Results 18,801-18,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person’s application for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number has been processed. Confirmation of the PPS Number issued to the person by post on 20/10/2022. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that— (a) it ought to be treated,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is currently participating on a Community Employment Scheme. As a result, their application for Widow(er)’s & Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension has been disallowed. The person concerned has been advised to contact Widow(er)’s & Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pensions Section when they are due to finish on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 €366 million in 2022. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned requested a review of a disallowance of her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. This review was acknowledged by the SWA Review Officer and further information was requested from the person. When this information is returned, a review of the claim will be completed and the person will be advised of the outcome. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Qualification for Treatment Benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions, including having paid the required total number of contributions since first starting work, along with having the required number of contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based. A social insurance record in the UK may help persons to qualify for Treatment Benefit. If...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. Once a foster placement has reached six months, the placement is considered long term, therefore at this stage Child Benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent, including a foster parent, or guardian in respect of a child with a severe disability or condition who requires additional care and attention substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age and where that care is provided in the applicant's home. DCA is payable to the person, including a foster parent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. A completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 30 September 2022 The application has been referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) on 07 October 2022 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted their report to the DA section, a decision will be made on her DA application and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus and the once-off disability-related autumn double payment introduced in Budget 2023. In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I have secured a package of almost €2.2 billion for Social Protection measures as part of Budget 2023.  This represents the largest Budget package for the Department of Social Protection in the history of the State and will help to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and families during this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is the beneficiary of an Increase for Qualified Adult allowance (IQA) on their spouse’s State Pension (contributory). This is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 497,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The status and income of other members of the household does not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Budget 2023, the Social Protection budget has been designed to assist people with cost of living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme. The measures introduced include the provision of a one-off €500 Cost-of-Living payment, which will be paid in November 2022 to recipients of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the once-off disability-related autumn double payment or the Cost of Living Disability Support Grant introduced in Budget 2023. In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded a UK pension and arrears due were received in this Department. As they were in receipt of a payment from this Department for the same period, my Department has recouped €720.00 for the overlapping period. A letter has issued to the person concerned and outstanding arrears of €6,972.36 will issue shortly. I hope this clarifies the position for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC), which can be used as proof of identity when accessing public services. Since the beginning of this year, over 229,000 SAFE registration and PSC renewal appointments have been carried out by my Department. Requests for...