Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 246: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rate, in respect of each basic social welfare payment, by which that payment is reduced if the claimant engages and is paid the full rate of community employment. [36141/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are a number of different scenarios in relation to entitlement to a social welfare payment, including the rate of the relevant payment, for people participating in a Community Employment scheme. In the first instance, such participants are not eligible to receive either jobseeker's allowance or benefit. In the case of other social assistance payments, the Community Employment payment is assessed as earnings and the earnings disregard and tapering arrangements which relate to a particular scheme are applied. One parent family payment and disability allowance are the two main social assistance schemes whose recipients participate in Community Employment.

In the case of one-parent family payment, the first €146.50 per week of employment income is disregarded in full and half of any balance between that and €425 per week is also disregarded. For example, a lone parent with one child who receives €254.70 per week on a Community Employment scheme (€228.70 plus €26 child allowance) is regarded as having means of €54.10 for one-parent family payment and consequently, receives €182.80 per week in one-parent family payment (as opposed to the maximum rate of €230.30) in addition to the €254.70 from Community Employment, bringing the total income to €437.50.

In the case of disability allowance, the first €120 per week of the Community Employment Payment is disregarded and the balance up to a ceiling of €350 per week is assessed at 50%. For example, a single disability allowance recipient receiving €228.70 per week on a Community Employment scheme is regarded as having means of €54.35 per week and, consequently, receives €151.80 per week in disability allowance (as opposed to the maximum rate of €204.30). This is in addition to the €228.70 from Community Employment, bringing the total paid to €380.50.

Given that the level of a Community Employment payment depends on the family composition of the participant, the precise level of reduction in entitlement will vary in the case of social assistance schemes generally. Persons in receipt of illness benefit and invalidity pension may participate in Community Employment, subject to the approval of my Department that the work involved is therapeutic and rehabilitative. In such cases they continue to receive their social insurance payment at its full normal level.