Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
451. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will explain the reasoning as to the reason a person who is in receipt of partial capacity benefits, if recipients are on an invalidity-based payment rate they will not be entitled to the one-off payment of €500; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57570/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra467. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that partial capacity benefit was excluded from the €500 disability lump sum payment; if consideration was given to making this payment available to those on partial capacity benefit; if the payment will be extended to those in receipt of PCB now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 467 together.
As 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.
As persons in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit are in employment without any restriction on earnings, they are not eligible for the €500 Cost-of-Living payment.
However, Partial Capacity recipients have received a double payment under the Cost-of-Living support measure, announced in the recent Budget, which was paid the week commencing 17th October 2022. They will also receive the Christmas bonus double payment, which will be paid from the week commencing 5th December 2022.
In addition, from January 2023, the maximum rate of Partial Capacity Benefit will increase by €12 per week. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate and for qualified adults. The weekly rate for a qualified child will also increase to:
- €42 for children under 12 years of age;
- €50 for children aged 12 years and over.
