Paul Kehoe
Question:351. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18906/23]
View answerSocial Welfare Application Forms
Questions (351)
Written answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 6 January 2023. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, this application for DA was refused on failing to supply sufficient information to determine the person's means. In addition, their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that they were substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision 18 April 2023 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Grant Payments
Questions (352)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:352. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of approvals made for the workplace equipment adaptation grant in each of the years 2018 to 2023, inclusive; the average timeline for approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18924/23]
View answerWritten answers
The aim of the Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant (WEAG) is to increase the job opportunities for people with a disability by supporting any additional costs, related to the disability, incurred by private sector employers employing or retaining an employee with a disability or self-employed people with a disability. The scheme applies only to the additional costs of adapting workplace equipment or of provision of equipment arising from the individual’s disability.
A maximum grant of €6,350 can be given towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
Table 1: Number of WEAG grants approved 2018-2023*
*Figures for 2023 are January to March inclusive
|
YEAR |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
WEAG |
44 |
40 |
41 |
29 |
34 |
8 |
Table 2: Value of WEAG grants 2018-2023*
*Figures for 2023 are January to March inclusive
|
YEAR |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
WEAG |
€100,023 |
€81,984 |
€83,968 |
€65,118 |
€71,319 |
€14,023 |
Information is not collated on the average timeline for approvals as each application is assessed on an individual basis in the Intreo Centres across the country.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (353)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:353. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the provision of a pension for carers; when she expects these pension entitlements to commence; what the limitations of the scheme will be; how long will a person have to have been a carer; the progress on establishing a register of family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18961/23]
View answerWritten answers
This Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Home-making Disregards and Home Caring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). They may for example have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years' paid contributions.I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record. My Department will develop a system to register those caring periods so that the relevant contributions can be attributed to a long-term carer.
My officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (354)
Thomas Gould
Question:354. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if the cost of disability payment was extended to those on CE schemes. [19021/23]
View answerReply awaited from Department.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (355)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:355. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people received the fuel allowance in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; the cost of this scheme to the State in each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19036/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments, and is paid over the winter season. During 2022, recognising the increasing energy costs, I secured a number of additional payments for households in receipt of Fuel Allowance including: an extra €125 payment in March 2022, a second extra payment of €100 in May 2022, and a third extra payment of €400 in November 2022.
Fuel Allowance Expenditure and Recipient Numbers for years 2020 - 2022
|
Year |
€ million |
Number of recipients at year end |
|
2020 |
290.45 |
375,269 |
|
2021 |
315.66 |
374,861 |
|
2022 (provisional) |
576.40 |
393,767 |
The number of Fuel Allowance recipients fluctuates as people enter and leave the scheme as their circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (356)
Willie O'Dea
Question:356. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason invalidity pension reviews are taking so long to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19058/23]
View answerWritten answers
My 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. In general, social welfare schemes which involve medical conditionality take the longest time to process.
These cases have a number of complex qualifying conditions that can take longer to process. In considering entitlement to Invalidity Pension (IP), evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s contributions paid and medical condition and the extent to which the person concerned is permanently incapable of work.
An individual may request a review of a decision on their claim where they are not satisfied with the outcome. The processing time for a review of a decision can vary depending on the amount of supporting documentation supplied and the complexity of the case. Currently, all customers are notified of the decision in a timely manner, generally within 3 to 4 weeks, as soon as the review of their entitlement is complete.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (357)
Seán Canney
Question:357. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are in place for self-employed people who fall ill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19070/23]
View answerWritten answers
Illness Benefit is the main short-term income support provided by this department to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit is based on medical certification and social insurance contribution conditions made. It is paid from the Social Insurance Fund and Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) paid under Classes A, E, H and P count towards Illness Benefit. Self-employed people generally contribute to the Social Insurance Fund under Class S and do not qualify for Illness Benefit.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed contributors in recent years without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% made in respect of employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
With this expansion, and where all qualification criteria for the particular scheme are satisfied, PRSI contributions in Class S give access to the following benefits:
• Adoptive Benefit;
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory);
• Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed);
• Invalidity Pension (for long term illness);
• Maternity Benefit;
• Parent's Benefit;
• Partial Capacity Benefit;
• Paternity Benefit;
• State Pension (Contributory);
• Treatment Benefit; and
• Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
The benefits to which Class S PRSI does not provide access are Carer's Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Illness Benefit, and Occupational Injuries Benefits.
Self-employed people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability may qualify for Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance. Further information on these schemes is available at www.gov.ie/illnessdisabilitycaring
With regard to additional short-term supports, this Department also provides Additional Needs Payments 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 Department keeps its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context and also in the context of the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (358)
Holly Cairns
Question:358. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure that all eligible persons can access the treatment benefit scheme under the Social Welfare (Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Order 2020. [19081/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is understood from clarification received from the Deputy that her constituent would like clarification from the Minister on their Treatment Benefit entitlements under the Social Welfare (Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Order 2020.
The Convention came into effect on the 31st December 2020. Its main purpose is to ensure that the social security rights and entitlements enjoyed by Irish and British citizens under the Common Travel Area arrangements are continued from 1 January 2021 onwards.
Under the terms of the Convention, all prior existing arrangements with regard to recognition of, and access to, social insurance entitlements will be maintained in both jurisdictions. This means that the rights of Irish citizens living in Ireland are to benefit from social insurance contributions made when working in the UK and to access social insurance payments if resident in the UK, and vice versa for UK citizens, are protected.
The Irish social insurance benefits covered under the Convention includes the Treatment Benefit scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (359)
Emer Higgins
Question:359. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in the next budget to increase financial supports for carers in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19096/23]
View answerWritten answers
The main income supports for carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2023 is expected to amount to almost €1.6 billion on these payments. The value of income transfers to family carers has increased by over 50% since 2015.
Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of significant improvements within the social welfare system to enhance the supports available for our carers. As part of Budget 2022, I was delighted to announce the first improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance in 14 years.
The capital and savings disregard for the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with the capital means test for Disability Allowance.
For carers who are working, I increased the weekly income disregard to €350 for a single person, and to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
These are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system.
There are a range of other supports for carers provided by my department which are not based on a means assessment. These include the Carer’s Support Grant which is a payment for all carers regardless of means or social insurance contributions. I increased this grant as part of Budget 2021 to €1,850, its highest ever rate.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is designed as a support for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The payment is not based on the type of disability but is based on the impact of the disability and it is not means tested.
In acknowledging the financial burden families of sick children face I have made significant changes to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment over the last two years.
As part of Budget 2022, I extended the period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital from 3 months to 6 months.
• As part of Budget 2023 and with effect from January, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of 6 months. During both these extended
• periods of eligibility and where other conditions are met, a carer may also receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and the Carer's Support Grant.
• I increased the monthly payment by €21 to its current rate of €330.00.
As part of Budget 2023, I announced further improvements to payments for carers including:
• A €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.
• A €2 increase for each Qualified Child bringing rates to €50 for Over 12s and €42 for Under 12s.
• The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is now disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
• A double payment for carers paid in October 2022.
• A €500 payment for people receiving Carer’s Support Grant paid in November 2022.
• Carers received the Christmas Bonus Double Payment.
In addition, a further Spring Cost of Living Bonus payment of €200 is being made for social welfare recipients, including carers, which will be paid this week.
In order to learn of and assess priorities within the sector, my department actively engages with carers’ representative groups on an ongoing basis. My department hosts the Annual Carers’ Forum which brings together individual carers, representatives of carer organisations and officials invited from other relevant Government Departments. The Annual Carers’ Forum forms part of my department’s commitments under the National Carer's Strategy and planning is currently underway for this year’s event which will take place on 17 May.
As part of the annual budgetary process my department invites pre-Budget submissions from representative bodies. As well as giving consideration to the submissions received, my department normally hosts an annual Pre-Budget Forum which representative bodies attend. The Pre-Budget Forum is an opportunity for me to meet with groups from the community and voluntary sector, including carer representative groups.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (360)
Emer Higgins
Question:360. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on foster carers who give up work to care for children being eligible to avail of the full State contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19099/23]
View answerWritten answers
Matters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla.
More widely, this Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides for a range of measures including PRSI credits, Home-making Disregards and Home Caring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of the Homemaker’s Scheme or Home Caring Periods, on the same basis as other carers, and will qualify if the carer is in receipt of Child Benefit. If the foster carer is not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or Home Caring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). They may for example have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years' paid contributions.
I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record. My Department will develop a system to register those caring periods so that the relevant contributions can be attributed to a long-term carer.
My officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (361)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:361. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider ending the practice of means-testing PhD stipends for recipients of one-parent family and jobseeker's transitional payments by implementing the same disregard she granted recipients of disability allowance and their spouses/partners in 2021; the estimated cost of implementing such a disregard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19155/23]
View answerWritten answers
The social protection system includes a variety of social assistance payments with different rules in relation to means testing, reflecting the different contingencies under which payments are made. The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
My Department encourages social welfare recipients to avail of education and training. Income received from the SUSI grant is disregarded in the means test for most social welfare schemes. Additionally, any fees paid directly to the relevant educational establishment are not counted as means.
There are several scholarships, such as those awarded by certain charitable organisations, which are not assessed as part of the means test for social welfare payments. These include payments under the 1916 Bursary Fund and under Higher Educational Scholarships for Adult Learners from Uversity to a maximum of €7,000 per annum.
For disability allowance, the disregard includes any amount of a bursary, scholarship or stipend awarded for completion of Doctoral Degree studies at an approved institution up to a maximum of €20,000 per year.
Given the difficulty in estimating the future take-up of PhD stipends among customers of these schemes, it is not possible to provide an accurate costing. Disregards across all the Department's schemes are kept under constant review and any changes to the disregards for the One Parent Family Payment or the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment will need to be considered in the overall budgetary and policy context.
State Pensions
Questions (362)
Emer Higgins
Question:362. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will instruct the appeals section of the State pension (contributory) section to issue a decision on the case of a person (details supplied). [19217/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of my Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Appeals Office has issued their decision to the person concerned. Arrears due to the person concerned are issuing in line with this decision.
My Department has requested a review of the decision to the Chief Appeals Officer who has power under Section 318 of the Act to revise any decision where it appears that the Appeals Officer’s decision was erroneous by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Citizens Information Services
Questions (363)
Ivana Bacik
Question:363. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 908 of 18 April 2023, if she will make a statement on the continued vacancy of a property which housed the Citizens' Information Centre in Rathmines. [19250/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body under the aegis of my Department charged with providing independent information, advice and advocacy services to the public on a range of issues.
Dublin South Citizen Information Service (CIS) is the company with responsibility for the provision of information, advice, and advocacy services in Rathmines. As advised in Parliamentary Question No. 908, the premises which housed the Rathmines Citizens Information Centre was sold with vacant possession by the landlord in 2022. Dublin South CIS was served notice to vacate the premises by 24th May 2022 and were unable to source an alternative, affordable premises in the Rathmines area.
Any plans for the use of the premises which housed the Rathmines Citizens Information Centre are a matter for the property’s current owner.
As also advised in Parliamentary Question No. 908, Dublin South CIS, as are all CIS companies, remain committed to delivering in-person services and Citizens Information services are currently available at three locations close to Rathmines (Meath Street, Sundrive Road and Aungier Street). Dublin South CIS, with the support of CIB, also continue to search for an alternative, affordable premises in the Dublin City South area.
Citizens Information Services
Questions (364)
Ivana Bacik
Question:364. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make a statement on the BearingPoint review of volunteers in the Citizens Information Services; if she agrees that volunteers should be reintegrated into the CIS. [19251/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body, under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, that funds and support the eight independent Citizens Information Service (CIS) companies, which operate the national network of Citizens Information Centres.
As Minister, I absolutely recognise and value the important work carried out by volunteers in the CIS and I have been very clear to CIB that it is important that the voluntary ethos of the CIS should be protected and the skills of its volunteers be valued and utilised to the maximum extent possible.
To this end, I welcome the recent publication of the independent review of volunteering in the CIS. The report endorses my long-standing view of the value that volunteers bring to the service and confirms the important role that volunteers play in delivering these essential services across the country.
The report’s recommendations will support the return of more volunteers to Citizens Information Centres and also welcome new volunteers. There has been extensive engagement with all stakeholders during the preparation of this report, including volunteers themselves. This positive engagement is reflected in the findings of the report.
It is now a matter for the eight independent CIS companies, with the support of CIB, to implement the report’s recommendations, in order to see a welcome return of both old and new volunteers to the service. I hope to see this happen as quickly as possible.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (365)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:365. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to list in tabular form how much it would cost to increase the increase for a qualified child for over 12s by 10, 12 and 15 euro; and how much it would cost to increase the under 12s rate by 5,7 and 10 euro. [19289/23]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated costs of increasing the Qualified Child Increase are outlined below:
|
Increase of €10 (€m) |
Increase of €12 (€m) |
Increase of €15 (€m) |
|
|
Cost for children aged 12 and over |
€53.9 |
€64.7 |
€80.8 |
|
Increase of €5 (€m) |
Increase of €7 (€m) |
Increase of €10 (€m) |
|
|
Cost for children under 12 |
€48.6 |
€68.0 |
€97.2 |
These costings are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (366, 373)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:366. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to list in tabular form the number of recipients of one parent family payment and jobseeker's transitional payment who are also in receipt of the fuel allowance. [19291/23]
View answer
Gary Gannon
Question:373. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of one-parent family payment; the total number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s transitional payment; and the number of recipients of each payment who are self-employed, in tabular form. [19423/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 373 together.
One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents under 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7. Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is a provision under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that is available to lone parents, who are not co-habiting and have a youngest child aged 7 to 13 years inclusive.
At the end of March 2023, there were 43,589 individuals in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment, and 19,901 individuals in receipt of Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. Of these, 26,616 One-Parent Family Payment recipients and 13,282 Jobseeker's Transitional Payment recipients were also in receipt of Fuel Allowance.
If you are self-employed, you usually pay PRSI at Class S. There were 265 recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and 185 Jobseeker's Transitional Payment with a record of Class S PRSI contributions in 2021, the latest year that Class S contribution data is available for.
Table 1: One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment recipients
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
|
|
Recipients |
43,589 |
19,901 |
|
Recipients in receipt of Fuel Allowance |
26,616 |
13,282 |
|
Recipients with Class S PRSI contribution in 2021 |
265 |
185 |
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (367)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:367. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection how much it would cost to increase the fuel allowance by €15 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19292/23]
View answerWritten answers
The cost of a €15 increase per week based on the existing 28 week fuel season is €187.24 million.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (368)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:368. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection how much it would cost to increase the payable period for the fuel allowance by four weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19293/23]
View answerWritten answers
The full year cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by four weeks from 28 weeks to 32 weeks in payment is €58.85 million.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (369)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:369. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted an analysis of the cost of extending the child benefit payment to all second level students over the age of 18 years; if there are plans to extend the payment in this way as a response to the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19294/23]
View answerWritten answers
Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Estimated expenditure on the scheme will be approximately €2.1 billion in 2023.
There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age and in full time education. Such an extension would have significant cost implications.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
• Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
• the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
• the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
Budget 2023 includes a Social Welfare package of over €2.1 billion and provided for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. In addition, all families in receipt of the payment received a €500 lump sum payment in November 2022 at an estimated cost of €23 million.
I also provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. These increases took effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023.
The Government recognises the challenges of rising prices and in February announced details of a new cost-of-living measures package worth €1.2 billion. These measures include a once-off lump sum payment of €200 to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment which was paid this month and a once-off increase of €100 to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance in July.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (370)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:370. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a pension and fuel allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19295/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance entitlement of the person concerned has been reviewed and it has been backdated to 28th October 2022. The payment of arrears for the period 28th October 2022 to 5th January 2023 will be available for collection at the person's nominated Post Office on Friday, 28th April 2023.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 19 April 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (371)
Brendan Griffin
Question:371. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19368/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 January 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 22 February 2023.
The case was referred on 28 March 2023 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 hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (372)
Denis Naughten
Question:372. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on jobseeker's benefit who transferred on to the back to education allowance in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19369/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments to pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level. The focus of the scheme is to help people improve their qualifications and therefore to improve their prospects of taking up employment. The Government has provided €49.1 million for the scheme in 2023.
Department records show that at end December 2019 there were 219 persons in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance who had transferred from the Jobseekers Benefit payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 373 answered with Question No. 366.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (374)
Gary Gannon
Question:374. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the ending of means testing of child maintenance for lone parents accessing social welfare payments will come into effect. [19424/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. I am pleased to say that, pending the introduction of the necessary legislation, my Department has already implemented some of the recommended changes on an administrative basis.
As a result, my Department is no longer applying the "efforts to seek maintenance" requirement to One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. This requirement often involved lone parents having to go to Court to seek a maintenance order, so this change will remove a potential additional stress for them, as well as helping to reduce the burden on our courts system.
In addition, the liable relative provisions are not being applied to new claims for One-Parent Family Payment. This means that my Department will no longer seek to recoup a portion of claim costs from the non-resident parent in these cases. I want to be very clear that removing these provisions does not replace or supersede the primary responsibility of parents to maintain their children.
The remaining reform is that child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments. This measure will mean that many lone parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase. It will also mean that some additional lone parents will qualify for a payment. It is estimated that this measure will be of direct benefit to approximately 16,000 lone parents at a cost of approximately €10 million per year.
These are very significant reforms of the social welfare system which will be of great benefit to lone parents. These changes require amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of my Department’s systems, application forms and processes.
My officials are working on advancing the legislative provisions and associated issues at present to ensure full implementation as early as possible. In the meantime, as I have outlined, a number of the recommendations are being implemented on an administrative basis.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (375)
Gary Gannon
Question:375. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of working family payment; the estimated cost of extending eligibility for the fuel allowance to recipients of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19425/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 €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 Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.
It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. As of 31st March 2023, there are approximately 47,000 families with 100,000 children who are currently in receipt of WFP.
The estimated cost of extending the Fuel Allowance payment to all those in receipt of the Working Family Payment (WFP) is €23.2 Million. This estimate is based on a weekly Fuel Allowance rate of €33 and a payment period of 28 weeks.
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 is a weekly, tax-free payment available to employees with children. It 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.
Parental Leave
Questions (376)
Gary Gannon
Question:376. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of one-parent families that availed of parent's benefit and leave in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19426/23]
View answerWritten answers
Parent’s Benefit is a scheme payable to parents who take parent’s leave from work. It is available in respect of any child born or placed with their adoptive parents from 1 November 2019. Parent’s Benefit provides seven weeks payment to each parent of a child aged under two years, or in the two years following an adoption, who is on Parent’s Leave from work to care for their child. Parents can take 7 weeks together or take separate weeks of leave.
At the end of 2022, there were 4,112 people in receipt of Parent's Benefit. Data on whether these individuals were from a one-parent family is not readily available in my Department.