Results 7,401-7,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 06 January 2023. They were notified in writing on the 22 December 2022. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Jan 2023)

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 my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are age 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. Following a successful appeal outcome, the person concerned entitlement to DA was backdated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.  This is an overarching term, that includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner.  The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years. The scheme also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner.  The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years. The scheme also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner.  The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years. The scheme also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department’s Medical Appliance scheme, which provides grants to assist in the purchase of hearing aids, is available to those who have the required number of PRSI contributions and is also available to their dependant spouse/partner.  The scheme provides for a €500 grant per ear, towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids every 4 years. The scheme also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Applications for the increase for Living Alone and for the Fuel Allowance were received on 11 October 2022 from the person concerned. The increase for Living Alone was awarded from 15 April 2022 at the weekly rate of €22.00, allowing for the maximum backdating of six months from the date of receipt of the original application. The Fuel Allowance was awarded from 14 October 2022 at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.  My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 504,000 customers.  The gas or electricity element of the package is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.  People over the age of 70 receive the HHB...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Energy Prices (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. 

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Jan 2023)

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 a supplementary welfare allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered with that Office on 30...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a number of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability.  The primary disability related payment is Disability Allowance, which is a means-tested social assistance scheme for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66.  Disability Allowance is also subject to a medical assessment and a habitual residency...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Enhanced Illness Benefit (EIB) was a form of Illness Benefit that was payable to self-employed persons or an employee who was required to self-isolate or had been diagnosed with Covid-19.  The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit came to an end on Friday 30 September 2022. It is important to note that a person may have received Enhanced Illness Benefit on more than one occasion since the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability.  It is important to note that eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.   Illness Benefit is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66.  The payment is provided for under the Jobseeker’s Benefit or the Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) legislation as appropriate and a person must satisfy the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 29 September 2022. On 2 November 2022, the person was notified, in writing, that they did not qualify for the Household Benefits Package, as their spouse is not in receipt of a qualifying payment. A reply to a previous enquiry from the Deputy was issued on 1 December 2022 to this effect and enclosed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together. The majority of payments that are issued by the Department reflects the entitlement period where the recipient’s claim was open.  However payments can be issued in respect to different entitlement  periods (i.e. arrears payments).  Arrears can be due to persons where there is a gap between their entitlement date...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department offers a wide range of social welfare payments.  Social Insurance based benefits are available to those who have a sufficient number of contributions over their lifetimes, and are funded through pay-related social insurance (PRSI).  Other benefits and additional allowances are means tested, which ensures that the highest payments are available to those most in need,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 899 and 900 together. The Accommodation Recognition Payment is available to individuals hosting people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have fled the conflict in Ukraine.  The rate of payment increased from €400 per calendar month to €800 per calendar month with effect from 1 December 2022....