Written Answers Nos. 1401-1421
1401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance appeals, and the number of successful appeals, over each of the past five years. [33586/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 table below sets out the number of Domiciliary Care Allowance appeals - received, finalised, decided and successful - from 1 January 2019 to 30th June 2024. The number of appeals finalised also includes those that were revised by the Department on foot of the appeal or withdrawn by the appellant. The number of successful appeals includes those revised by the Department and allowed by an appeals officer.
DCA Appeals Received, Finalised, Decided and Successful 2019 to 2024 (up to 30/6/24)
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
Claims registered in Department |
Appeals Received |
Finalised |
Successful on review or appeal |
|
2019 |
8,719 |
1,656 |
1,690 |
1,338 |
|
2020 |
7,289 |
1,690 |
1,936 |
1,440 |
|
2021 |
9,121 |
1,558 |
1,385 |
1,042 |
|
2022 |
10,524 |
2,084 |
2,010 |
1,458 |
|
2023 |
12,290 |
2,146 |
2,039 |
1,323 |
|
2024 (up to 30/06/2024) |
6,810 |
1,452 |
920 |
527 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1402. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the actual number of, and the percentage of, working family payment claimants who are also claiming the one-parent family payment. [33587/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
There are currently 5,593 Working Family Payment claimants who are also claiming One Parent Family payment which is 12.36% of Working Family Payment claimants.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1403. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the working family payment, the percentage of claimants over each of the past five years who lose the payment due to the claimant moving from the one-parent family payment to the jobseeker's transitional payment when their youngest child reaches seven years of age. [33588/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
Working Family Payment customers are eligible to receive One Parent Family Payment once they satisfy the qualifying conditions for both schemes. When One Parent Family ceases due to the qualified child reaching the age of 7, the rate of Working Family Payment is automatically increased to reflect this change in circumstances.
Working Family Payment is not compatible with any jobseeker schemes. Therefore, a customer may not claim Jobseekers Transitional Payment alongside WFP. The Department contacts customers and they can choose to remain on a higher rate of Working Family Payment or move onto Jobseekers Transitional Payment.
The number of claimants that cease their WFP claim and move to Jobseekers Transitional Payment is not readily available.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1404. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection for a breakdown of the average wait time for a decision on an appeal, for each social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33589/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 average waiting time for an appeal in 2023 was 16 weeks.
The Annual Report of the Chief Appeals Officer is published each year and shows processing times for each scheme to a detailed level. The report for 2023 is currently being finalised and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas very shortly.
An Appeals Modernisation Project is currently underway and a new appeals IT system supporting business processes was introduced in November 2023. The second phase, including the introduction of an online appeals application process on the MyWelfare platform, will be implemented shortly. The new system has already significantly reduced the time taken to register and acknowledge appeals received and will, in time, have a positive impact on the overall average processing times. A number of internal initiatives are also being undertaken under the direction of the Chief Appeals Officer to improve the efficiency of processes within the Office.
There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and my Department to ensure that the appeals process operates as efficiently as possible and, where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant, the relevant files are provided as promptly as possible for consideration by an Appeals Officer.
1405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to ensure that workers in Citizens Information companies are provided with a pay increase, given the length of time since their last pay increase; and if she will provide the funding to the Citizens Information Bureau to ensure this happens via the Citizens Information Service companies. [33590/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I recognise and value the essential work carried out by staff of the Citizens Information Service (CIS) in providing quality and independent information, advice and advocacy services right across the country.
The CIS comprises of eight regional companies that are limited by guarantee. These companies, along with the Citizens Information Phone Service, are funded to provide important services on behalf of the Citizens Information Board (CIB). CIB, in turn, is funded by my Department.
I understand that the Workplace Relations Commission referred a pay claim submitted by CIS staff representatives to the Labour Court, and a hearing took place on 14th of June. I further understand that the Labour Court issued its recommendation on 21st of June.
At present my Department is carefully reviewing this recommendation and is discussing its implications with the CIB, as the funder of CIS.
Given the expenditure implications, my Department will also need to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Delivery Plan and Reform (DPENDR) on the recommendation.
1406. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the substantial discrepancies that exist between initial applications for domiciliary care and the level of success of appeals with regard to same; and her intentions in regard to address this. [33591/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and, where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require that level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to enable the child deal with the activities of daily living.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability or diagnosis, but primarily and essentially on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated level of additional care and attention required by the relevant child compared to a child of a similar age, who does not have such a disability/diagnosis. The decision and assessment process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's care needs.
In relation to the DCA decision and assessment process, all applications for DCA are referred for the opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA). The MA considers the severity of the child's condition, the expected duration, the child's associated care needs and provides their professional opinion in relation to the child's eligibility for DCA. This assessment is based on the information provided by the applicant in the completed application form, the details from the applicant's GP/specialist entered on the form, and any supporting documentary evidence provided by the applicant in the application process, such as a medical professional/specialist report(s) or diagnostic assessment report(s).
In some cases, more than one decision may be made on an application, where an applicant subsequently provides further information/documentary evidence for consideration and/or seeks a review of a decision. In other words, an application can be disallowed initially and then subsequently allowed on review(s) by the Department, following receipt of further new or additional information/evidence that is relevant.
Between 2023 and the end of June 2024 Domiciliary Care Allowance Section received 19,137 applications. Within the same period 12,569 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications were allowed, and 6,223 were disallowed.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
As part of the appeals process, all DCA appeal cases are further reviewed and re-examined by the Department, including all information/evidence available at the time of the original decision, and any further decision(s) if applicable, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence provided in support of the appeal and, if warranted, a revised decision is made by a Deciding Officer in such appeal cases. If the original decision remains unchanged following the appeal-related review/re-examination by a Deciding Officer, the appeal case is submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination by an Appeals Officer.
Between 2023 and the end of June 2024, 3,597 Domiciliary Care Allowance appeals were received, of which 1,218 were allowed.
Claimants are advised to provide as much detail as possible at application stage, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence that is relevant, medical or otherwise, to ensure that all information is available to the Department in the assessment and decision process. If any further evidence becomes available to the applicant, the option of a review by the Department is always open to the applicant.
1407. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps it is intended to take regarding the extent of the backlog in processing disability allowance claims. [33592/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
The target processing time for the Disability Allowance (DA) Scheme is to process 75% of applications within 10 weeks. The average number of weeks to process a Disability Allowance claim is currently 7 weeks. My Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently.
In respect of DA, evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.
To help the Department to make timely and fair decisions on applications, applicants should ensure that they complete the application form fully and attach all the supporting documentation required as per the checklist provided on the application form. It is particularly important that an applicant provides, at the outset, all the details they have in relation to their medical conditions to best support their claim.
It is at times necessary to refer a claim to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on means and circumstances and this can lead to a longer processing time.
In order to register a claim and establish an early entitlement or claim date, many people submit an application without first securing all of the necessary supporting documentation. Claims with missing supporting information typically take longer to process.
It is important to note that about 80% of awarded DA applicants are already in receipt of another social welfare payment meaning that any processing time does not affect their income. People who are not in receipt of another payment can be prioritised for processing or can be awarded an interim payment via the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Where a claim is awarded, DA arrears will issue to the customer dated back to the date their claim was received.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1408. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of recipients for each social welfare scheme. [33593/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy on the number of recipients end June 2024 is shown in the tabular statement.
|
Scheme |
Number of recipients |
|
Accommodation Recognition Payment |
11,780 |
|
Adoptive Parent Benefit |
11 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
207 |
|
Back To School Clothing And Footwear Allowance |
125,113 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
1,881 |
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
2,033 |
|
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds |
4,192 |
|
Blind Pension |
955 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
97,076 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
4,036 |
|
Child Benefit |
678,875 |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
14,471 |
|
Dental Benefit |
63,453 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
30 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
4,081 |
|
Diet Supplement |
989 |
|
Disability Allowance |
165,126 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,297 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
55,414 |
|
Farm Assist |
3,761 |
|
Free Travel |
1,106,103 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
392,038 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
1,323 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
627 |
|
Health And Safety Benefit |
30 |
|
Heat Supplement |
816 |
|
Household Benefits Package |
527,751 |
|
Illness Benefit |
53,285 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
696 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
56,667 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
113,189 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
34,309 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self Employed |
668 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
19,898 |
|
JobsPlus |
574 |
|
Magdalen Payment |
371 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
17,937 |
|
Medical & Surgical Appliances |
1,784 |
|
Medical Care |
379 |
|
Mortgage Supplement |
162 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
686 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
695 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
43,966 |
|
Optical Benefit |
36,045 |
|
Parents Benefit |
5,274 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,858 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
78 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
568 |
|
Rent Allowance |
35 |
|
Rent Supplement |
7,125 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
132,869 |
|
Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
266 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
522,035 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
100,271 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
11,973 |
|
Systematic Short Time Workers |
618 |
|
Travel Supplement |
196 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
125,619 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
1,013 |
|
Work Placement Employment Programme |
167 |
|
Working Family Payment |
45,901 |
1409. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average, median, maximum and minimum number of recipients for each social welfare scheme in 2023. [33594/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy for the number of recipients by welfare scheme in 2023 is shown in the tabular statement.
|
Scheme |
Average |
Median |
Maximum |
Minimum |
|
Accommodation Recognition Claim |
6,740 |
6,612 |
9,003 |
4,586 |
|
Adoptive Parent Benefit |
10 |
10 |
15 |
7 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2,305 |
3,103 |
3,567 |
192 |
|
Back To School Clothing And Footwear Allowance |
103,917 |
141,235 |
153,352 |
. |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
2,146 |
2,126 |
2,277 |
2,011 |
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
2,458 |
2,477 |
2,665 |
2,255 |
|
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds |
4,090 |
4,064 |
4,285 |
3,964 |
|
Blind Pension |
984 |
987 |
1,000 |
967 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
94,012 |
93,885 |
95,787 |
92,682 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
3,821 |
3,847 |
3,921 |
3,615 |
|
Child Benefit |
651,720 |
652,095 |
656,057 |
647,374 |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
12,086 |
12,144 |
14,660 |
9,396 |
|
Dental Benefit |
67,451 |
64,026 |
93,746 |
44,361 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
39 |
39 |
42 |
35 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
4,438 |
4,436 |
4,617 |
4,248 |
|
Diet Supplement |
1,145 |
1,141 |
1,221 |
1,069 |
|
Disability Allowance |
160,059 |
159,917 |
162,326 |
158,048 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,362 |
14,360 |
14,388 |
14,336 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
52,061 |
52,178 |
53,656 |
50,414 |
|
Farm Assist |
4,233 |
4,225 |
4,464 |
4,030 |
|
Free Travel |
1,073,351 |
1,073,234 |
1,089,411 |
1,056,430 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
387,673 |
386,792 |
399,674 |
376,370 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
1,185 |
1,182 |
1,240 |
1,139 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
577 |
574 |
598 |
567 |
|
Health And Safety Benefit |
34 |
35 |
39 |
26 |
|
Household Benefits Package |
515,900 |
514,980 |
523,301 |
509,274 |
|
Heat Supplement |
931 |
923 |
971 |
901 |
|
Illness Benefit |
57,813 |
58,245 |
60,422 |
54,654 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
721 |
722 |
732 |
707 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
56,289 |
56,311 |
56,650 |
55,799 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
120,893 |
121,783 |
126,642 |
114,184 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
30,756 |
29,707 |
36,976 |
28,260 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self Employed |
623 |
637 |
732 |
515 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
20,030 |
19,985 |
20,374 |
19,738 |
|
JobsPlus |
762 |
749 |
865 |
650 |
|
Magdalen Payment |
388 |
389 |
396 |
379 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
19,047 |
18,956 |
19,974 |
18,330 |
|
Medical & Surgical Appliances |
2,099 |
2,138 |
2,657 |
1,472 |
|
Medical Care |
260 |
263 |
330 |
191 |
|
Mortgage Supplement |
265 |
261 |
317 |
223 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
563 |
552 |
634 |
496 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
705 |
705 |
713 |
697 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
43,839 |
43,803 |
44,355 |
43,207 |
|
Optical Benefit |
40,399 |
42,016 |
44,925 |
32,405 |
|
Parents Benefit |
4,857 |
4,992 |
5,714 |
4,037 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,984 |
2,998 |
3,078 |
2,891 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
102 |
105 |
112 |
85 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
634 |
634 |
763 |
342 |
|
Rent Allowance |
37 |
37 |
37 |
35 |
|
Rent Supplement |
8,252 |
8,148 |
8,907 |
7,861 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
126,237 |
127,433 |
129,701 |
120,430 |
|
Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
218 |
212 |
261 |
171 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
496,344 |
496,513 |
506,724 |
485,520 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
98,901 |
98,813 |
100,201 |
97,755 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
11,912 |
11,930 |
12,842 |
11,307 |
|
Systematic Short Time Workers |
811 |
771 |
1,128 |
601 |
|
Travel Supplement |
225 |
227 |
234 |
215 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
125,368 |
125,341 |
125,943 |
124,734 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
1,061 |
1,056 |
1,086 |
1,048 |
|
Work Placement Employment Programme |
159 |
160 |
188 |
126 |
|
Working Family Payment |
46,175 |
46,187 |
47,152 |
45,365 |
1410. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection in regard to the jobseeker’s benefit pay-related scheme, noting the revised Estimates, the full-year cost of the proposed scheme. [33595/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 was recently signed into law by the President and sets out the legislative framework for the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme.
Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit will be made available to newly fully unemployed persons who have a strong and recent attachment to the labour market. The introduction of the scheme will ensure that people with a strong work history receive enhanced benefits if they lose their employment.
It is estimated that the cost of Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit for fully unemployed jobseekers will increase the costs on the Social Insurance Fund by some €130m in a full year.
1415. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the JobPath scheme for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [33600/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraReferrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service ceased completely in June 2024.
JobPath was a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs were borne by the companies. The companies were paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments were made only when a client had achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath is determined by the number of people who participated in the programme and the number who got sustainable jobs.
The details requested are provided in the table below.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2019 |
€58.6m |
|
2020 |
€36.2m |
|
2021 |
€33.9m |
|
2022 |
€40.9m |
|
2023 |
€17.7m |
Please note the figures provided are expenditure, net of any discounts, and do not take into account the savings made in respect of welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment or in any resulting increase in tax receipts.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1416. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [33601/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.
The estimated cost of including the Working Family Payment as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance is €22 million. This is based on 24,000 additional households qualifying for Fuel Allowance at a weekly rate of €33 and a 28-week fuel season.
Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1419. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of social welfare recipients, by social welfare type, in 2023; and the projected number of social welfare recipients, by social welfare type, in 2024, in tabular form. [33604/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of recipients at end 2023 and the estimated number of recipients in 2024 as per the Revised Estimates Volume are shown in the the table below.
|
Recipients by DSP Scheme |
Payment Frequency |
Recipients as at end December 2023 |
2024 Estimate for Average Recipients |
|
PENSIONS |
|
# |
# |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
W |
100,201 |
98,131 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
W |
506,724 |
528,556 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Contributory) |
W |
125,943 |
126,395 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Death Benefit) |
W |
697 |
681 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WORKING AGE INCOME SUPPORTS |
|
|
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
W |
119,356 |
142,883 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
W |
44,298 |
44,643 |
|
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory) |
W |
1,050 |
1,010 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
W |
35 |
33 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
W |
12,832 |
12,110 |
|
Farm Assist |
W |
4,030 |
3,802 |
|
Exceptional and Urgent Needs *** |
O |
85,443 |
66,533 |
|
Other Working Age Supports |
|
|
|
|
Daily Expense Allowance |
W |
14,660 |
12,720 |
|
Other Supplements |
W |
2,675 |
1,729 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
W |
38,206 |
36,034 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed |
W |
625 |
656 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
W |
4,248 |
4,165 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
W |
19,818 |
18,940 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
W |
10 |
9 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
W |
342 |
935 |
|
Parents Benefit |
W |
4,256 |
6,409 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
W |
26 |
36 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
|
|
|
|
Treatment Benefits - Dental |
O |
1,050,674 |
1,299,255 |
|
Treatment Benefits - Optical Benefit |
O |
635,478 |
712,788 |
|
Treatment Benefits - Medical & Surgical Devices & Wigs |
O |
32,667 |
35,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS |
|
|
|
|
Community Employment Programme |
|
|
|
|
Participants |
W |
18,821 |
18,600 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
|
|
|
|
Participant |
W |
2,710 |
2,821 |
|
Tús - Community Work Placement |
|
|
|
|
Participant |
W |
4,580 |
4,625 |
|
Job Initiative |
|
|
|
|
Participant |
W |
353 |
376 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
W |
2,011 |
2,449 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
W |
3,334 |
2,687 |
|
JobsPlus |
M |
650 |
775 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
W |
187 |
319 |
|
Other Employment Supports |
|
|
|
|
Part Time Job Incentive |
W |
90 |
95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS |
|
|
|
|
Disability Allowance |
W |
162,326 |
159,866 |
|
Blind Pension |
W |
968 |
990 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
W |
95,787 |
96,070 |
|
Domicilliary Care Allowance |
M |
53,656 |
56,077 |
|
Carer's Support Grant |
A |
129,701 |
142,687 |
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
W |
2,451 |
1,548 |
|
Illness Benefit |
W |
56,338 |
53,106 |
|
Injury Benefit |
W |
491 |
570 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
W |
56,650 |
54,637 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
W |
2,891 |
3,027 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
|
14,359 |
13,584 |
|
Medical Care |
O |
330 |
14 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
W |
3,904 |
3,757 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHILDREN |
|
|
|
|
Child Benefit |
M |
656,057 |
661,368 |
|
Working Family Payment |
W |
46,105 |
47,114 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
W |
2,255 |
2,717 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
O |
154,019 |
178,648 |
|
Other Child Supports |
|
|
|
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
W |
598 |
575 |
|
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant (NON-CONTRIBUTORY) |
O |
71 |
72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SIF Funded Child Related Payments |
|
|
|
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
W |
1,240 |
1,131 |
|
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant (Contributory) |
O |
1,078 |
1,080 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS, AGENCIES AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES |
|
|
|
|
Rent Supplement |
W |
7,861 |
7,858 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF] |
|
|
|
|
Electricity Allowance |
M |
455,480 |
475,762 |
|
Gas Allowance |
M |
54,509 |
57,215 |
|
Free Television Licence |
M |
521,753 |
514,369 |
|
Telephone Support Allowance |
W |
155,023 |
154,106 |
|
Free Travel |
|
1,089,411 |
1,104,230 |
|
Fuel Allowance [Vote 37 + SIF] |
W |
411,395 |
412,499 |
|
Miscellaneous Services |
|
|
|
|
Rent allowance (de-control of rents legislation) |
W |
37 |
36 |
|
Ex gratia payments to women from Magdalen Laundries and other Institutions |
W, 4W |
380 |
398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
***figure for whole year |
|
|
|
W= Weekly
M= Monthly
A= Annual
O= Occasional
1420. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum weekly rates of social welfare payments by social welfare type in 2023 and to date in 2024; and the average payment received by social welfare type in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [33605/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2023 and 2024 maximum personal weekly rate of social welfare payments are shown in Table 1 below.
The 2023 and 2024 rates for an increase for qualified adult are shown in Table 2 below.
The 2023 and 2024 rates for an increase in qualified child are shown in Table 3.
The average payment received in 2023 and 2024 (January - June inclusive) are shown in Table 4. The average payments received may include increases for qualified adult and qualified child as well as personal rate.
|
Table 1 - Maximum Personal Rates of Payment 2023 & 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Personal Rates of Payment |
|
2023 |
2024 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
66yrs & Over |
€265.30 |
€277.30 |
|
Widow/er's/Surviving Civil Partner (Con) Pension / Deserted Wife's Benefit |
66yrs & Over |
€265.30 |
€277.30 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
66yrs & Over |
€269.70 |
€281.70 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
66yrs & Over |
€239.30 |
€251.30 |
|
State Pension (Non Contributory) |
66yrs & Over |
€254.00 |
€266.00 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
66yrs & Over |
€274.00 |
€286.00 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
|
€225.50 |
€237.50 |
|
Widow/er's/Surviving Civil Partner (Con) Pension / Deserted Wife's Benefit |
Under 66yrs |
€225.50 |
€237.50 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
Under 66yrs |
€250.50 |
€262.50 |
|
Carer's Benefit / Constant Attendance Allowance |
|
€237.00 |
€249.00 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
|
€251.00 |
€263.00 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit/JBSE/Illness Benefit/Incapacity Supplement/H&S/Injury Benefit |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Maternity Benefit/ Adoptive Benefit |
|
€262.00 |
€274.00 |
|
Paternity Benefit/Parent's Benefit |
|
€262.00 |
€274.00 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
|
€203.00 |
€215.00 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance/PRETA |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Widow/er's/Surviving Civil Partner (Non-Con) Pension / Deserted Wife's Allowance |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Disability Allowance/Blind Pension |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Farm Assist |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
|
€218.00 |
€230.00 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
Under 66yrs |
€236.00 |
€248.00 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non Contributory) |
|
€203.00 |
€215.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
|
|
|
|
Rate for recipients aged 18 to 24 years of age (inclusive) |
|
€129.70 |
€141.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Activation Schemes |
|
|
|
|
Back to Education Allowance |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
|
€220.00 |
€232.00 |
|
Community Employment Programme * |
|
€247.50 |
€259.50 |
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement * |
|
€247.50 |
€259.50 |
|
Rural Social Scheme * |
|
€247.50 |
€259.50 |
|
Jobs Initiative |
|
€495.00 |
€519.00 |
|
Part Time Job Incentive Scheme |
|
€139.40 |
€147.00 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
|
€323.00 |
€335.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Rate includes Top-Up payment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2 - Increase Qualified Adult (IQA) Rates 2023 & 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 IQA Rate |
2024 IQA Rate |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
IQA 66 years & Over |
€237.80 |
€248.60 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
IQA Under 66 years |
€176.70 |
€184.70 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
IQA Under 66 years |
€161.10 |
€169.70 |
|
State Pension (Non Contributory) |
IQA Under 66 years |
€167.80 |
€175.70 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
IQA 66 years & Over |
€158.80 |
€166.80 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit/JBSE/ Illness Benefit / Incapacity Supplement/ H&S / Injury Benefit |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Disability Allowance |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Farm Assist |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
SWA |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
JA & SWA Under 25 year olds |
|
|
|
|
Rate for QA's aged 18 to 24 years of age (inclusive) |
|
€129.70 |
€141.70 |
|
Activation Schemes - IQA under 66 years |
|
|
|
|
Back to Education Allowance |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Community Employment Programme * |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement * |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Rural Social Scheme * |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
Jobs Initiative |
|
|
|
|
Part Time Job Incentive Scheme |
|
€87.90 |
€92.70 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
|
€146.00 |
€154.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Rate includes Top-Up payment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 3 - Increase Qualified Child (IQC) Rates 2023 2024 under and Over 12 years |
|
|
|
|
IQCs - 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Rate age under 12 |
Rate age 12 and over |
|
|
|
€42 |
€50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IQCs - 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Rate age under 12 |
Rate age 12 and over |
|
|
|
€46 |
€54 |
|
|
|
Table 4 - Average Payment Value 2023 and 2024 YTD |
2023 |
2024 (Jan - June) |
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
€247.88 |
€270.87 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
€267.58 |
€290.60 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Contributory) |
€274.52 |
€302.61 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Death Benefit) |
€293.21 |
€308.32 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
€242.10 |
€260.32 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
€284.15 |
€313.47 |
|
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory) |
€218.83 |
€231.04 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
€218.78 |
€234.48 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
€231.22 |
€246.49 |
|
Farm Assist |
€231.50 |
€258.44 |
|
Additional Needs Payment |
€662.40 |
€940.08 |
|
Daily Expense Allowance |
€56.91 |
€60.25 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
€231.69 |
€247.06 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed |
€290.20 |
€299.25 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
€264.99 |
€267.21 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
€269.33 |
€280.96 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
€319.50 |
€313.97 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
€279.75 |
€291.71 |
|
Parents Benefit |
€278.10 |
€284.79 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
€212.09 |
€240.52 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
€270.29 |
€294.09 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
€271.84 |
€317.67 |
|
Tús - Community Work Placement |
€269.48 |
€273.84 |
|
Job Initiative |
€461.68 |
€548.27 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
€222.08 |
€253.85 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
€245.98 |
€252.56 |
|
JobsPlus |
€378.63 |
€449.72 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
€354.34 |
€380.31 |
|
Part Time Job Incentive |
€157.16 |
€163.18 |
|
Disability Allowance |
€242.34 |
€265.38 |
|
Blind Pension |
€236.76 |
€258.95 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
€213.86 |
€231.53 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
€391.52 |
€415.49 |
|
Carer's Support Grant ** |
€2,059.25 |
€2,040.92 |
|
Illness Benefit |
€236.63 |
€248.41 |
|
Injury Benefit |
€283.53 |
€294.68 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€255.37 |
€275.58 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€152.21 |
€166.40 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
€268.44 |
€285.17 |
|
Medical Care |
€255.95 |
€198.99 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
€274.08 |
€297.69 |
|
Child Benefit |
€274.31 |
€272.13 |
|
Working Family Payment |
€151.11 |
€169.55 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
€74.30 |
€77.76 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance ** |
€385.18 |
€368.25 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
€297.54 |
€322.96 |
|
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant (NON-CONTRIBUTORY) ** |
€7,718.31 |
€10461.54 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
€297.18 |
€324.41 |
|
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant (Contributory) ** |
€7,920.94 |
€8025.64 |
|
Rent Supplement |
€253.93 |
€213.62 |
|
|
|
|
|
** Once a year payment |
|
|
1421. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost to the Exchequer of increasing maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parent’s benefit by eight weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33606/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Benefit is payable for 26 weeks and Paternity Benefit is payable for two weeks. Currently seven weeks of Parent's Benefit is available for each eligible parent but, as a result of measures in Budget 2024, this will increase to nine weeks per parent from 1 August.
Maternity Benefit, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at €274 per week. The estimated full year additional cost of increasing the duration of each of these payments by eight weeks is as follows:
|
Parent's Benefit |
Maternity Benefit |
Paternity Benefit |
|
Increase from 9 to 17 weeks |
Increase from 26 to 34 weeks |
Increase from 2 to 10 weeks |
|
Cost of increase: €112,811,589. Resulting Total Annual Expenditure: €211.5m |
Cost of increase: €88,923,420. Resulting Total Annual Expenditure: €369.2m |
Cost of increase: €60,349,057. Resulting Total Annual Expenditure: €75.4m |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis with the estimated number of recipients in 2024. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
Also, these estimates do not reflect any additional costs which may be incurred by employers who provide substitution or salary top-ups which, in the Civil and Public Sector, would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
