Written Answers Nos. 758-777
758. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the qualifying conditions for the fuel allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48301/23]
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 €412 million in 2023. 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. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at 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.
As Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to introduce a new means test for Over 70s last year. The means threshold for those aged over 70 is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple and is based on gross income. In addition, for people aged 70 or over, the amount of capital (savings and investments) that is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. Savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only.
The increased allowable means threshold for people who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership acknowledges that the overall cost of living for this cohort is higher than for a single person and the fact that the Department pays an Increase for a Qualified Adult on many of its primary payments is recognition of this.
Any further widening of the thresholds for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments, as well as a once off payment of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase, along with the Christmas Bonus and January Cost of Living Bonus payments.
Finally, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
759. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends increasing the upper threshold of €310 per week for entitlement to a qualified adult payment for social insurance-based schemes in the forthcoming social welfare Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48305/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra762. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pensioners in receipt of a non-contributory State pension; the number of these that are receiving a reduced rate; the estimated cost to her Department of exempting the first €200 of self-employed income from the means test similar to regime that applies to employed income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48308/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 762 together.
Means test rules in my Department are kept under regular review and I have introduced a number of significant changes in recent years including:
• Providing for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, their income from work to the level of the income disregard, is not assessed in the means test.
• Expanding the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard, and as part of Budget 2023 I increased this disregard.
• Introduced a Rent a Room disregard, for all Social Protection schemes, to enable recipients to support those arriving from Ukraine, and others, in a tight housing market. Earlier this year, I extended that provision for a further two years.
• From January 2023, I introduced significant changes to eligibility rules for Fuel Allowance, including a new means threshold for people aged 70 years and over - €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. These changes resulted in an additional 35,000 households joining the scheme so far.
• Last year I significantly increased the income and capital disregards for Carer's Allowance. This enables more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme and allows carers and their families to earn more from employment while retaining their carer’s payment.
As part of Budget 2024, I further increased the Carer's Allowance disregard to €450 for a single person, and €900 for carers with a spouse/partner from June.
I have committed to a carrying out a broad review of means testing this year, which will include consideration of means test provisions including how income from self-employment for the State Pension (Non-contributory) and thresholds for for entitlement to a qualified adult payment for Social Insurance schemes.
This review is ongoing and I hope to complete it in Quarter 4 this year.
The number of pensioners in receipt of the State Pension (Non-contributory) is 99,452. The breakdown of these is 72,328 at the max rate and 27,124 at a reduced rate.
I trust that clarifies matters for the Deputy.
760. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number, by each €10-per-week income band, of State pension (contributory) qualified adults in receipt of the total IQA allowance and of a tapered rate of qualified adult allowance where the qualified adult is 66 or over; whether she intends changing the way the increase for a qualified adult is calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48306/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn increase for qualified adult (IQA) 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.
The table below shows the number of persons aged 66 years of age and over who are the beneficiary of the Increase for a Qualified Adult on their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's State Pension (contributory) by means band.
|
Means Band |
Over 66 |
|
0 - 10 |
26,808 |
|
11 - 20 |
1,405 |
|
21 - 30 |
1,317 |
|
31 - 40 |
995 |
|
41 - 50 |
746 |
|
51 - 60 |
831 |
|
61 - 70 |
787 |
|
71 - 80 |
871 |
|
81 - 90 |
979 |
|
91 - 100 |
951 |
|
101 - 110 |
630 |
|
111 - 120 |
552 |
|
121 - 130 |
389 |
|
131 - 140 |
386 |
|
141 - 150 |
353 |
|
151 - 160 |
372 |
|
161 - 170 |
298 |
|
171 - 180 |
303 |
|
181 - 190 |
235 |
|
191 - 200 |
261 |
|
201 - 200 |
231 |
|
211 - 220 |
210 |
|
221 - 230 |
174 |
|
231 - 240 |
178 |
|
241 - 250 |
136 |
|
251 - 260 |
118 |
|
261 - 270 |
102 |
|
271 - 280 |
119 |
|
281 - 290 |
92 |
|
291 - 300 |
88 |
|
301 - 310 |
157 |
|
Total |
41,074 |
Any change to the means assessment calculation for the Increase for a Qualified Adult would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
761. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number, by each €10-per-week income band, of State pension (contributory) qualified adults in receipt of a tapered rate of qualified adult allowance where the qualified adult is aged under 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48307/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn increase for qualified adult (IQA) 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.
The table below shows the number of persons who are under 66 years of age and are the beneficiary of the Increase for a Qualified Adult on their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's State Pension (contributory) by means band.
|
Means Band |
Under 66 |
|
0 - 10 |
5,521 |
|
11 - 20 |
197 |
|
21 - 30 |
145 |
|
31 - 40 |
120 |
|
41 - 50 |
107 |
|
51 - 60 |
138 |
|
61 - 70 |
126 |
|
71 - 80 |
139 |
|
81 - 90 |
136 |
|
91 - 100 |
179 |
|
101 - 110 |
134 |
|
111 - 120 |
123 |
|
121 - 130 |
90 |
|
131 - 140 |
90 |
|
141 - 150 |
76 |
|
151 - 160 |
81 |
|
161 - 170 |
79 |
|
171 - 180 |
66 |
|
181 - 190 |
56 |
|
191 - 200 |
61 |
|
201 - 200 |
53 |
|
211 - 220 |
56 |
|
221 - 230 |
67 |
|
231 - 240 |
79 |
|
241 - 250 |
79 |
|
251 - 260 |
56 |
|
261 - 270 |
45 |
|
271 - 280 |
49 |
|
281 - 290 |
41 |
|
291 - 300 |
34 |
|
301 - 310 |
56 |
|
Total |
8,279 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
763. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and details of contracts currently held by her Department with a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48309/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has no contracts in place with the company in question.
764. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal decision for a person (details supplied) will issue. [48378/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that contact has been made with the Deputy's Office regarding clarification of the surname associated with this Question as it differs from that held on the Department's records.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has informed me that an appeal has been registered for this PPSN and the case assigned to an Appeals Officers who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing. However if the Deputy can confirm the details of the case, the Social Welfare Appeals Office may provide a further update.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
765. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the fuel allowance will be awarded to an applicant in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48380/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders towards the cost of their heating needs.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not applied for the Fuel Allowance.
I have arranged for an application form to issue. On receipt of the completed application form, their entitlement will be examined.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
767. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection what benefits or social welfare payments an individual who paid class M PRSI contributions can qualify for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48416/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployed and self-employed contributors between the ages of 16 and pensionable age (66 years) are liable to pay PRSI at a class and rate determined by the conditions of their employment and their weekly earnings.
People with no PRSI contribution liability are recorded as Class M. These are:
• employees under age 16,
• people of pensionable age who were previously liable for Class S,
• persons in receipt of occupational pensions or lump-sum termination payments (on that portion of income only),
• Class K contributors with nil PRSI liability.
Class M entitles a person, in certain cases, to occupational injuries benefits only.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
768. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the introduction of pay-related unemployment benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48418/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2024 I secured provision for a Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers to be introduced later in 2024, subject to further Government approval of the scheme. This would link the rate of benefit to a person's previous earnings.
The aim of a pay-related benefit scheme is to soften the income shock that a worker may face if they suddenly lose their job. The introduction of a pay-related benefit system would bring Ireland in line with other European countries and would represent a significant change to the Irish social welfare system.
Following commitments made in the Programme for Government, the Economic Recovery Plan and Pathways to Work, I launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a new Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers in December 2022. The Department has undertaken an extensive consultative process and engagement with stakeholders on a potential design as to how pay-related benefit could work to facilitate the sharing of ideas and views which will be essential to the development of a proposal for Government. The contributions of stakeholders will inform the design of proposals that I intend to bring to Government.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
769. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that individuals on farm assist and fish assist continue to receive letters from her Department inviting them to attend recruitment fairs, as they believe they are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48485/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIntreo hosted a number Work and Skills recruitment fairs across Ireland in October focused primarily on the recruitment of jobseekers into employment.
A number of customers in receipt of other and DSP income support payments e.g. One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance etc. were issued with invites in the context of providing them with the opportunity(if they so wished) to explore current options for training and employment.
These invites were issued as voluntary opportunities so that these customers could find out more about the training/employment options available to support their current or future pursuits.
Fish or Farm Assist recipients would not typically be included in the cohort of customers for invite to recruitment events however some may have received the invitation in error. There is no obligation on these customers to attend these events, though they are welcome to attend if they wish. I trust this clarifies the matter.
770. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will ensure that claimants who are likely to lose the free transport benefit over the next eight months and before fulfilling eligibility from July 2024, are not deprived of this important and crucial benefit (details supplied). [48551/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.
To qualify for a free travel pass when aged under 66 a person must satisfy the relevant qualifying criteria. When a person no longer satisfies the relevant qualifying criteria for a free travel pass their entitlement to the pass ends.
As part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive. As announced, this measure will be implemented from July 2024. My officials are currently examining interim arrangements to apply to those who currently have a pass which is due to expire in the meantime.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
A travel supplement may also be paid where a person has a recurring travel expense (for example, where a person has ongoing travel costs for hospital visits).
Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
771. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disallowed applications for disability allowance for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48557/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Disability allowance (DA) is a means tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.? The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect, which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and as a result of which they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications.? The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
The number of DA applications disallowed for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
|
|
2021 |
13,989 |
|
2022 |
14,593 |
|
Jan - Sept 2023 |
13,207 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
772. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disallowed applications for carer's allowance for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48558/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.
The table below contains details of the number of disallowed applications for CA for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.
Carer's Allowance - Applications disallowed by year
|
Year |
|
|
to date 2023 (31/10/2023) |
9,351 |
|
2022 |
10,115 |
|
2021 |
9,134 |
I hope this information is of assistance.
773. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the carer's support grant that are not in receipt of the carer's allowance due to the means test requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48559/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment to carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions.
The number of recipients of CSG who previously applied for Carer's Allowance (CA) but did not satisfy the means condition for CA currently stands at 319.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
774. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place for a person who is self-employed and in need of maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48560/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Leave is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for Maternity Leave. My Department has responsibility for Maternity Benefit.
Maternity Benefit is a statutory payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The fundamental qualification criteria for Maternity Benefit are that a woman must be in insurable employment and entitled to statutory maternity leave or be in insurable self-employment.
In order to qualify for the payment, a self-employed claimant must have 52 qualifying PRSI contributions paid in either the Relevant Tax Year, the Tax Year prior to the Relevant Tax Year, or the Tax Year following to the Relevant Tax Year. If a claimant is now self-employed but was previously in insurable employment, her PRSI contributions in that employment may help her qualify for Maternity Benefit if she does not satisfy the self-employment conditions as outlined.
A person who is self employed can apply for Maternity Benefit either online at www.mywelfare.ie or by paper application.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
775. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a proposal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48561/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn September, I published the Green Paper on Disability Reform to begin the conversation on improving long-term disability payments. I am strongly committed to disability reform and to ensuring the provision of improved income and employment supports for people with disabilities.
I would like to emphasise that the Green Paper is not a final design. It offers one possible approach on how to target limited resources. The proposals are intended to invite discussion, debate, and suggestions.
The Green Paper was developed as a response to commitments under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, concerns raised in the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Make Work Pay report, and recommendations in the Cost of Disability report.
The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold. It seeks (1) to encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities, which will improve their outcomes; and (2) to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty and deprivation.
The Green Paper aims to achieve this through its main proposal of a three-tiered Personal Support Payment, rather than the one-size-fits all payment we currently have.
People who cannot supplement their income with work will receive a higher payment rate, set at the State Pension Contributory rate. People with the greatest capacity to work will remain on the current Disability Allowance rate and be offered employment supports appropriate to their needs. People with a more limited capacity to work will be placed in the middle tier and their payment will be half-way between the other two tiers.
The proposed tiered system takes into consideration the recommendations of the Cost of Disability report, which found that income supports should be differentiated by need and that government policy should facilitate employment among those who can and want to work.
It is important to highlight that under these proposals nobody will lose their payment or have their payment reduced. The objective is to increase people’s payments and provide more employment supports. At a conservative estimate, the measures, if introduced, would cost an additional €130 million each year.
The Green Paper also addresses inconsistencies and anomalies in the current disability payment system, such as the qualifying age, medical criteria and in-work supports.
The qualifying age for adult disability payments would be standardised to 18. In line with this, Domiciliary Care Allowance would be extended to age 18 with transitional arrangements initially in place.
The Paper also proposes introducing a standardised in-work income support, the Working Age Payment. This support would be based on the Working Family Payment, which is a well-established in-work support for low-earning families. The payment is based on a fixed percentage of the difference between a threshold earnings level and actual earnings.
It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible by the closing date of the consultation, which is the 15th December. I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission or attending one of our public consultation events in Dublin, Cork, and Athlone this month.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
776. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 24 October 2023, the number of applications her Department received and were granted, or denied, and the reasons for denial in those cases, of a payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48562/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
During the period 1st January 2023 to 31st September 2023, in total, 3,022 Additional Needs Payments were registered, 2,108 Additional Needs Payments were awarded and 265 Additional Needs Payments were disallowed, in respect of customers in County Clare. This does not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information. These figures represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change.
The main reasons for disallowance on these applications were that either the need was not established, or that the applicant had sufficient means available to them and could meet the need from their own resources or from an alternative source. 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 Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
777. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can clarify the current position with respect to the situation whereby homeless individuals can collect social welfare payments at their post office in lieu of address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48563/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by people who are homeless. A protocol is in place to ensure a customer-centric and effective approach is applied where individuals and families who are homeless seek assistance and services from the Department of Social Protection in any location across the Country. While the protocol is current, it is under review and an updated version is expected to be finalised in the coming months.
A person does not need a permanent address to apply for a social welfare payment or service. Where the person has an immediate need they may apply for a payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme and can be paid without a permanent address. This means tested scheme is considered to be a ‘safety net’ within the overall social welfare system in that it provides immediate assistance to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs.
People who are homeless are advised to register with their Local Authority and to engage with the relevant services available to them, for example, the Homeless Action Team / Housing Assistance Payment Section.
A person can collect their social welfare payment at their local post office, where it must be collected in person. They must have a Public Services Card (PSC), or a Social Services Card (SSC) and photo identification to collect their payment. There is no requirement to have an address in order to collect a payment at a Post Office.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, the details can be forwarded to the Department for review of the individual circumstances.
