Réada Cronin
Ceist:267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case (details supplied). [30316/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 June 2023
Ceisteanna (267)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. I am not able to discuss individual cases but will set out the relevant policies in my reply.
People in receipt of Invalidity Pension who wish to return to work may apply to transfer to Partial Capacity Benefit if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition. Partial Capacity Benefit is a scheme which extends the Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension schemes to respond to the reality that some people in receipt of these payments have a capacity to engage in open market employment while continuing to need to receive some income support from the State.
The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent of their existing rate, respectively. If assessed as mild they will not qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit. A person who moves from Invalidity Pension can be in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit for a maximum duration of 156 weeks. There are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment 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 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.
If a person on Invalidity Pension transfers to Partial Capacity Benefit and takes up employment, it is highly unlikely that their carer would still be eligible for the Carer's Allowance payment (or half-rate Carer's Allowance). The individual concerned would need to contact the Department directly to discuss their personal circumstances as their payment would depend on the number of hours of employment and the level of care required by the caree.
This Department is not responsible for the medical card scheme, it is administered by the HSE so I cannot comment on that aspect of the Deputy's question.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.