Results 19,001-19,020 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. MABS operate an appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Impact Assessment (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 693 together. In Budget 2023, I secured a significant Social Welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. As part of that, one of my priorities was to provide support for families and children. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and there are a number of significant measures in the Budget which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that when the Community Welfare Service (CWS) becomes aware that a customer has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person receives a prompt service. Where possible, this is a same-day service. The Department is taking steps to allocate additional staff to the CWS having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Most weekly social welfare payments include provision for an additional payment – an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) – in respect of each qualified child up to the age of 18, which is extended to encompass older children to age 22 under certain circumstances. This measure provides targeted support to low-income families. In Budget 2023, the IQC rates will increase by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 701 together. Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other secondary payments. The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 September 2022. It is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 01 September 2016. There is no record of receipt of an application form for State Pension (contributory) or State Pension non-contributory. Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) based in the Tallaght Intreo Centre have been available to meet with citizens during office opening hours daily, Monday to Friday. It is regrettable in this instance that the person concerned received incorrect information and did not receive a prompt service. Following your representation, a CWO has contacted the person concerned to discuss what...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently 12 (full-time equivalent 10.80) Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in County Mayo. CWOs are currently based in the following Intreo Centres in County Mayo: Intreo Centre No. of CWOs Full-time Equivalent Achill 1 1 Ballina 3 2.5 Castlebar 7 6.3 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. MABS operates an appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority in my Department and recruitment has commenced for additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment will be through a combination of appointments from the Public Appointments Service (PAS) general service panels, internal promotions...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4 November 2022. It is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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. I confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of DA with effect from 11 August 2021....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the Disability Allowance appeal of the person concerned was disallowed by an Appeals Officer by way of a summary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: MyWelfare.ie gives a person easy access to a range of services, including making appointments, applying for certain benefits, updating personal details and ordering statements. MyWelfare is safe, secure and accessible at any time and on all devices. A person needs an email address, PPSN and bank account details to use these services and they must set up a basic MyGovID account - this is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reviews (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group's Terms of Reference were to consider and make recommendations on: (i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department; (ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Nov 2022)

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. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 15 July 2022. It is a condition for receipt of CA that the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents. Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Nov 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 500,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 13 August 2022. My Department have not received an application for State Pension (contributory). Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According...