Results 9,521-9,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government states that the Low Pay Commission is to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government. The practical arrangements for giving effect to this commitment are still being considered. It is intended that this matter will be progressed in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In December 2019, my Department engaged with external consultants in order to undertake a review of all current contracted Public Employment Services (PES), including JobPath. The consultants' research, recently completed, will help inform the Government's approach on the future structure of all contracted PES. I expect that the final report will be formally submitted to me shortly. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for blind and visually impaired people between the ages of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in Ireland. In order to qualify for Disability Allowance, a person must be aged between 16 and 66, satisfy a medical and means test and be habitually resident in the State. Neither Blind Pension or Disability Allowance are payable for any period in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory, a social assistance scheme, is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means test, it is necessary at the outset for a state pension non-contributory applicant to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Further to clarification received from the Deputy’s office, it appears that this query seeks clarification in relation to the State Pension (Contributory) and the State Pension Age. The State Pension (Contributory) was not paid at the age of 65 years in 2012. The State pension age was 66 years in 2012 and remains so. The Government will introduce legislation later this year to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 17 July 2020. The Appeals Officer requested further information from the person concerned on 24 July 2020, and this was received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 August 2020. It is envisaged that the Appeals Officer's decision will issue in the near future....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The customer applied for One Parent Family Allowance on July 23rdlast and the application was referred to the local Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. This application was disallowed on September 15thlast as the Social Welfare Inspector was not satisfied that the customer is residing at her stated address. The customer applied for Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance on August...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 20 August 2011. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 1,504 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions for the period from their date of entry into insurable employment (2 October 1961) until end-December 2010, which equates to a yearly average of 30 contributions. This gives them entitlement to a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Fortnightly payments were introduced by my Department to assist with social distancing measures in accordance with public health guidelines. While some welfare schemes have reverted to a weekly payment pattern, fortnightly payments have been retained for a number of schemes, including Disability, Pensions and Carers’ payments. These schemes mainly involve payments to people who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The pandemic unemployment payment is available to all employees and self-employed persons aged between 18 and 66 years and has been extended until the end of March 2021 to support employees and businesses who continue to be severely impacted by ongoing public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also secured agreement that the scheme will remain open to new applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The qualification period for recipients of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) looking to pursue education has been waived where the applicant transfers their PUP to a Jobseeker's payment. If the person concerned is eligible for a Jobseeker's payment she can apply for a place on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) through the Education and Training Boards (ETBs)....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In the case where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, the Department has clarified that, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual Jobseeker’s payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Aer Lingus (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that officials in my Department are engaging with the company referred to by the Deputy so that claims for social welfare support are prioritised. In the case where a person has been fully laid off from their employment, they should make an application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. I have recently announced that the time-frame for receiving new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: All social welfare schemes are subject to control and compliance checks in order to ensure that the Exchequer resources provided for those schemes are protected. The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) scheme is subject to conditionality, in particular that a person must have lost their employment due to the pandemic and are now fully unemployed. Where payments of any social welfare scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Carer'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. My Department received an application for CARB from the person concerned on 12th August 2020. Under the provisions of the legislation, a person claiming CARB must be in remunerative full time employment,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: From 17 September 2020 until 31 January 2021 the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 3 rates. If a customer earned less than €200 per week - the rate of the payment will be €203 per week , which is the same as the primary rate of Jobseekers Benefit. If a customer earned between €200 and €300 per week - the rate of payment will be €250 per week. If...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 979,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Firstly I would like to say that the decision to extend the emergency measure relating to temporary lay-off or short-time work which arose as a result of Covid-19 has been a difficult one. I know many employees who have been laid off are experiencing great uncertainty but in making this decision the Government had to consider the need to ensure businesses survive, which in turn ensures...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as an emergency measure to provide an income support to those who had lost their employment as a result of Covid. In order to ensure that the scheme was simple and accessible for the unprecedented number of applicants, a flat payment rate was introduced. This rate was the equivalent of the rate for a two-person household. From 26 June...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Probate Applications (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested social assistance payment. Following award, claimants are obliged to notify , in a timely manner, any changes in their circumstances that may affect their pension entitlement. A list of the reportable changes of circumstance is included in the initial notification of pension award and in all subsequent review communications issued. Social...