Written Answers Nos. 467-486
467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the rate of disability being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24383/23]
View answerDisability 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, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
A DA review was carried out the person concerned in April 2023. Following this review, an increase in their means based on their payslip from employment, was applied to their rate of DA. The customer concerned was notified that there DA payment would be reduced from 26 April 2023.
In the decision letter issued, it was indicated to the person concerned that they have the right of review and/or appeal. If the person concerned requests a further review, this will be undertaken and they should submit their three most recent payslips.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
468. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to review carer's allowance in the context of budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24388/23]
View answerMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments in 2023 is estimated to be almost €1.6 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers. It is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
The income supports provided, including Carer’s Allowance, are kept under constant review. 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.
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 was made for social welfare recipients, including carers, which was paid last month.
Furthermore, the Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment. I would like to point out to the Deputy that some 141,000 Carer's Support Grants will shortly be paid to approximately 126,000 family carers.
In planning for Budget 2024 and as part of the annual budgetary process, my department usually 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.
Finally, I have committed to a carrying out a broad review of means testing this year which will include Carer's Allowance means test provisions. Changes to any of the schemes on foot of this review will only be done in the context of ensuring the most effective and targeted use of public funds that are required to provide income support on a broad societal level.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
469. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the contribution history records currently being used by her Department do not show home making and home caring credits; if she agrees that this is putting many parents and carers at a disadvantage in terms of receiving their correct pension entitlement; if she further agrees that this is having a particularly negative effect on the ability of many older women to access a proper pension; the steps she is taking to address this serious deficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24390/23]
View answerThe current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period outside the paid workforce, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role.
Applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, receiving a payment based on whichever method is most beneficial to the person. The Yearly Average (YA) method has been in place since the introduction of the contributory pension in 1961. The YA method uses all paid and credited contributions divided by time spent in the social insurance system to give an average of Social Insurance contributions per year with payments made on a banded basis.
Under the Yearly Average method, applicants can apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since 1994 spent caring for children under 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation. Up to 20 years disregard can be applied. This means the pension average does not disadvantage an applicant for the time spent caring. An application for Homemakers is available on gov.ie - Homemaker’s Scheme (www.gov.ie)
In January 2018, the Total Contributions Approach was introduced which removed the time spent in the Social Insurance system as a factor and simply added paid and credited contributions together. Homecaring periods can be claimed for providing full time care to children under 12 or people aged over 12 who require an increased level of full-time care. Up to 20 years of Homecaring Periods can be claimed. An online application is available on services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/pensions-and-older-people/pension-recalculation/
This reform fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. For the first time, it acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. The Total Contributions Approach arrangement results in a fairer and a more transparent system, as the person’s lifetime contribution is reflected in the State Pension (Contributory) payment received.
This Government continues to acknowledge the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Another important reform agreed by Government last year 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.
Department officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems for implementation by January 2024. This will include identifying the eligibility criteria for those who will be attributed the equivalent of paid contributions for periods of long-term caring along with revising the PRSI contribution statement so that it is in a format that is easily understood for individuals to calculate future pension entitlement.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, he/she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate State Pension (Contributory) in his or her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision to disallow a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24391/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test.
Since January 2023, the threshold for the fuel allowance means test for those aged over 70 is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple without the need to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. In this case, the threshold is €500 per week.
It was decided on 16th February 2023, that the person concerned was not entitled to a fuel allowance as her income, derived from a private pension, was in excess of the current income threshold. This decision has since been reviewed and the outcome remains the same.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Additional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the limit of off-farm earnings in farm assist by €5, €10 and €20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24398/23]
View answer472. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the depreciation of assets for farm assist to 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24399/23]
View answer473. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the capital disregard of farm assist to €36,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24400/23]
View answer482. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the amount of income disregarded in respect of the farm assist scheme to 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24642/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 471, 472, 473 and 482 together.
Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. There are approximately 4,300 claims in payment at present. The Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme in 2023.
The amount paid weekly to a person in receipt of Farm Assist is dependent on a number of factors, including family composition, earnings from farming, off-farm employment or self-employment and income from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine schemes. The means assessment under this scheme is generous when compared with the means test applied under Jobseeker's Allowance for other self-employed individuals. Farmers also retain access to activation programmes.
I have introduced a number of improvements to the means test for Farm Assist in the last eighteen months.
Under the Farm Assist means test, income from a range of agri-environmental schemes attract a disregard of €5,000, increased from €2,540 from January 2023, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. There are also annual disregards for dependent children; €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. Remaining farm income and income from off-farm self-employment is then assessed at 70%, with 30% disregarded. It is estimated that the approximate estimates annual cost, for every 1,000 recipients, of increasing the income disregard from 30% to 40% would be €0.6 million; to 50% would be €1.1 million; to 60% would be €1.7 million; and to 70% would be €2.3 million.
Further to the commitment in the Programme for Government and in the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, my Department in 2021 reviewed the means assessment disregards for Farm Assist. The report is available on the Government's website. One of the key recommendations of the report was to provide for an extensive expansion to the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard, which I introduced effective from June 2022. I announced additional schemes to the already-expanded list in Budget 2023, and this measure took effect in April 2023.
In line with the provisions for Jobseeker's Allowance, a disregard of €20 per day, up to a maximum of €60 for up to three days, applies to off-farm earnings from employment in the means test for Farm Assist, with 60% of the balance assessed as means. The cost of increasing the disregard would depend on the number of farmers in off-farm employment and the number of days worked and this information is not readily available.
In line with other means tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed under Farm Assist. It is estimated that increasing the capital disregard to €36,000 would cost between €0.5 million and €1.0 million per annum. In addition, there may be an unknown number of people who do not currently qualify for a payment as their means are in excess of the maximum amount permitted, and who would qualify in the event of an increase in the amount disregarded.
Where capital assets, such as farm machinery or equipment, are purchased outright, an allowance for depreciation relative to their usage is made. There would be a cost to increase the depreciation to a standard rate of 10% which would require a detailed analysis to provide an accurate costing. This information is not readily available.
Any further changes to the Farm Assist scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and with consideration to other social welfare schemes.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
474. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if the State pension can be increased to 34% of average earnings in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24402/23]
View answerAs part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, Government committed to finalising an approach for the benchmarking and indexation of pension payments.
A smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments was also recommended by the Commission on Pensions.
Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
As part of this, a smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments will be introduced as an input to the annual budget process and will be submitted to Government in September each year, commencing this year.
475. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government has any plans to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease for front-line healthcare workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24462/23]
View answerOccupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work.
Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
The decision on whether to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission regarding Covid-19 and has consulted with other relevant departments and Ministers on the matter, and the replies received are currently under consideration.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
476. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage increase she prescribed by which the preserved benefit of occupational pension schemes should have been adjusted each year since 2013 under Section 33(4) of the Pensions Act, 1990/the Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations; for schemes exempted under Section 37(1) of the Act on the basis that they provide benefits that are no less favourable to members concerned than those required by the Act, how her Department monitors that these schemes continue to meet the criteria for exemption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24495/23]
View answerSection 33 of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, provides that the Minister for Social Protection, after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, shall, in respect of each revaluation year, make Regulations specifying the percentage which will determine the amount by which preserved pension benefit is to be increased in that year.
Section 33 further provides that the increase shall be the lesser of the percentage that equals the increase in the general level of consumer prices during that year, calculated by the Minister as he or she sees fit, or 4%.
The percentage increases prescribed in the Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations 2013-2022 are as follows:
|
Year |
Revaluation Percentage Applied |
|
2013 |
0.50% |
|
2014 |
0.20% |
|
2015 |
-0.30% |
|
2016 |
0.00% |
|
2017 |
0.40% |
|
2018 |
0.50% |
|
2019 |
0.90% |
|
2020 |
-0.30% |
|
2021 |
2.40% |
|
2022 |
4.00% |
Section 37 of the Pensions Act 1990 provides that schemes may be exempted from the preservation requirements of Part III of the Act, by regulations made by the Minister for Social Protection with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, if the benefits provided under such schemes are no less favourable than those required by the Act.
The pension schemes currently exempt from the preservation requirements, which are, in effect, public sector pension schemes, are listed in the Schedule of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Preservation of Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 279 of 2002), as amended.
Where a request is made seeking the exemption of a pension scheme from requirements of Part III of the 1990 Act, the relevant Government Department making the request should outline to my Department the basis for the request and confirm that the retirement benefits provided under the scheme, and the provisions pertaining to the preservation of those benefits, are no less favourable than those set out under Part III of the 1990 Act. They must also confirm that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who is responsible for policy in respect of public sector pensions, consents to the exemption sought.
Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to the monitoring of occupational pension schemes. The Pensions Authority is the regulatory body charged with the supervision of pension schemes.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
477. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can outline the reason a person (details supplied) in receipt of an old age (contributory) pension as a qualified dependant on her husband's pension received the October and Christmas bonus, but has been told she is ineligible for the spring bonus, and as she had previously inquired with her office but could not get an explanation. [24498/23]
View answerThe spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of a State Pension (contributory) payment from my Department which includes an Increase for their Qualified Adult.
The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.
In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year, the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. Each eligible primary recipient of a social welfare payment receives €200, regardless of the number of dependents (qualified adult or children), if any, or other social welfare payments.
The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing 24/4/2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
478. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of each €1 per week increase in payments to international protection applicants living in direct provision accommodation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24543/23]
View answerMy department administers the daily expenses allowance (DEA) which is paid to protection applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS).
The Government has provided €20.15 million for the allowance in 2023. The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. At the end of April 2023, there were 12,010 adults and 2,536 children in respect of whom daily expenses allowance was being paid.
Based on these figures, the full year additional cost of increasing the weekly rate of payment for adults and children by €1 would be approximately €760,000.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading the implementation of the recommendations contained in the White Paper to End Direct Provision, adopted by the Government in February 2021.
Any increases to the current rate of daily expenses allowance, pending the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision, would have to be approved by Government and considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
479. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of successful applicants for fuel allowance in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24551/23]
View answerThe 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. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The Department generally collates data on an annual basis. At the start of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season in September, there were 369,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance. By the end of April 2023, the number of households supported increased further to 404,000.
It should be noted that the number of recipients of Fuel Allowance continuously fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
480. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance will be awarded when waiting on a probate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24561/23]
View answerFuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist those aged over 70 years 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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed to direct the limited resources available to my department in a targeted manner. To qualify for Fuel Allowance, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria, including a means test and the household composition criteria.
The person concerned can make an application for Fuel Allowance based on their current circumstances and an officer of my department will determine their entitlement.
If awarded the Fuel Allowance, the person concerned is obliged to inform my department of any change in circumstances which may affect their entitlement, and a review will be undertaken at that stage.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
481. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the pilot food poverty programme announced in budget 2023; the timeline for implementation of the programme; if there has been any work undertaken by her Department to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24593/23]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is the whole of Government strategy to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland. It includes seven high-level goals and 66 unique commitments. Goal 7 of the Roadmap is to “ensure that all people can live with confidence that they have access to good quality healthcare, housing, energy and food.” Commitment 61 of the Roadmap commits Government to “develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions.”
The Food Poverty Working Group, which I chair, was established in April 2021 and aims to tackle the issue of food poverty in accordance with this commitment. To further advance this commitment, Budget 2023 provided €400,000 to introduce a pilot scheme, based on a case work model, to support people experiencing food poverty. The pilot programme will consist of providing a case worker service in a small number of different counties in Ireland, by organisations involved in emergency food provision (directly or indirectly). The pilot is to run for an 18-month period.
The Department published a Request for Tender on 8th March 2023 with a closing date of 11th May 2023. The tender evaluation process has now commenced with the pilot due to launch later this summer.
483. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that people dependent on disability benefit are living significantly below the poverty line; the measures she will take to protect them against increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/23]
View answerMy Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability.
I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2023 to support disabled people to mitigate the impacts of the rising cost of living:
• Cost of living double payment paid in October 2022.
• €500 cost of living disability support grant paid in November 2022.
• €200 cost of living payment for people who receive the Living Alone Increase.
• €400 lump sum Fuel Allowance payment.
• Christmas Bonus double payment to all persons getting a long term disability payment.
• €200 for all persons getting a long-term disability payment in April 2023.
Also in Budget 2023 I introduced the following measures from January 2023:
• An increase of €12 in maximum rate of weekly disability payments. with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate.
• Disablement Benefit was disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
• A €1 million expansion of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund.
• The earnings disregard for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension increased from €140 to €165.
• The means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance increased from €120 to €200.
Separately the Government commissioned, and I published, an independent report on the cost of disability. This report showed that the cost of having a disability varied depending on the nature and extent of the underlying disability and that the approach to dealing with these costs was not simply a matter of increasing welfare supports but also involves the provision of services (education, housing, training, mobility services etc.).
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report.
Work on the Strawman is at an advanced stage. I intend to carry out a wider consultation process with all stakeholders and advocacy groups following publication.
I hope this is of assistance to the Deputy.
484. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by the Government could be provided at a lower cost to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/23]
View answerI am unsure from the Deputy's question whether he is aware of a way in which the automatic enrolment system could be provided at a lower cost to the State. If he is aware of a better way of implementing this major reform of the pension's landscape, I would be glad to hear it. As a note of caution, I would avoid asserting anything that did not have substantive evidential support.
I am aware of a theoretical proposition that claims that higher financial returns can be achieved for AE participants at lower costs. This proposal has been considered by officials in my Department and discussed with other relevant Government Departments and agencies. I recently referred this proposal to the Pensions Council for an independent external evaluation of the issues involved.
The Pensions Council was set up to advise the Minister for Social Protection on matters relating to policy on pensions. Membership of the Council has been constituted to ensure the relevant skills, specialist knowledge, and experience is in place to allow for the provision of collective advice, information and assistance in the development of pensions policy. I have requested the Pensions Council to prioritise this piece of work and in advance of progressing the legislation required to underpin the AE system later this year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
485. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to award foster carers' entitlements to PRSI credits to recognise their contribution as carers of vulnerable children on behalf of the State; and if this cohort will qualify for the enhanced State pension in January 2024. [24719/23]
View answerMatters 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, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring 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 HomeCaring 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 HomeCaring 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.
In their Strategic Plan for Fostercare Sevices, launched last year, Tusla stated that as of June 2022, there were 3,985 foster carers in Ireland. This department does not have data on how many of them would have enough social insurance contributions to qualify for the State Pension (contributory), credit contributions and other related information. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate specifically for foster carers. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
486. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of applications for the additional needs payments, including the exceptional needs and urgent needs payments, made to her Department or community welfare services for the year 2022, broken down month by month; and a further breakdown of the number of these applications that were granted, refused, appealed and granted or not on appeal. [24758/23]
View answer487. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of applications for the additional needs payments, including the exceptional needs and urgent needs payments, made to her Department and community welfare services to date in 2023, broken down month by month; and a further breakdown of the number of these applications that were granted, refused, appealed and granted or not on appeal. [24759/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an over ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
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.
Table 1 provides the number of Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded (granted) by month in 2022.
Table 2 provides the number of Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded (granted) by month in 2023 (to end of March)
During the period January 2022 to end of March 2023, 21,970 claims have been disallowed (refused).
These payments are not appealable to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. If an applicant is dissatisfied with the outcome of a decision for an exceptional and urgent needs claim they can seek a review of that decision.
Reviews of ANP decisions (excluding reoccurring supplements) are carried out by review officers within the community welfare service. Statistics are not collated on the number of reviews requested or the outcome of those reviews.
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 this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 – Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded (granted) by month in 2022.
|
Month |
Registered |
Awarded (Granted) |
|
Jan-22 |
5,350 |
3,086 |
|
Feb-22 |
6,024 |
4,255 |
|
Mar-22 |
7,476 |
5,417 |
|
Apr-22 |
8,031 |
5,928 |
|
May-22 |
11,700 |
8,942 |
|
Jun-22 |
14,888 |
9,251 |
|
Jul-22 |
17,229 |
8,601 |
|
Aug-22 |
15,176 |
11,117 |
|
Sep-22 |
16,710 |
9,548 |
|
Oct-22 |
16,108 |
9,344 |
|
Nov-22 |
15,537 |
11,768 |
|
Dec-22 |
12,340 |
9,967 |
|
Total |
146,569 |
97,224 |
Table 2 – Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded by month in 2023 (to end of March).
|
Month |
Registered |
Awarded (Granted) |
|
Jan-23 |
12,150 |
9,061 |
|
Feb-23 |
11,217 |
7,121 |
|
Mar-23 |
11,893 |
7,569 |
|
Total |
35,260 |
23,751 |
