Written Answers Nos. 254-264
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if an oral hearing can be facilitated in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55922/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28 September 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. 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
255. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55926/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that Office on 28 September 2022. The relevant departmental papers were also requested from the Disability Allowance section in the Department of Social Protection on that date.
I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence to the Disability Allowance section for a review of the Deciding Officer's decision. The Deciding Officer made a revised decision to award the claim and the appeal was withdrawn by the Appeals Office on 2 November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
256. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a qualifying adult payment for a person (details supplied) in respect of their partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55933/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 4 August 2022, notifying a change of circumstances regarding his disability allowance (DA).
An application form to have an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) was posted to the person concerned on 4 August 2022. I can confirm that the completed IQA application and supporting documents was received on 9 August 2022.
The file was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 22 September 2022 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. The file was returned to DA on 8 November 2022.
I can confirm that, following a review, the person concerned was awarded an IQA on their DA with effect from 10 August 2022. The first payment at the increased rate will be made by the person's chosen payment method on 16 November 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 9 November 2022.
Arrears of payment due from 10 August 2022 to 16 November 2022 will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the eligibility for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55935/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.
Under the current qualifying conditions, a person will not qualify for Fuel Allowance if they or a member of their household is in receipt of Disablement Benefit. As the person concerned is in receipt of the State Pension Contributory and their spouse is in receipt of Disablement Benefit, they are currently not eligible for Fuel Allowance.
As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced that, as part of the Budget 2023 package, Disablement Benefit will no longer be a disqualifying payment, and will be disregarded in the means assessment, for Fuel Allowance with effect from 2 January 2023.
I acknowledge receipt of a Fuel Allowance application from the person concerned. This application will be examined to decide their entitlement from January 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position.
258. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that the €500 payment for all carers to be paid in November, as announced in budget 2023, will be made per household as opposed to per person cared for (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55938/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €500 Cost of Living payment referred to by the Deputy is a lump sum payment to those carers who are eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant. Unlike the annual Carer’s Support Grant, which is paid in respect of each person being cared for, this is a single lump sum paid to the carer, irrespective of the number of persons being cared for. This payment will be made in the week commencing 21 November.
It is worth noting that in circumstances where the care recipient is in receipt of a long-term disability payment of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension in their own right, they too will receive the €500 Cost of Living lump-sum payment in the week commencing 14 November.
The €500 Cost of Living payment is part of a range of measures put in place for carers as part of Budget 2023. Other measures announced include:
- Cost of Living Double Payment to Carers in week commencing 17 October
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in week commencing 5 December
- €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with effect from January 2023 with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate
- €2 increase for each Qualified Child, bringing rates to €50 for Over 12s and €42 for Under 12s from January 2023
- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
259. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if community welfare officers are still meeting on a face-to-face basis with applicants who wish to apply for a supplementary welfare allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55939/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens in County Kerry and across the country is a priority for me and for my Department.
The Community Welfare Service (CWS) provides a flexible service to meet the different needs of customers, who may find themselves in a financially difficult or vulnerable situation. It is important that this service is easily accessible and responsive to customer needs.
Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) are available to facilitate urgent and in-person meetings in over 50 Intreo Centres nationwide, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.
A CWO is available to meet with customers living in County Kerry, at the Intreo Centres in Tralee, Killarney, Listowel and Kenmare during business hours and in Cahirciveen Intreo Centre by appointment. They can also, where needed, arrange to visit a person’s home by appointment.
Any person who needs to access the CWS can call the national CWS freephone number at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment. This appointment can be arranged within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. The introduction of a national CWS freephone line, means a customer doesn’t have to attend an office in person to make a claim, or to make an enquiry about a claim if that is more convenient for them. A customer can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line.
A person’s case can also be escalated if urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment. Where it is clear a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.
The application form, SWA1, is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie. It is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie or by calling 0818 60 70 80. Customers can also request a SWA1 form by using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie. The completed application form and supporting documentation should be returned to my Department where it will be processed promptly.
The delivery of a locally based Community Welfare Service remains and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an exceptional needs payment of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55943/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the Deputy’s Dáil Question No. 243, the person concerned applied for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) for house repairs. In order to complete the assessment of the application, the local Community Welfare Officer requested additional information from the person on 26/10/2022.
As this information has not yet been received in my Department, the person's ENP application cannot be progressed. When all the necessary information has been received, the person’s application will be processed promptly and he will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
262. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55951/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability or condition who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by children of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 12 September 2022.
Following the completion of a Departmental medical assessment, a deciding officer awarded their application, including six months backdating, effective from 1 April 2022.
The person concerned was notified of the details of this decision in writing as per decision notification dated 8 November 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
263. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the position regarding persons claiming illness benefit not getting the Christmas bonus will be reconsidered, given that the recipients of illness benefit are struggling on this low income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55967/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
For these reasons Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus. I do not propose to change the qualifying conditions for this bonus.
My Department also 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.
The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment. The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.
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.
264. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an increase in a disability allowance payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55978/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from 1 August 2018. The information requested on 11 October 2022 as part of a means review, to have an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) added to their DA was received on 25 October 2022.
I can confirm that, following a review, the person concerned DA was assessed with nil means from 29 June 2022 to 30 August 2022.
Arrears of payment due from 29 June 2022 to 30 August 2022 issued on 8 November 2022.
In addition, following a review it was found there has been an increase in the means of the person concerned, and therefore their allowance has been reduced from 16 November 2022.
The person concerned was notified in writing of these decisions on 8 November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
