Robert Troy
Question:384. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the €400 cost-of-living lump sum payment is paid to a person (details supplied). [41038/24]
View answerCost of Living Issues
Questions (384)
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.
All bonuses and additional payments will be payable to recipients of DA who are awarded/in payment at the date that these bonuses are due to be paid.
I note the person concerned is currently in receipt of DA and if they remain on this payment on the week commencing 28 October 2024, they will be entitled to receive the double payment.
Similarly, if the person concerned is in receipt of Disability Allowance on the week commencing 04 November 2024, they will be entitled to receive the Disability Support Grant of €400.00.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (385)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:385. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the work and access programme run by her Department can be extended to include schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41058/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides a wide range of income and employment supports to assist jobseekers and employees with disabilities, and their employers. Work and Access is a set of supports to help people with a disability get a job or stay in work. It is available to the private, community, not-for-profit, and voluntary sectors and the self-employed.
This scheme is funded by the Exchequer through my Department. However, Public Sector bodies are already funded directly by the Exchequer and the costs for public sector workers who need reasonable accommodations should be met by their State-funded employer.
I can assure the Deputy that I will keep my department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities under review, to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives. However, any potential changes to these schemes can only be considered in the wider budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (386)
Ivana Bacik
Question:386. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 1 October 2024, if she has plans to make a symbolic or compensatory payment to those who were previously excluded; and the number of family carers who have become eligible, following the changes to eligibility made. [41079/24]
View answerWritten answers
As previously advised to the Deputy, under the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, since January 2024 long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 paid contributions required for eligibility.
Long-term carer's contributions have been available to individuals who reached State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and are also available to those already aged 66 or over prior to that date.
In the case of those already over the age of 66, care periods provided for incapacitated dependents up to their 66th birthday are assessed for entitlement to long-term carer's contributions. Such a person can apply for long-term carer's contributions and receive a State Pension (Contributory) or an enhanced rate of pension if already in receipt of less than the maximum rate from 1st January 2024 where eligible.
At end September 2024, there have been 8,613 applications since the introduction of the scheme. 2,111 customers have been awarded over 20 years of long-term carers contributions, 1,437 of whom are aged over 66.
As a result of this, at end September 2024, 580 customers were awarded State Pension (Contributory) with 199 receiving an increase in the rate paid.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 387 answered with Question No. 383.
Question No. 388 answered with Question No. 383.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (389)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:389. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the means test for the fuel allowance can be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41121/24]
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 €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
The increased allowable means threshold for people who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership, acknowledges that the overall cost of living for this cohort is higher than for a single person. My Department pays an Increase for a Qualified Adult on many of its primary payments in recognition of this.
In Budget 2025 the Government did provide for a €12 weekly increase to all of the main social welfare payments; an October cost of living bonus; a Christmas bonus in December; and a €200 once-off payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Increase, in November 2024.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (390)
Niamh Smyth
Question:390. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41124/24]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Staff
Questions (391)
Catherine Murphy
Question:391. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff that worked in her Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member. [41169/24]
View answerWritten answers
There are elements of communications to most roles in my Department, given the millions of individual interactions every year between the staff of the Department and the people they serve.
The Unit whose function relates to supporting corporate communications is the Communications and Press Office. Their focus is to ensure the provision of timely information on the range of services and supports available. This unit includes several cross functional teams which are responsible for a broad range of tasks:
• press responses and media relations,
• communications planning and campaigns,
• graphic design,
• event organisation,
• social media,
• Plain English guidance for content across the Department,
• management of the department's web presence on gov.ie /dsp and
• supporting internal communications for over 7,000 staff.
There are currently 23 full-time equivalent staff working across the Communications Unit and Press Office, as outlined below, together with details of staff numbers from 2019 to 2024 inclusive.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4.8 |
5.8 |
6.8 |
|
Executive Officer |
8 |
8.95 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
Administrative Officer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
4.6 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
21.6 |
21.55 |
22.6 |
19.8 |
21.8 |
22.8 |
Departmental Advertising
Questions (392)
Catherine Murphy
Question:392. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the frequency and duration of the publicity, marketing or advertising campaigns conducted by her Department to date in 2024; the purpose of these campaigns; the cost of these campaigns; and the agencies that conducted these campaigns, in tabular form. [41187/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department administers more than 90 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available, as well as ensuring key changes are communicated to them.
Public information campaigns are an important part of the Department’s work. The frequency and duration of these campaigns will vary from one to the another depending on the range and number of new initiatives or required messaging.
All campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer, using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department's messages reach members of the public effectively, while ensuring value for money.
Details of all completed advertising campaigns that ran to date in 2024 are outlined in the table below. These figures include VAT, ASAI (Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland), and agency fees.
|
Name |
Purpose |
Duration |
Total creative costs (incl. VAT) |
Total media buying costs (incl. VAT) |
Name of media buyer and creative agency |
|
State Pension Changes – Flexible pension |
To inform people that they will still be able to claim their pension when they reach 66, or they can wait and claim it at any point between the ages of 67 and 70. The changes became effective from January 2024. |
01/01/2024 - 15/01/2024 |
€247.23 |
€126,752.60 |
Mediavest Ltd t/a Spark Foundry and Creed Communications Ltd |
|
State Pension Changes – Check your Contribution Statement |
To encourage people from 35 to 65 to check their contribution records are up to date ahead of claiming the State Pension Contributory. |
01/01/2024 – 31/01/2024 |
N/A |
€3,946.45 |
Mediavest Ltd t/a Spark Foundry and Creed Communications Ltd |
|
State Pension - Changes to Carers Contributions |
To raise awareness among long-term carers that the Contributory State Pension is changing and inform how they can access the State Pension Contributory when they reach pension age. |
01/01/2024 - 31/01/2024 |
€147.60 |
€24,062.00 |
Mediavest Ltd t/a Spark Foundry and Creed Communications Ltd |
|
Work and Skills Fair |
To raise awareness of the Work and Skills events taking place in April nationwide and provide employers and jobhunters with information on the range of employment and training opportunities in their area. |
10/04/2024 – 25/04/2024 |
N/A |
€19,162.10 |
MindShare Media Ireland Ltd and Creed Communications Ltd |
|
Working Family Payment |
To increase awareness of this payment available to employees with children. |
20/05/2024 - 31/08/2024 |
€2,182.02 |
€196,458.13 |
MindShare Media Ireland Ltd and Creed Communications Ltd |
|
Household Benefits Package |
To increase awareness of the package and promote the availability of online application process. |
19/08/2024-15/09/2024 |
N/A |
€112,175.58 |
MindShare Media Ireland Ltd and Creed Communications Ltd |
The Department has also run a number of recruitment adverts and the total spend for recruitment ads to date in 2024 is €60,687.08 including VAT and fees.
Widow's Pension
Questions (393, 404, 408)
Claire Kerrane
Question:393. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to legislate to allow unmarried couples access the widow’s or widower’s pension on the death of one partner as in the case of a person (details supplied). [41205/24]
View answerIvana Bacik
Question:404. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to legislate to redress social protection inequalities for non-marital families; and if legislation to progress these matters will be brought during this Government's term of office. [41343/24]
View answer
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:408. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection when legislation will be enacted on the Supreme Court's judgement to the entitlement of an unmarried co-habitant to a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner's contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41410/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 404 and 408 together.
Under the law as currently enacted, entitlement to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership.
As the Deputies are aware, on 22nd January, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension. The Supreme Court judgment overruled a previous High Court decision and found in favour of the claimant and his children.
In simple terms, the Court found that section 124 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) is inconsistent with the Constitution insofar as it excluded the claimant from the category of persons entitled to benefit from it. The Court reached that conclusion on the basis of the equality guarantee contained in Article 40.1 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court judgment notes that in order to resolve the issue raised by the judgment, a legislative amendment is required.
In June, I obtained Government approval for the priority drafting of the legislative changes required to respond to the Supreme Court decision. The General Scheme of a Bill was referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for priority drafting and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny. The Committee issued its report on the 26th July.
My officials are continuing to work closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to finalise this legislation and I intend to introduce it to the Oireachtas as soon as possible once that is done.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (394)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:394. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41212/24]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (395)
Pat Buckley
Question:395. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department is vigorously pursuing the only next of kin (details supplied) for overpayments made by her Department to their now deceased mother, for non-contributory pension overpayments dating back ten years from 2022, and that her Department has also included their credit union savings and State savings as assets too; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41217/24]
View answerWritten answers
Social welfare legislation provides that the Personal Representative of a deceased person who, at any time, received a means-tested payment, is obliged to give notice to my Department of their intention to distribute the deceased's estate, to provide a schedule of the assets of the estate and is requested not to distribute the estate until they receive formal clearance from my Department. If, on examination of the schedule of assets, it is found that not all of the deceased’s means had been disclosed, or if the values of previously assessed means have changed, my Department will seek to recover any monies overpaid from the estate.
The deceased person concerned was in receipt of State Pension (Non-contributory).
On 25 September 2024, the Deciding Officer made a decision to raise an overpayment and issued correspondence with calculations to that effect. This letter also outlined the process and timeframe for appealing the decision.
The basis for the overpayment is that, due to undisclosed means, the deceased received a higher rate of State Pension (Non-contributory) to that which she was entitled, which must now be recovered by my Department. For the purposes of the means test, cash income, including income from employment, foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds, are assessable.
On 3 October 2024, the Legal Representatives wrote to the Deciding Officer requesting additional time to decide whether the estate would appeal the decision to raise an overpayment. This additional time was being requested as the Legal Representatives were on leave.
The Deciding Officer replied on 4 October explaining that the timeframe for appeal was a matter for the Independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, the Deciding Officer offered to review the case which would grant additional time for the estate to respond. The Deciding Officer is waiting on a decision from the estate's representatives in this regard.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (396)
Niamh Smyth
Question:396. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case regarding cross border child benefit (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41248/24]
View answerWritten answers
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16,17 and 18, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
The person concerned and her family reside in Northern Ireland. The customer is employed in the Republic of Ireland and her spouse is employed in Northern Ireland.
The claim therefore has to be decided under the Convention of Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The Convention).
Under the Convention, the country of employment pays the family benefits even though the family may reside in another State. If both parents are employed in two different countries, the country of residence of the children pays the family benefits and the other State considers a supplement payment.
The supplement is the difference between the rate of UK Child Benefit and Irish Child Benefit.
The person concerned received all the cost of living increases for Child Benefit in 2023 and will receive an extra €140 in respect of each of her 3 children for the months of November and December 2024.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Budget 2025
Questions (397)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:397. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €400 one-off payment announced in Budget 2025 will be given to an individual (details supplied) who was in receipt of invalidity pension prior to transferring to the State pension earlier this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41252/24]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned was awarded state pension (contributory) with effect from 29 April 2024.
As part of Budget 2025, I announced a €2.6 billion Social Protection package to support families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. This package will assist households through a mix of cost-of-living payments, targeted supports and across the board increases to weekly payments. There was a total of 10 Cost of Living payments including a €400 Disability Support Grant for people receiving Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance or Blind Pension.
As the person concerned is no longer in receipt of the Invalidity Pension, they will not receive the Disability Support Grant. They will however receive a double pension payment on 1 November 2024, the €300 Fuel Allowance lump sum on 8 November 2024, the €200 Living Alone lump sum on 15 November 2024, a Christmas double payment on 6 December 2024 and an increase of €12 to their weekly State Pension (contributory) commencing in January 2025.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (398)
Willie O'Dea
Question:398. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a domiciliary care allowance application that has gone to appeal over a year ago (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41259/24]
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 Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the Domiciliary Care Allowance appeal of the person concerned on 16th February 2024.
Under social welfare legislation a decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive. However, it may be reviewed by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in the light of new evidence or new facts.
On 10th June 2024, further medical information was received pertaining to the appellant and as a result a Section 317 Review of the appeal officer's decision was opened on 10th June 2024. This review is currently with an appeals officer and once a decision is made on this Section 317 review, the named appellant will be notified in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (399)
Bernard Durkan
Question:399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for carer’s allowance will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); if any recent changes regarding income qualifying thresholds mean that the applicant would once again be eligible to receive this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41270/24]
View answerWritten answers
Carer'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.
CA was in payment to the person concerned for the period 28 May 2020 to 22 June 2022.
Following receipt of your request, a review in respect of the CA claim of the person concerned was initiated and an information request issued to the person concerned on 10 October 2024.
Once the information is received, the review will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person and from €900 to €1,250 for Carers with a spouse / partner. These rates are effective from July 2025. For the purposes of this review, the 2024 income qualifying thresholds apply.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (400)
Bernard Durkan
Question:400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for the working family payment can be reassessed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41271/24]
View answerWritten answers
Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
In order to qualify for WFP, a family's income must be below a prescribed limit. The income limit is determined by the number of children in a household. All family and household income is assessable for WFP and includes an applicant's and their spouse/partner's average net weekly assessable earnings from employment plus any other income such as other social welfare payments, income from self-employment, etc.
To qualify for Working Family Payment the applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be in employment working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight as defined in legislation.
According to our records, the person concerned has not made an application for WFP since June 2023 and is not currently in receipt of WFP.
The easiest and fastest way for a person to make an application for Working Family Payment is online via mywelfare.ie
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (401)
Bernard Durkan
Question:401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for the one parent family payment can be reassessed in the case of a person (details supplied). [41272/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of supports to assist an eligible person who is parenting alone including the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, described below:
• One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age.
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is a is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme which a person may qualify for if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.
As the person’s youngest child is 17 years of age, they are not eligible for either of these payments.
According to the records of my Department, the person’s Carer’s Allowance application was disallowed in June 2022 as their means were in excess of the statutory limit for the scheme at that time. The main items included in the means test for the Carer’s Allowance are cash income (such as wages), savings, investments, shares, and any property they have, excluding their own home as well as maintenance paid to the applicant but not including child maintenance.
It may be of interest to note that the Carer’s Allowance means test has been eased since 2022. Provision was made in Budget 2025 to further increase the income disregard in July 2025 to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. More detailed information on the Carer’s Allowance scheme and the qualifying conditions for it is available on www.gov.ie. If the person concerned is providing full-time care for a person or persons who require full-time care and attention and they feel that they may now meet the qualifying conditions for the scheme, they can download an application from www.gov.ie or get one at their local Intreo Centre. They should return the completed application and supporting information to Carer's Allowance Section, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co. Longford.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (402)
Matt Shanahan
Question:402. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has any plans to extend the part-time job incentive beyond the current 12-month eligibility period (details supplied); if there is currently any discretion in the local offices to have the period extended; if she will acknowledge that where employers do not offer additional hours following the end of the part-time job incentive payments it can be difficult for people to manage on the reduced income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41278/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Part-time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJI) is an administrative scheme under Jobseeker's Allowance, which allows those who are long-term unemployed to take up part-time employment for up to 24 hours per week. Those who qualify receive a payment of either €147 or €239.90 if they are receiving an increase for a qualified adult. The rates are increasing to €154.60 and €252.10 respectively from January 2025. Participants can retain their PTJI no matter how much they earn from their part time employment.
The PTJI provides a stepping stone to full time employment as participants must continue to be actively seeking full-time work. The scheme is not designed to supplement part-time employment on a permanent basis and is generally awarded for one year but may be extended for up to 12 weeks in exceptional circumstances to support the transition from part-time to full-time employment.
The Department's local Employment Advisors are available to provide advice on job searching and employment opportunities, and assistance in accessing other employment supports and services, including training and development opportunities.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (403)
Bernard Durkan
Question:403. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if financial assistance is available for a person (details supplied) given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41287/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system, helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANP)s. The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The basic SWA schemes are subject to a means assessment and under basic SWA you must also satisfy the habitual residence condition.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA payment on 11/04/2024. A letter issued to the customer on the same day requesting additional documentation in support of her application. On receipt of this information, further information that is relevant to the claim was identified and was requested on 19/04/2024. The requested documents were not received, and the application was subsequently closed on 06/06/2024.
Departmental records show that the person concerned has not made a recent application for assistance under the SWA scheme. If the person is experiencing financial difficulties, they can apply for assistance by completing a SWA1 form and providing all relevant documents in support of their application. For convenience, an application pack has been posted to the person concerned. On receipt of a completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim will be assessed, and the person will be advised of the outcome in writing. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie .
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. The full list of qualifying conditions for DA can be found at www.gov.ie/en/service/df6811-disability-allowance/#how-to-qualify .
I can confirm that the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 08/04/2024. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this application, the claim was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned did not satisfy the habitual residence condition and also failed to supply sufficient information in order to determine their means.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 20/05/2024 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).
Further information on all of my Department’s schemes and payments is available at www.gov.ie .
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.