Results 8,781-8,800 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (26 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household. Fuel Allowance is a household payment and the status and means of all members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability or condition and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility for DCA is determined primarily by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, a letter issued to the person concerned on 24/10/2022 requesting further information in support of her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. When this information is returned, the person’s application will be processed promptly. I trust this clarifies the matter.

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

Heather Humphreys: I confirm I have received the correspondence from Age Action Ireland. I am very grateful for the time and effort taken by Age Action Ireland in producing this documentation and in drawing these suggestions to my attention, as I am with all of the community and voluntary groups representing a wide range of cohorts within Irish society, all of whom advocate their position with clarity and...

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

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. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and...

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

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, 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, cash income, including any additional pension(s), the value of any property...

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

Heather Humphreys: This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides for a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods (of up to 20 years) outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment...

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

Heather Humphreys: The autumn Cost of Living double payment is part of a range of measures put in place as part of Budget 2023 to mitigate the effects of the increased cost of living. The autumn Cost of Living double payment is being paid to recipients of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disablement Benefit and Partial Capacity Benefit. Qualifying payments for the autumn double...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Education and Training Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The programme to which the Deputy refers is being funded under the current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities which was a new employment support measure for people with disabilities introduced last year. On 30 July 2021, I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. Prior to applying for this measure,...

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

Heather Humphreys: As of 18th October 2022, the number of persons working in my Department’s Press office and Communications unit are outlined below in tabular form. There is no dedicated social media team in my Department. Function Number of staff (Full time equivalent) Press Office 4 Communications Unit – this unit comprises 4 teams...

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

Heather Humphreys: Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-contributory) Pension is a means-tested payment payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who does not qualify for the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension. The rate of payment is €208 per week. For the purposes of the means-test, from application stage through the lifetime of a claim,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (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 package is also available to people living in the State aged...

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

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. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention....

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

Heather Humphreys: On reaching pension age on 3 February 2020, the person concerned was automatically transferred from the Invalidity Pension to State Pension (contributory) maximum rate increasing their weekly payment by €39.80. The autumn cost of living double payment for State Pension (contributory) issued to them on 21 October 2022. They will also receive the Christmas Bonus double payment in...

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

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 26 February 2017. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on the 06 June 2018. 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 Code (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 lump sum payment, which will be paid during November 2022 to recipients...

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

Heather Humphreys: I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Government, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. The reforms announced included a phased 10-year transition to the Total...

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

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, a letter issued to the person concerned on 20/10/2022 requesting further information in support of his application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. When this information is returned, the person’s application will be processed promptly. I trust this clarifies the matter.

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

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, further information was requested from the person concerned on 20/10/2022 in support of her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. When this information is returned, the person’s application will be processed promptly. I hope this clarifies the matter.

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 459 together. Work in my Department is underway to fill staffing vacancies in the Community Welfare Service which have arisen around the country, including in Co Donegal. The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority for the Government and for the Department of...