Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding social welfare recipients who are currently receiving a double payment with respect to community employment schemes and who are on illness benefit or invalidity pension; if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by persons who are in this situation and who are concerned about recent budgetary changes; the steps she will take to address their concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24422/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As per the Budget 2012, Community Employment (CE) participants in receipt of illness benefit or invalidity pension who commenced on CE before the 16th January 2012 and who have their CE contracts renewed after the 16th January 2012 will retain their original social welfare payment (in addition to their CE Single Adult Rate). The retention of their social welfare payment is dependent upon them being continuously employed on CE from that date and that they are granted a further Exemption from the Rules of Behaviour for continued receipt of their social welfare payment whilst working on the CE project. The granting of such Exemptions is an on-going requirement for the making of these payments.

This provision for dual payments is subject to the standard CE participation limits and a final cut-off date for double payments of December 2014. All CE participants will receive a single payment only from that date. Persons commencing employment on CE on or after 16th January 2012, who have not participated on CE in the 12 months preceding their commencement, will only receive the one main payment from CE.