their post office. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing.
457. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive their travel pass as per their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27416/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has held a continuing entitlement to Free Travel since 6th April 2009.
The person concerned required a new PPSN and this has now been assigned. A new Free Travel Public Services Card has been issued which should arrive by post in the coming days.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
458. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a community employment scheme (details supplied) that has been instructed by her Department to discontinue a long-established programme of environmental works in three estates in Ardee, County Louth; if she will provide documentary evidence from her Departmental officials outlining the policy basis for this decision; if this decision is being implemented evenly and consistently across all relevant community employment schemes in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27478/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment (CE) programme is a community centred labour market initiative established for the purposes of social inclusion and activation, to help long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable groups to enter the workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment.
CE projects are sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. CE sponsor groups provide valuable and dedicated services in communities all over the country and we simply could not sustain a lot of our local community services without the work undertaken in these projects.
Eligible work placements under CE are those that respond to an identified community need and provide development opportunities for participants in areas involving heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport and the environment. CE projects must not displace or replace existing jobs, have sufficient insurance cover for the types of work undertaken and offer valuable work experience to the CE participants.
The range of community and voluntary services delivered by the Department’s employment support schemes does not extend to cover privately held dwellings or business premises or related amenities. However, I recognise the excellent work undertaken by our tidy towns committees throughout the country and CE participants will continue to work with tidy towns committees to complete eligible work plans and provide valuable services to their communities.
In recognition that there is currently an arrangement in place to provide maintenance in the three estates referred to by the Deputy, the department has decided to allow funding for the placements of participants in these housing estates to continue until the end of September. Continuing the provision of this service to the end of the current growing season will provide time to explore options with other agencies who have an involvement in environmental works and to work on a sustainable resolution to this issue.
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 in particular given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
459. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the invalidity review of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27480/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for invalidity pension in an application received by the Department of Social Protection on 3 August 2021. The application was disallowed on 9 September 2021.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned appealed this decision to that Office on 9 November 2021. The appeal was disallowed by way of a decision of an Appeals Officer on 22 March 2022
On 29 April 2022 new medical evidence was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office from the person concerned in support of their appeal. Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 provides that an Appeals Officer may revise any decision of an Appeals Officer 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 since the date on which the decision was given. In this regard, an Appeals Officer is currently examining the new evidence in order to decide if a revision of the decision of 22 March 2022 is appropriate. The person concerned will be advised of the outcome of the appeal as soon as possible.
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.
460. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance payment to a person (details supplied) will be restored. [27481/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA letter issued to the person concerned on the 6 December 2021 advising that their disability allowance (DA) was being reviewed. The person concerned was asked to provide details of their income, capital etc.
A reminder letter issued to the person concerned on 13 January 2022 and a final reminder letter was issued on 7 February 2022.
The person concerned did not provide any of the requested information nor make any contact with the Department. On 24 February 2022, a letter issued advising that their Disability Allowance payment would be suspended from 2 March 2022 as they had failed to respond to the Department.
The requested information was received in the Department from the person concerned on 7 March 2022. Unfortunately, this reply was overlooked by the Department at that time and their payment remained suspended, and this oversight is regretted.
This claim has now been reviewed and I wish to advise that their Disability Allowance has been reinstated with effect from 2 March 2022. The next payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 1 June 2022.
Arrears due for the period 2 March 2022 to 1 June 2022 have been issued to their account. A letter advising of this has issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
461. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time each application for enhanced illness benefit is taking to process; and if there are delays in processing known to her. [27523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCOVID Illness Benefit (Enhanced Illness Benefit) is a scheme that was introduced in March 2020, to support people who are incapable of work or who are required to self-isolate, as a result of a COVID diagnosis or being a probable source of infection. To date a total of 583,994 COVID Illness Benefit related claims have been processed of which 559,131 have received a payment.
The majority of Illness Benefit claims are automatically processed where an application is received and an e-Cert is submitted by a GP.
Processing statistics for Illness Benefit, which includes Enhanced Illness Benefit, show that 82% of claims are currently being awarded within a week.
Some claims for Enhanced Illness Benefit require manual intervention and my officials work to clear these claims as quickly as possible. In other instances delays in the submission of supporting medical certificates can also result in a processing delay.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
462. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ten week backlog in the processing of illness-benefit claims at present (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe majority of Illness Benefit claims are automatically processed where an application has been received and an e-Cert has been submitted by a GP.
Processing statistics for Illness Benefit, which includes Enhanced Illness Benefit, show that 82% of claims are currently being awarded within a week.
If the Deputy wishes to provide details of the person concerned I will arrange to have my officials examine the particular case.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
463. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to supports for artists with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme which the Government launched in April is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The Department of Social Protection provides a range of income supports for people unable to work due to illness or disability. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested payments and are structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue employment, be that self-employment or insurable employment.
When a person in receipt of Disability Allowance 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 for the purpose of the means test. Income from the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will be treated as income from self-employment for the purposes of means tests within the social welfare system and as a result these disregards will apply.
In Budgets 2021 and 2022 I introduced significant changes to allow people to earn more while continuing to keep a greater proportion of their disability payments, specifically:
- the earnings disregard for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension was increased from €120 to €140 a week with effect from June last year;
- from this June, the upper limit of earnings that applies to these schemes will increase from €350 to €375 per week;
- an increase of €5.10 is being applied to the general weekly means disregard entry point for the Disability Allowance from this June. 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.
My Department's supports and schemes are kept under review to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. There are no plans to change the way in which income from the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will be treated within the social welfare system or to introduce any additional scheme as proposed by the Deputy.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
