Written answers
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Telephone Support Allowance
Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the telephone allowance payment scheme will commence; and the date the first payment will be issued. [16955/18]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) of €2.50 will be paid from June 2018. People in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. It is expected that approximately 124,176 customers will qualify for the scheme and the estimated full year cost is €16.14 million.
The first payment of the TSA is planned to issue in the week beginning the 4thJune.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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