Written Answers Nos. 446-466
446. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of her engagement in 2024 with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Tusla, and foster carers’ representative groups, with a view to ensuring that foster carers will be eligible for state pension contributions in respect of their time spent fostering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24853/24]
View answer447. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of any analysis carried out by her Department as regards allowing for foster carers to be eligible for State pension contributions in respect of their time spent fostering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24854/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.
Matters related to foster caring, including any criteria relating to work and specific financial supports, are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla.The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. However, it is recognised that people may have periods out of the workforce for reasons such as caring responsibilities, including foster caring. Accordingly, the State Pension (Contributory) provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and Homecaring periods to recognise these periods of care outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of PRSI credits and Homemaking Disregards and Homecaring periods where they meet the criteria, in the same way as biological or adoptive parents. There is no difference in treatment. Fosters carers can register for caring periods for each child under the age of 12 if the foster carer is in receipt of Child Benefit. If the foster carer is not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. In the case of a child who is over the age of 12, periods can be registered where the child requires continuous supervision and regular assistance throughout the day with the activities of daily living, including nursing care. There is a maximum of 20 years’ caring periods available.
In addition, long term carer’s contributions are available that attribute the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated people to cover gaps in their contribution record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes. Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated person for a cumulative period of over 20 years are eligible for these contributions. Officials from my Department have actively engaged with the Department for Children and Tulsa on this matter, have met with representative foster carers and have hosted an information seminar for nearly 300 foster carers to explain the State pension system and their entitlements. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of media reports that social protection payments may have been issued to international protection applicants who were not entitled to same; if so, the steps that will be taken to recoup such payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24860/24]
View answerMy department administers the Daily Expenses Allowance which is paid to protection applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS).
The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. An increased rate of €113.80 per week for an adult applies where a person is unaccommodated and is on a waiting list for IPAS accommodation.
An income assessment is being introduced for the Daily Expenses Allowance with effect from June 2024, for persons 18 years or over. Income testing was not previously part of the Daily Expenses Allowance and therefore the matter of the recoupment of payments from those with other income in respect of the period before June does not arise.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
449. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if steps can be taken to expedite an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24868/24]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 23 April 2024.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer on 29 April 2024. Some, but not all of the requested information was returned. The Deciding Officer contacted the person concerned by phone on 30 May 2024 to outline the information that currently remains outstanding.
Once the information is received, the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
450. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2025 if the maximum rate of disability allowance increased to €245 per week. [24884/24]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing Disability Allowance from €232 to €245 per week is €115.1 million.
This cost includes a proportionate increase for Qualified Adults.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
451. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to setting up a dedicated appeals department for each type of social welfare payment to ensure a quicker outcome to appeals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24894/24]
View answerThe 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. The Social Welfare Appeals system is underpinned by legislation which sets down the roles, powers and functions of the Social Welfare Appeals Office and its Appeals Officers who are independent in their decision making functions.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons may be appealed to the Chief Appeals Officer. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. As part of this process the relevant scheme area in the Department will also review the original decision. They will also take into account any additional information provided in support of the appeal. They can revise the decision at that stage and issue a favourable decision. However, if having reviewed the decision they are satisfied with the original decision they will forward the relevant Departmental papers and their comments on the grounds of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
It should be noted that in accordance with the relevant social welfare legislation, it is open to any person at any time to request a review of an unfavourable decision from the Department and to provide additional information or evidence directly to the relevant scheme area in support of that request. This can be done separately or in conjunction with an appeal.
The Department endeavours to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible. There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and that where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant that the appeal file is provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice.
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years. An Appeals Modernisation Project is currently underway the goal of which is to streamline and enhance the end-to-end appeals process for the customer, the Social Welfare Appeals Office and business areas across the Department.
Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
452. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in County Cork (details supplied) was refused a recent benefit claim; if she will review her entitlement to this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24922/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the Carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 28 February 2020. The application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, having regard to the opinion of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care.
Following a review of this decision, the decision was overturned, and the person concerned was awarded CARB for the period 19 March 2020 to 29 September 2021. Following a request from the person concerned, the claim was extended for the period 30 September 2021 to 22 December 2021 and again for the period 23 December 2021 to 16 March 2022. As a result, the person has received their full entitlement of 104 weeks in respect of this care recipient.
The person concerned was in receipt of Class A PRSI contributions when their CARB claim commenced and so their entitlement to ordinary reckonable contributions continued for the period they were in receipt of CARB. The person concerned received credits for the period they were in receipt of CARB as follows: 42 credits in 2020, 52 in 2021 and 11 in 2022. These credits will count towards any further social welfare entitlements in the future.
I hope this clarifies the current situation for the Deputy.
453. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by an individual (details supplied) for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24936/24]
View answerThe 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 30 April 2024. 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 3 May 2024 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
454. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) keeps getting denied carer’s allowance. [24937/24]
View answerThe 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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 23 January 2024. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that a review of the appeal was carried out on foot of this additional evidence. Regrettably the Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of the earlier decision.
In order to qualify for Carer’s Allowance, it must be shown that the person to be cared for requires continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day or continual supervision in order to avoid being a danger to themselves. The Appeals Officer acknowledged the care recipient’s medical conditions and the care being provided by the appellant, however, determined that the evidence provided had not established that the care recipient was in need of full-time care and attention within the meaning of the legislation, and therefore did not establish a basis for regarding the appellant eligible for receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. A further review of the Appeals Officers decision may be requested if there is any new evidence or facts to support the review. Alternatively, if there has been any change of circumstances since the initial application it is open to person concerned to make a new application to the Department providing evidence of the changed circumstances.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
455. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer’s allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [24949/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 12 May 2023. The claim was awarded for the period 27 April 2023 to 25 October 2023.
The person concerned requested an extension of this claim on the 17 October 2023 and this was awarded on the 20 November 2023 for the period 26 October 2023 to 24 April 2024. The extension award letter advised the person concerned to submit up to date medical information seven weeks in advance of the 24 April 2024. Additionally, the person concerned was requested to submit confirmation of new leave dates from their employer five weeks prior to 24 April 2024.
A request for an extension was received from the person concerned on the 01 May 2024, medical information was received on the 10 and 16 May 2024 and confirmation from their employer was received on the 17 May 2024.
The claim was examined by a Deciding Officer and has been extended for the period 27 April 2024 to 23 October 2024. At the end of this period the person concerned will have used 78 weeks of their maximum 104 weeks entitlement.
The CARB payment and any arrears owing were paid via the nominated payment method to the person concerned on the 06 June 2024.
I hope this clarifies the current situation for the Deputy.
456. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to a previous Parliamentary Question regarding the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied) if particular details were considered. [24971/24]
View answerThe person concerned applied for State Pension (contributory) on 26 July 2022.
The person concerned has a total of 1027 reckonable contributions and 77 credits from their date of entry into insurable employment in 1973 to 2022 which equates to a yearly average of 23 contributions. This gave entitlement to a reduced State Pension (contributory) of €236.10, which is approximately 85% of the maximum rate. A yearly average of 48 contributions is required to receive the maximum rate State Pension (contributory). According to the records of my department the person concerned has one contribution paid as a farm labourer in 1973. My department does not hold information on the employers at this time. If the person concerned was not employed at this time, it is open to them to provide information to my Department.
Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions and are awarded in circumstances such as proven unemployment or illness. To qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment - he or she must have paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P. In general credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce, i.e. within the last 2 years.
The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance from August 2013 to August 2016. There was no entitlement to credited contributions for this period as the person concerned did not have an attachment to workforce in the previous two years.
4 credited contributions were awarded for the period the person concerned received Jobseekers Allowance from August to September 2017. The person concerned received the maximum credits/contributions in 2017, 48 paid contributions and 4 credits.
There is no entitlement to credited contributions for the Disablement Gratuity scheme which was paid to the person concerned from May 1995 to October 1997.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
457. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of a decision on an application for an exceptional needs payment by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25024/24]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP to assist with the purchase of a car. This claim was disallowed on the basis that the replacement and repair/maintenance of a car is an ongoing expense that a person is expected to budget for from their own resources. The person was advised of the outcome of their application in writing on 30/04/2024 and afforded the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision. Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act. Following a request from the person concerned, a SWA Reviewing Officer reviewed the claim and considering the circumstances of the case, upheld the original decision made by the Designated Person, on the basis that the purchase of a car, service, repairs and maintenance should be budgeted for on an ongoing basis. Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 05/06/2024 advising them of the outcome of the review.If the person is experiencing financial difficulties with other essential expenses, it is open to them to make a new application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.I trust this clarifies the matter.
458. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 29 May 2024, the number of persons who qualified for an invalidity pension on the basis of a mental health illness in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 [25028/24]
View answerInvalidity 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.
Applicants must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (a person may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) or be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, a person can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from their job to Invalidity Pension).
Applicants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The Department does not report on data relating to the underlying medical conditions outlined by the Deputy for recipients of welfare payments.
I trust that clarifies the position to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made by her appeals office in relation to a lady (details supplied) whose living alone allowance was taken from her following an inspection into another SW application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25039/24]
View answerThe 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 30 April 2024. 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10 May 2024 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
460. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding a carer’s allowance application by a person in County Cork (details supplied); if her Department will acknowledge that the recipient responded to Department correspondence on 26 April 2023 and 14 October 2023 in respect of a review of this payment; if her Department will clarify the reason this payment was suspended when under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25068/24]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
On 21 February 2023, a means review letter issued to the person concerned. Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim and attends at such office or place as an officer may request.
As the person concerned failed to supply the documents requested in the letter dated 21 February, 2023, a reminder letter issued on 11 April, 2023. This letter advised that they should contact the Department if they required additional time to submit the requested information.
The person concerned failed to provide documents pertaining to their means review and their CA was stopped with effect from 3 May 2023. The person concerned was notified on 19 April 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their review. Following this and subsequent reviews, the decision remained unchanged.
Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 06 June 2024 advising that they continued to have no entitlement to CA as their means exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concern submitted a new application in respect of a second care recipient on 28 March 2024. An information request issued to the person concerned on 10 April 2024. The person failed to provide the requested information and therefore their application was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 22 May 2024 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
Further documents were received on 27 May 2024 and a review was initiated. Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 06 June 2024 advising that they continued to have no entitlement to CA as their means exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
461. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the fees paid by her Department to optometrists for tests under the PRSI scheme; when this level of fee payment was determined; when it was last reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25070/24]
View answerTreatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.
The current level of fee payment is in place since 2017.
The current fees payable to optometrists under this scheme are as follows:
|
- |
Optical Treatments |
|
€ |
|
|
Examinations |
|
|
Standard eye exam |
30.00 |
|
Domiciliary Visit Exam, GP certification required re mobility |
60.00 |
|
Exam with Dilation |
45.03 |
|
Repeat exam, when clinically necessary |
20.00 |
|
Repeat exam, with dilation, when clinically necessary |
30.00 |
|
Double Ophthalmic Medical Exam incl Dilation (ophthalmologist only) |
51.10 |
|
Spectacles |
|
|
Distance Single Vision (once every 2nd calendar year) |
42.37 |
|
Reading Single Vision (once every 2nd calendar year) |
42.37 |
|
Bifocal/Varifocal complete appliances (once every 2nd calendar year) |
84.19 |
|
Repairs |
|
|
One Single Vision Lens Distance/Reading |
16.46 |
|
Two Single Vision Lenses Distance/Reading |
32.94 |
|
One Bifocal Lens |
37.43 |
|
Two Bifocal Lenses |
74.85 |
|
Frames to own Lenses |
12.17 |
|
Contact Lenses (per pair) |
42.37 |
|
- |
Total Claims Paid |
|
Year |
€m |
|
2023 |
45 |
|
2022 |
41 |
|
2021 |
38 |
|
2020 |
29 |
|
2019 |
31 |
|
2018 |
33 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
462. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of contracts awarded by her Department to a company (details supplied) to carry out works on behalf of her Department in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [25085/24]
View answerThe Department has not held any contracts with the company concerned in 2023 or to date in 2024. .All contracts awarded by the Department are published quarterly on Gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6d4953-procurement-contracts-awarded/.
463. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider taking any legislative or policy measures in order to combat the recent finding in a report (details supplied) that women need to work an extra eight years to make up the pensions gender gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25119/24]
View answerThe Pensions Gender Gap is a feature of occupational and private pensions as a result of lower contribution rates for women due to lower pay and breaks from the workforce as women tend to take more time out of workforce due to family caring responsibilities.
Many of the issues giving rise to the pensions gender gap need to be resolved through labour market access and pay-related equality. This is an international issue and not unique to Ireland. Periods of absence from the workplace for caring responsibilities are, in many cases, long-term in nature and, consequently, the potential exists that such persons will have ceased employment (with deferred pension entitlements under the relevant schemes).
The State pension system does not have a similar gap as it addresses this issue through the provision of universal contributions and the recognition of periods spent outside of the workforce for caring responsibilities. In the context of State Pension (Contributory), the current system provides 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.
A key measure I introduced from January 2024 is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing paid social insurance contributions for State Pension (Contributory) purposes for periods of long-term care of 20 years or more. People who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance are considered eligible for long-term carer’s contributions, subject to meeting the threshold of 20 years.
In relation to occupational pensions, one of the challenges is how the payment of credits for caring periods could be financed. If not by the person on career break, it would seem that it could only fall to the sponsoring employer or the other scheme members, or a combination of both, or alternatively through tax incentives targeted at couples, where one partner has left the workforce for caring purposes.
The forthcoming introduction of Automatic Enrolment represents a significant step in addressing existing pension coverage gaps in Ireland. AE will result in hundreds of thousands of women being enrolled in a supplementary pension for the first time and will assist in promoting access to supplementary pensions to women (where a gap currently exists).
The design of AE ensures that there will be equality of access to supplementary pensions, in particular for those with low to average earnings where pension coverage has traditionally been low. This is particularly relevant to women who have different experiences of employment in terms of employment rates, the prevalence of part-time work and lower earnings.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
464. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was categorised as self-employed even though they have never been self-employed. [25125/24]
View answerThe person concerned applied for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds (BP65) on 10/10/2023 and was disallowed on the grounds that he was still engaged in self-employment.
The person concerned was employed with earned income up to 2021 (9A contributions in 2021). He had 52 S contributions in 2021 (the Governing Contribution Year) which are solely as a result of his Approved Retirement Fund (ARF). As this ARF continues he is deemed to be still engaged in self-employment.
BP65 is based on Jobseekers Benefit (JB) / Jobseekers Benefit Self Employed legislation (JBSE). The person concerned does not have the required contributions to qualify under JB (does not have 39 A, H or P contributions) neither does he satisfy the JBSE eligibility conditions since one of the conditions for receipt of JBSE is that applicants must no longer be engaged in self-employment.
The person concerned did appeal the decision and a submission has been sent to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office by the Deciding Officer on 08/01/2024 and a decision is pending.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
465. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to state the total number of people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit continuously since December 2019; to state the ages and geographical locations of these recipients; and to state how many of these recipients, if any, have been deemed unfit to work due to medical or other reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25135/24]
View answerFor the week ending 2nd June 2024, there were 20,287 people on the Live Register in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit with a commencement date prior to 1 January 2020. These figures are inclusive of periods where pay may have been suspended for a recipient but their claim remained open, and is also inclusive of casual workers (those who work up to three days per week).
The Department continues to take significant steps to help long term unemployed people into employment. The Intreo Employment Service provides an individualised service, designed to support people who are unemployed into the labour market. There are currently over 50,000 long term unemployed people engaging with the Intreo Employment Service. They work with the service to develop a personalised progression plan documenting the steps they will take on their pathway to securing sustainable employment. If a person refuses to engage, without a good reason, their payment is reduced. Just over 3,000 people have had their payment reduced so far this year for failing to engage, however when a person reengages, their payment is restored.
In order to be eligible for Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit, the recipient must be capable of work, genuinely seeking work and available for full time work. There are a number of social welfare payments which people who are sick or who have a disability may be eligible for, such as Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance, or Invalidity Pension.
Breakdowns by age and county as requested by the Deputy are shown in the attached tables.
Table 1: Continuous Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit claims since 2019, by age
|
Age |
Recipients |
|
Under 25 |
322 |
|
25-29 |
1,261 |
|
30-34 |
2,117 |
|
35-39 |
2,601 |
|
40-44 |
2,718 |
|
45-49 |
2,729 |
|
50-54 |
2,895 |
|
55-59 |
2,723 |
|
60+ |
2,921 |
|
Total |
20,287 |
Table 2: Continuous Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit claims since 2019, by county
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
412 |
|
Cavan |
431 |
|
Clare |
567 |
|
Cork |
1,186 |
|
Donegal |
1,289 |
|
Dublin |
5,055 |
|
Galway |
1,025 |
|
Kerry |
656 |
|
Kildare |
648 |
|
Kilkenny |
422 |
|
Laois |
421 |
|
Leitrim |
171 |
|
Limerick |
829 |
|
Longford |
326 |
|
Louth |
902 |
|
Mayo |
730 |
|
Meath |
584 |
|
Monaghan |
232 |
|
Offaly |
389 |
|
Roscommon |
274 |
|
Sligo |
330 |
|
Tipperary |
650 |
|
Waterford |
626 |
|
Westmeath |
515 |
|
Wexford |
1,039 |
|
Wicklow |
555 |
|
Unknown |
23 |
|
Total |
20,287 |
466. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the action she is taking to avert strike action by workers in the National Advocacy Service who have not received a pay rise that was recommended by the Labour Court. [25138/24]
View answerI acknowledge and value the important advocacy services that the National Advocacy Service (NAS) provides to adults with disabilities across the country, helping to ensure their will and preferences are heard in decisions that affect their lives.
As you may be aware, NAS is a Company Limited by Guarantee, and a registered charity, that is funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) to provide services. CIB lies under my Department's aegis.
CIB has informed my Department that NAS employees have balloted for industrial action, starting on the 12th June, and, as funders of CIB, we are monitoring the situation closely.
I am encouraged to hear from CIB that a meeting took place between CIB and NAS on 30th May to discuss the NAS business case which was submitted to CIB on 10th May, following the Labour Court recommendation. This meeting was facilitated by Mr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, and a roadmap to progress the industrial relations matter at hand was proposed at the meeting. There is ongoing contact in follow-up to that meeting. My Department has signaled support for this process.
I am confident that an agreement can be reached through this proposed process and I encourage all parties involved to engage fully, until its conclusion.
The focus of all parties should also be on the people using these critical services and working to minimise any impact on them by reaching agreement. I would therefore hope that while the proposed process is ongoing, industrial action would not proceed.
If, following the proposed process, a request for increased funding for NAS is submitted to my Department by CIB, my officials will consider it carefully and constructively, and engage with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on budgetary implications.
