Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 862-876

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (862)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

862. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in a situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56480/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Recovery of Benefits and Assistance (RBA) Scheme recovers the value of certain illness-related social welfare payments, which includes Illness Benefit, from compensation awards made to a person as a consequence of personal injury claim. The benefits are recovered from the compensator, not from the injured person.

These benefits are recovered by the Department of Social Protection to ensure that a person is not compensated twice in respect of the same accident or injury. A customer’s Illness Benefit claim is unaffected by the payment of recoverable benefits.

Illness Benefit is paid without the deduction of tax and is paid directly to the customer by the Department of Social Protection. Revenue will take account of the amount of Illness Benefit paid and will adjust a person's tax credits, as necessary.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (863)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

863. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review of an application (details supplied); what documents are being requested and are outstanding for this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56502/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, legally and habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. 

A state pension non-contributory application form was received from the person concerned on 14 December 2022.

Following an investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector, a Deciding Officer disallowed the application as the person concerned failed to fully disclose their means by not providing all the requested information to determine their eligibility. On 14 February 2023, the person was notified in writing of this decision, and of their right to request a review of the decision or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. There is no record that an appeal against the decision was received.

Following the Deputy’s Parliamentary Question, a re-examination of the person’s State pension non-contributory entitlement was initiated.

On 13 December 2023, the case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to investigate the means of the person, so that a pension entitlement could be assessed.

On 14 December 2023, the Inspector issued correspondence to the person concerned, outlining the required documentation in order for his State pension non-contributory entitlement to be established.

The Inspector returned their report to the Deciding Officer on 11 January 2024, confirming that the person concerned had not supplied all requested documentation and therefore it was not possible to establish their entitlement to the payment.

The Deciding Officer disallowed the review of the person’s State pension non-contributory entitlement, on 11 January 2024, for the reason that the applicant had failed to disclose their means by not providing the information as requested by the Inspector. The person was notified in writing of this decision on 11 January 2024, and of their right to request a review of the decision or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Separately, a state pension contributory application form has been received on 28 December 2023 from the person concerned and is currently being examined.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (864)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

864. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied). [56598/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

My Department received an application for IP from the person concerned on 8 September 2023.  Based on the information supplied, it was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.  Notification of the decision issued to the person on 14 December 2023 along with the reasons why the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.  This letter also advised of their right to seek a review of this decision or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (865)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

865. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 544 of 14 July 2022, the number of persons currently in receipt of a disability-related social protection payment, by the type of payment, in tabular form. [56599/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is included in the following tabular statement.  This data relates to the end of December 2023.

Payment type	Blind Pension	Disability Allowance	Domiciliary Care Allowance	Disablement Pension	Invalidity Pension	Injury Benefit
Cheque	0	2	8	1,111	32	22
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)	698	102,861	45,858	12,659	49,352	462
Electronic Information Transfer (EIT)	270	59,463	7,790	589	7,266	7
Total	968	162,326	53,656	14,359	56,650	491

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (866, 868, 872)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

866. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to extend child benefit for those continuing in secondary education but who have turned 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56614/23]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

868. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider expanding the child benefit scheme to children over the age of 18 years in education experiencing economic disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56643/23]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

872. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider expanding the child benefit scheme to children over the age of 18 years in school who are in receipt of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56659/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 866, 868 and 872 together.

The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024.

With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education.  I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.

This is a significant change to the Child Benefit scheme which will require technical and operational changes to the social welfare system before implementation.  Therefore, the change will take effect from September 2024.  Where a child in full time education turns 18 in the meantime they will be covered by the extension from September 2024 until they turn 19.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (867)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

867. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the household benefits scheme and additional needs payment scheme to heart failure patients, in light of the significant financial pressure faced by sufferers and the anxiety caused by a condition that results in the death of over one in three sufferers within five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56634/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.  The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €294 million this year on Household Benefits Package for over 520,000 customers. 

People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household.  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 general, access to the Household Benefits Package for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary social protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.  As many illnesses or physical conditions have an impact ranging from mild to severe, entitlement to these social welfare schemes is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned and, in the case of Disability and Carer's allowance, to an assessment of their means.  In this way, resources can be targeted to people in most need.

Additional Needs Payments are provided as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources.  The decision process involves consideration of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need.  This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.  Other State supports that may already be available to the person are also considered.  This ensures that support is provided to people with the greatest financial need.

There is no provision for an exemption of a medical condition from the decision process.  However, any person who considers that 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.

It is also worth noting that a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income.

Question No. 868 answered with Question No. 866.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (869)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

869. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the fuel allowance to recipients of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56646/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.

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 my Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources such as Fuel Allowance to this cohort of claimants.

The Working Family Payment gives extra financial support to families with children with rates depending on their incomes and family size.  It is not considered a long-term Social Protection payment and recipients are in full time employment and are more likely to have additional resources. 

While Working Family Payment is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, people may receive Fuel Allowance while on Working Family Payment if they are in receipt of One Parent Family Payment.

In response to an amendment tabled at Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2023, I have asked my Department officials to prepare a report on the potential extension of eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment.  The work is ongoing and when finished, I will carefully consider its contents and any recommendations that it may contain. 

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (870)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

870. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the jobseeker's transition payment to one-parent families in work, training or education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56647/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Customers in receipt of the Jobseeker's Transitional Payment can engage in education, training or employment without it affecting their payment, as long as they continue to satisfy the means test, subject to an earnings disregard.

Recipients of the payment are supported by the Department to enter or return to employment and/or to undertake educational and training programmes, through the services and supports provided by the Department's Intreo service.

Where a customer on the payment enters employment, or has other means, an earnings disregard of €165 per week is applied; in addition 50% of earnings above this figure is also disregarded in the assessment of means.

The Department provides several options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment ceases, including Jobseeker’s Allowance, which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is aged 14 or over.  The Working Family Payment is also available to lone parents who are working at least 38 hours per fortnight.  Lone parents who transfer to the Working Family Payment may also apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend.

Social Welfare Schemes

Ceisteanna (871)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

871. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a cost of disability payment in addition to those in receipt of a disability related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56654/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability.  Eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.  My Department also provides a range of employment supports for disabled people who want to work or who are working.

The Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across many areas of expenditure, including housing, transport, health, and education.

The report did not propose a Cost of Disability payment.  It found that the cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and there is not a single, typical cost of disability.  Rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs of disability, depending on individual circumstances.

The report concluded that disability payments should be targeted to those most in need and who face the greatest additional cost of disability rather than spreading resources thinly. 

I am committed to addressing the cost of disability and improving outcomes for people with a disability.  I announced a suite of measures to support disabled people in Budget 2024, including a €400 lump-sum payment in November, a Christmas Bonus double payment in December, a Cost-of-Living Bonus payment in January and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments.

However, despite these budget measures, there is still a need to reform our system of disability payments.  In September, I published the Green Paper on Disability Reform to begin the conversation about improving these supports and further addressing the cost of disability.  

The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold.  First, it seeks to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty by providing for higher rates of payment.  Second, it seeks to support and encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities by tailoring the provision of employment supports to suit a person’s capabilities.

The Paper’s key proposal is to introduce a new long-term disability payment that has three tiers of payment with associated employment supports.

This 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 work.

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 for those who can and want to work.  Many people will see a significant increase in their payment of over €45 per week.

I would like to emphasise that the Green Paper is not a final design.  It is proposed for public consultation and no final decisions have been taken.  It offers one possible approach on how to target limited resources.  Its proposals are intended to invite discussion, debate, and suggestions.

I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission.  We would like to hear what people like and don't like about the proposals and suggestions of how they could be improved or replaced with alternatives.  I have extended the consultation period until 15 March 2024.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 872 answered with Question No. 866.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (873)

Joe Flaherty

Ceist:

873. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the carer’s benefit payment is not considered a qualifying payment for the household benefits package (details supplied). [56662/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.  The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €294 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 520,000 customers. 

People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household.  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. 

The reason Carer's Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Household Benefits Package is that it is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care.  The payment is not means-tested and is based on a person’s PRSI record.  The person still has an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to their full-time employment.

While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Department’s schemes, any decision to extend access to the Household Benefits Package to those in receipt of Carer's Benefit would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.  

The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department.  In addition to Carer’s Benefit, carers receive additional support in the form of the annual Carer's Support Grant (€1,850) in respect of each person for whom they care. 

In Budget 2024 the Government announced a number of measures that will support those in receipt of Carer's Benefit. Carers who qualify for the Carer's Support Grant received a lump sum payment of €400 which was paid in November.  People who are in receipt of Carer's Benefit received a Christmas Bonus double payment and will receive another double payment in January.

From January 2024 the maximum weekly payment rate of Carer's Benefit will increase by €12 and the weekly full rate for a qualified child will increase to:

• €46 for children under 12 years of age

• €54 for children aged 12 years and over

As party of Budget 2024, the Government also implemented non-social protection measures which include a further €450 energy credit.

Finally, my Department 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.  Any person who considers that 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 that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (874)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

874. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on disability allowance and invalidity pension who to date in 2023 have lost their entitlement to these payments entirely or have had them reduced following a change in circumstance where they now reside with a partner initiating a review of their income, in tabular form. [56668/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the contribution conditions.  As IP is a contribution-based payment, customers will not lose their entitlement to the basic IP rate due to a change in circumstances where they now reside with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.  Customers may lose their entitlement to additional increases such as Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Telephone Support Allowance payable with IP if their living arrangements change, but their personal rate of IP might not be affected.  There were no IP customers who lost their basic rate IP in 2023 due to a change in their living arrangements.

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.

Statistics are not available on DA recipients categorised by a termination or reduction in payments due to a change in circumstances arising from cohabitation or marriage.  Therefore, my Department is in not in a position to supply the information in the manner sought.

The overall number of individuals impacted by terminations or reductions in payments for 2023 are as follows:

Scheme	Terminations	Reductions
Disability Allowance	1144	1399
Invalidity Pension	68	14

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (875)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

875. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the amounts of money paid as children’s allowance to Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland in 2022 and 2023 to date. [56681/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Child 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.

The following table outlines expenditure for Child Benefit in respect of customers who are living in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive for 2022 and 2023.   

Scheme	2022	2023	Total
	€m	€m	€m
Child Benefit	19.7	40. 7	60.4

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (876)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

876. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if children’s allowance being paid for the children of Ukrainian refugees is continued when those children leave the State and the number of checks that have been carried out to assess that those children are resident in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56682/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Child 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.

Child Benefit was paid to 652,000 families in respect of 1.2 million children at a cost of €2.4 billion in 2023.

By the end of 2023, over 15,000 claims had been processed under the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainian citizens.

From March 2022 to December 2023, Child Benefit was stopped in respect of 3,000 children where the children had left the state and the payment was made under the Temporary Protection Directive.  A stopped payment can be as a result of the customer informing the Department or from a control review.

The Department has a responsibility to ensure payment is made to all qualifying persons and to ensure that Child Benefit is only paid to eligible families.  All customers in receipt of Child Benefit are subject to a control review.  Reviews are carried out every 12 to 18 months.

Customers with Temporary Protection Ukraine (TPU) status are subject to the same control measures as all other customers.  Child Benefit is not payable where children leave the state unless an entitlement continues to exist under EU regulations.

In 2023, the Child Benefit Control unit completed a total of 287,000 reviews.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.