Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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23. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons that make new claims for social welfare payments must have a public services card (PSC); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is evidence that new claimants are being told that they will not be eligible for payments unless they hold a PSC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1911/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of SAFE 2 registration is to verify a person’s identity to a substantial level of assurance. Once identity is so verified, a Public Services Card can be issued as a physical token of proof of that identity verification. My Department makes it clear to our customers that they need to complete a SAFE 2 registration to access, or continue to access, payments and entitlements. This is not an unreasonable condition given the value of payments made to customers and the overwhelming majority of customers have no difficulty in completing the process.

The legal provisions providing for and relating to SAFE registration of Social Welfare customers are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended):

- Sections 262 and 263B provide for the verification of identity to facilitate the issuing and use of a Personal Public Services Number (PPS Number or PPSN).

- Sections 263, 263A and 263B provide for the verification of identity to facilitate the issuing, use and cancellation of a Public Services Card (PSC).

- Section 241 provides that a person must satisfy the Minister to his/her identity when making a new claim and sets out how that can be done.

- Section 247C provides that an existing claimant must satisfy the Minister to his / her identity, sets out how that can be done, and provides for disqualification where an existing claimant fails to so do.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.