Results 18,001-18,020 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: When State Pension (Transition) existed, it was a scheme which allowed those who were retired to get a transitionary payment between the ages of 65 and 66 years. The maximum personal rate was equivalent to the then maximum rate for the State Pension (Contributory). Eligibility was based on PRSI contributions and credits. It is important to note that the conditions and eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: At present, the State pension system comprises two basic components. Firstly, the State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State Pension (Contributory) is not means-tested but is based on social insurance (PRSI) contributions and paid from the Social Insurance Fund, and as such it is important to ensure that those qualifying for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Housing Issues (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: This Department prepares estimates for Rent Supplement for the coming year based on emerging trends on recipients for Rent Supplement having regard to anticipated transfers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) over that year. Similarly, the Department of Housing prepares annual expenditure estimates for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) based on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Until 2012, recipients of a Widow's or Widower's Pension or a One-Parent Family Payment who met all the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker's Benefit or Illness Benefit, were entitled to concurrently claim half the normal rate of Jobseeker's or Illness Benefit. When the concurrent payment of half-rate Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, in addition to One-Parent Family Payment and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit (23 Sep 2020)

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 in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-August 2020, to over 638,244 families in respect of over 1.2 million children....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 147 together. Government has provided almost €57 million for the Back to Education Allowance in 2020. This represents a considerable investment in supporting participants to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market. The weekly rate of payment is linked to the persons' underlying payment, for example...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been extended until 31st March 2020 and will support sectors facing extended periods of closure, including the events and entertainment sector. I have also secured approval to keep the scheme open to new applicants until the end of the year. Of the approximately 206,300 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week some 5,800, or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 put the pandemic unemployment payment on a statutory basis since 5th August and ensures that people who lost their jobs, or were temporarily laid-off, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic shall be deemed to have made an employment contribution in line with that which they would have made if they had remained in employment. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 28 April 2020. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Firstly I would like to say that the decision to extend the emergency measure relating to temporary lay-off or short-time work which arose as a result of Covid-19 has been a difficult one. I know many employees who have been laid off are experiencing great uncertainty but in making this decision the Government had to consider the need to ensure businesses survive, which in turn ensures...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (23 Sep 2020)

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 can advise the Deputy that the number of CA applications received in my department from 1 January 2018 up to 31...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The following tables set out the cost of increasing the individual social welfare payment rates to 2009 levels where the current rate is below 2009 rate: Scheme Full year cost of restoring rates to 2009 levels Social Insurance Schemes €m Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension 1.97 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: 1. The estimated cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by two weeks, from 28 to 30 weeks is €18.3 million in a full year. 2. As the current weekly rates of payment are in excess of 2008 levels, no additional costs would arise. 3. The estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly rate of the State Pension Contributory, Widow(er)’s and Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1 September 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has extended the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until the end of March 2021 to support employees and businesses who continue to be impacted by the on-going public health restrictions. I have also secured approval to keep the scheme open to new applicants until the end of the year. This means that anyone who loses their employment as a result of the pandemic between now and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department has clarified that where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. Officials from my department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by officials in my Department that analysis of recipients on these particular schemes will take more time. The information will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Respite Care Services (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and...