Written Answers Nos. 460-485
460. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of an occupational private pension and who is living alone can apply for the living alone increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53159/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Living Alone Allowance is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Deserted Wife's Benefit , and who are living alone.
It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
The Living Alone Allowance is not means tested and the payment is made as an increase to the recipient’s primary social welfare payment.
A claimant must be in receipt of a primary Social Protection payment in order to qualify for the Living Alone Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
461. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of a private occupational pension with no entitlement to a State pension can apply for the winter fuel allowance if they meet the means criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. As part of this, from January 2023, a new means test will be introduced for over 70s. Under the new means test, a single person over 70 will be able to have income of €500 per week and a couple will be able to have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance
Those aged 70 or over will also no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualify Social Welfare payment to be able to access the Fuel Allowance payment. All other relevant qualifying conditions for the Fuel Allowance payment will have to be satisfied.
For those under age 70, to receive the fuel allowance payment, an applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment, satisfy a means test and the household composition test. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
462. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly in the Budget 2023 proposals in which participants on community employment schemes will receive a €5 increase per week; if she will increase this payment to €12 per week in line with all other social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week.
Currently payment rates on CE are related to the underlying value of certain social protection payments plus €22.50 per week - with a minimum payment of €230.50 per week to participants. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that following the announcement of the details of Budget 2023, CE participants will benefit in two ways. In the first instance, they will receive an increase in weekly payments arising from the increase in core social welfare payments of €12 per week. Secondly, they will benefit from the increase in the weekly CE allowance of €5, bringing that ‘uplift’ payment from €22.50 per week up to €27.50 per week. In effect, these changes will ensure that the minimum payment for participants will increase from €230.50 per week to €247.50 per week from January 2023.
Additionally, there will be proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment. The weekly payments for qualified child dependents will increase by €2 to €50 for children aged 12 or over and to €40 for children aged up to 12. These increases will also benefit eligible CE participants.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53193/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person’s application for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number has been processed. Confirmation of the PPS Number issued to the person by post on 20/10/2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
464. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the regime in which persons who work past the age of 66 years can continue to claim the contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53197/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department.
465. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 458 of 13 October 2022, the basis on which long-Covid does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; the reason that her Department does not intend on revising this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
My Department reviews its supports and schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. The Department is monitoring the European Commission's work and recommendations in this area.
Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a widower's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53247/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently participating on a Community Employment Scheme. As a result, their application for Widow(er)’s & Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension has been disallowed.
The person concerned has been advised to contact Widow(er)’s & Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pensions Section when they are due to finish on the Community Employment Scheme, so that their application can be reopened.
Where a person in receipt of Disability Allowance dies, the payment may continue for a period of six weeks after death in certain circumstances. The main provisions relating to payments after death are contained in Section 248 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
I can confirm that a cheque issued on 20 October 2022 for four weeks after death payment as two weeks payment was already paid into the account of the deceased on 31 August 2022 and 07 September 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
467. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53248/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.
The Fuel Allowance payment is targeted towards those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.
If the CE participant was not in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment prior to starting on CE they may still apply for and potentially qualify for Fuel Allowance.
From 1 September 2022, the period a person must be in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) to access the Fuel Allowance scheme, was reduced to 12 months. This will also benefit people on CE who previously have been in receipt of the above payments for greater than 312 days but who did not meet the 390-day requirement.
A fuel allowance application form will be sent to the person concerned. The completed form should be returned to the Intreo Centre, Edenderry, Co Offaly and the person’s entitlement to a Fuel Allowance will be reviewed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
468. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the qualifying criteria for the fuel allowance in cases in which a person who is in receipt of a qualifying payment will not get fuel allowance if their spouse or partner is in receipt of a social welfare payment that is not one of the qualifying payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53250/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
To satisfy the household composition criteria an applicant may live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the qualified spouse is in receipt of half rate carers, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for fuel allowance, subject to a means test); or
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right or
- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren) or
- a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - i.e., less than 312 days for JA and less than 12 months/ 364 days for SWA).
Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a family member, that is not covered by the criteria outlined.
Any decision to extend the qualifying criteria for fuel allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy would change the targeted nature of the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
469. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the application for an exceptional needs payment by a person (details supplied) who is appealing the decision to refuse their application for assistance to cover the fuel costs they are incurring travelling to Beaumont and St. Luke’s Hospitals for treatment. [53251/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned requested a review of a disallowance of her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. This review was acknowledged by the SWA Review Officer and further information was requested from the person. When this information is returned, a review of the claim will be completed and the person will be advised of the outcome.I trust this clarifies the matter.
470. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 13 October 2022, 50745/22, if the review of the school meals programme includes an evaluation of the rates of payment, particularly in view of rising energy and food costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53267/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023 bringing the total to €91.6m.
Funding under the school meals programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and after-school clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.
The evaluation of the school meals programme will review all elements including the rates of funding provided for the meals. I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. The final report is due to be completed in November 2022 and will be published thereafter.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is resident in Ireland (details supplied) and is working for an English company and therefore, paying tax and insurance under the English system can access supports here on the basis of the Convention on Social Security between Ireland and England; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53284/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraQualification for Treatment Benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions, including having paid the required total number of contributions since first starting work, along with having the required number of contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based.
A social insurance record in the UK may help persons to qualify for Treatment Benefit.
If the person concerned is employed by a UK company, resides in Ireland and returns home at least once a week, they may qualify based on their UK contributions.
The Department have been in contact with the person concerned and have requested information regarding her employment in order that her entitlement to Treatment Benefit can be established.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
472. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster parents receive a backdated child benefit payment when their foster child is six months under their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
Once a foster placement has reached six months, the placement is considered long term, therefore at this stage Child Benefit is transferred to the foster parents who are now qualified to claim on behalf of the child.
Backdated payments are not made in line with regulations.
I trust this helps clarify the position for the Deputy.
473. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster parents can apply for the back to school allowance for children in their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53292/22]
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.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is not payable in respect of foster children as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National Community Welfare Service Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
474. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster parents can apply and receive the domiciliary care allowance for foster children in their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53293/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent, including a foster parent, or guardian in respect of a child with a severe disability or condition who requires additional care and attention substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age and where that care is provided in the applicant's home.
DCA is payable to the person, including a foster parent where applicable, who is providing for the child's care, in their own home while the child resides with that person for at least 5 days each week.
A foster parent should apply for DCA once they consider that their foster child may satisfy the conditions for DCA. Any documentary information that is available from the relevant authority (HSE / TUSLA) relating to the child's placement details with the foster parent should also be provided with the DCA application for consideration by a deciding officer.
Where an existing DCA claim is in payment in respect of a qualified child and the child subsequently transfers to the care of another person in their home, including a foster parent, that person may also apply for transfer of payment in respect of the qualified child, subject to satisfying all required conditions for receipt of payment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
475. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53326/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
A completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement. To date no application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned. An application form has been posted to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
476. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 30 September 2022
The application has been referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) on 07 October 2022 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted their report to the DA section, a decision will be made on her DA application and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
477. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that illness benefit recipients are excluded from the autumn double payment and the Christmas bonus payment; if this matter will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53348/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus and the once-off disability-related autumn double payment introduced in Budget 2023.
In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid. Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.
Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). All recipients of both of these payments are eligible for additional benefits including free travel and the household benefits package.
People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.
This Department provides Additional Needs Payment under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Illness Benefit recipients will benefit from the €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of this payment from January 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
478. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will list, by social welfare payment type, those included and excluded from the autumn double payment and the Christmas bonus payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53349/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I have secured a package of almost €2.2 billion for Social Protection measures as part of Budget 2023. This represents the largest Budget package for the Department of Social Protection in the history of the State and will help to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and families during this difficult period.
In addition to a range of bonus lump sum payments to be made to a number of groups, including people on long term disability schemes, recipients of the Fuel Allowance, working family payment recipients, those living alone, and carers, a series of double payments will be delivered before the end of the year:
|
Measure |
Recipient detail |
|
Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment |
Recipients who are eligible for the Christmas Bonus. The removal of the 12-month duration requirement allowing short-term jobseekers and Supplementary Welfare Allowance customers to avail of this support. |
|
Christmas Bonus |
State Pensions, Widow's/Widowers'/ Surviving Civil Partner's Pensions, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Guardians Payments. One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment, Long-term Jobseekers, Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds, Deserted Wife's Benefit and Allowance and Farm Assist. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, TUS, PTJI, Gateway and Job Initiative. Back to Education Allowance, Back to Work Family Dividend, Long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Daily Expenses Allowance, and Magdalene Commission Scheme recipients. |
No other schemes will be eligible for the above double-payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
479. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allocate more staff to the local community welfare offices to deal with the increased workload CWOs are experiencing due to the extra SWAs application and exceptional needs payment applications as a result of the cost-of-living increases (details supplied). [53364/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department.
480. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the salaries for community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53371/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe are all very conscious of the important role that Community Employment (CE) and other programmes play in our communities. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.
The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the legal employers of CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department. Therefore, any pay increases could increase the cost to the state of running CE schemes.
The Department of Social Protection, as the funder of CE schemes, has received correspondence from Fórsa and SIPTU seeking a pay increase for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. However, any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes, or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector, must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer. Given these budgetary implications, this correspondence has been forwarded to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.
Departmental officials met with union representatives in September, where issues relating to the working conditions of CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors were discussed. A further meeting has been scheduled and the Department will continue to liaise with union representatives on these matters. The Department will also continue to follow-up on this issue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
481. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will request a review into week pension rate for a person (details supplied) given that the weekly rate has recently reduced despite no change in circumstances. [53420/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is the beneficiary of an Increase for Qualified Adult allowance (IQA) on their spouse’s State Pension (contributory). This is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
According to information supplied to my Department by the Revenue Commissioners the person concerned commenced employment on 24 May 2021. A review of the qualified adult allowance was carried out. It was determined that the person concerned had weekly means of €242.00, giving entitlement to a reduced rate of qualified adult allowance of €86.00.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
482. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow recipients of the old-age pension in cases in which a person is residing in the house with their parents to qualify for household package, given the current high energy costs. [53421/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 497,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The status and income of other members of the household does not impact on qualifying for the package.
The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
In Budget 2020, it was announced that for HHB applicants aged under 70 who are on a qualifying payment, another adult (except for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of applicant) living in the household will no longer be a disqualifying condition for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package. Therefore, the status and income of the members of a household (except for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of applicant) living in that household does not prevent a HHB applicant from receiving the package.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
483. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarification on whether partial capacity recipients will be in a position to claim the €500 cost-of-living grant for disabilities; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, the Social Protection budget has been designed to assist people with cost of living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme.
The measures introduced include the provision of a one-off €500 Cost-of-Living payment, which will be paid in November 2022 to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant. Recipients who are in receipt of one (or more) of these payments qualify for the €500 payment.
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme has been designed to allow persons in receipt of this payment to continue to receive a percentage of their previous payment (i.e., 50%, 75% or 100%) while in employment. The scheme has also been designed so there are no restrictions on the number of hours a person in receipt of the payment can work, and there are no restrictions on earnings/earnings limits. Persons who have moved on to Partial Capacity Benefit from an Invalidity Pension payment retain their Partial Capacity payment, while in employment for three years (156 weeks).
As persons in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit, are in employment without any restriction on earnings they will not be eligible for the €500 Cost-of-Living payment.
However, Partial Capacity recipients will receive a double payment under the Cost-of-Living support measure, announced in the recent Budget, and will be paid from the week commencing 17 October 2022. They will also get the Christmas bonus double payment which will be paid from the week commencing 5 December 2022.
From January 2023, the maximum rate of Partial Capacity Benefit will increase by €12. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate and for qualified adults.
The weekly full rate for a qualified child will increase to:
- €42 for children under 12 years of age
- €50 for children aged 12 years and over
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
484. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if illness benefit will be considered as a payment which qualifies for the additional lump sum payments as outlined in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53492/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the once-off disability-related autumn double payment or the Cost of Living Disability Support Grant introduced in Budget 2023.
In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid. Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.
Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). All recipients of both of these payments are eligible for additional benefits including free travel and the household benefits package.
People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.
This Department provides Additional Needs Payments under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Illness Benefit recipients will benefit from the €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of this payment from January 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
485. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a payment to her Department by the UK DHSS for a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was awarded a UK pension and arrears due were received in this Department.
As they were in receipt of a payment from this Department for the same period, my Department has recouped €720.00 for the overlapping period.
A letter has issued to the person concerned and outstanding arrears of €6,972.36 will issue shortly.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
