Results 11,401-11,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In 2008 when my Department became aware the late mother of the person concerned was admitted to a Nursing Home, a social welfare inspector of my Department consulted with both the nursing home and a family member of the deceased regarding payment of the arrears of pension. Unfortunately the arrears were not paid at the time and remained unpaid until the matter was raised by the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Dietary Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently 1,700 people in receipt of diet supplement at a cost of €0.9 million in 2020. A review of the costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The data requested by the Deputy, where available, is set out in the tables below. The data refers to recipients of the selected schemes in January 2021, while the earnings data relates to 2019. Due to the extended deadline for returns, earnings data in respect of the self-employed for 2019 may not be fully complete. Caution should be exercised around the NACE sector details in particular....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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. I confirm that my Department received an application for CA in respect of two care recipients from the person concerned on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. A national network of Citizens Information Centres, overseen by eight regional companies, provides information, advice and advocacy services to the public. I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Childcare Services (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since the introduction of the Enhanced Illness Benefit scheme, there have been a total of 2,177 claimants working in pre-primary education or in childcare. As of February 15th 2021, 137 of these are currently receiving a payment. Note that the industry breakdown of persons in receipt of this scheme is based on the last known employer. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: This domiciliary care allowance application has been finalised. The person concerned was notified in a letter dated 13th January 2021 that domiciliary care allowance has been awarded from 1st June 2020. This includes a back-dating payment for the maximum six months allowable in respect of the months June to November 2020. Arrears due for this period issued with the January 2021 payment on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 12 February 2021. The processing time for individual Disability Allowance (DA) claims will vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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. I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 27 June 2019. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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. I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 7 January 2021. Additional...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is currently in receipt of Illness Benefit at a rate of €203 per week. Illness Benefit is classed as a short term scheme and is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme a heat supplement may be awarded in cases where a person has exceptional essential heating costs due to ill health or infirmity and who cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). The applicant and their spouse can have a combined weekly household income...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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. I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme introduced by Government to support those who have lost their employment as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date expenditure on PUP is over €5.8 billion which demonstrates the Government's commitment to provide targeted supports. The Government will continue to keep all aspects of the PUP under review and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds is a payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify, a customer must have paid at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A , H or P OR have paid at least 156 PRSI self-employment contributions at Class S AND have paid at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Child benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid until their 18th birthday in respect of children who are in full-time education or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-December 2021, to over 633,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

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. 990,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 495 together. As the Deputies are aware, the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to a person's previous average weekly earnings. Last November, I secured Government approval to extend the 2020 earnings reference period for employees to September 2020. This change, which is effective from 2 October, meant that people who only...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Client Eligibility Services section of my Department is responsible for the maintenance of social insurance records for social insurance contributors. I can advise the Deputy that at an officer in that section is investigating the matter he has raised and will liaise directly with the person concerned. The officer has also contacted the Deputy's office to advise of the position. I trust...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021. This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019. The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second birthday...