Written answers

Thursday, 24 January 2019

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Rural Social Scheme Eligibility

Photo of Eamon ScanlonEamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which means is assessed for the purpose of the rural social scheme; the changes in recent times to in the way in which means is assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3616/19]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen / women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this valuable work in their local communities.

As the RSS is a supplementary income support scheme designed specifically for those whose income falls below a certain limit, an individual must continue to satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme to be eligible to participate on the RSS.

If a participant’s circumstances change, a means test is undertaken to determine their new rate of payment. The means assessment for RSS includes income that the participant and their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has in addition to any capital or property (except their own home). Payment of RSS is not taken into account when assessing the weekly means. If changes were made to the conditions to allow all participants receive the full rate of payment regardless of their means, it would in effect change the nature of the scheme of supporting farmers and farm families with low incomes.

The rate paid to a participant on the RSS is equivalent to the participants underlying social welfare payment plus a top-up of €22.50 subject to a minimum payment of €220.50. RSS participants in receipt of a widow’s pension or disability allowance retain their payment and also receive a top-up payment which will bring the minimum weekly payment equal to €220.50.

As part of the recent Social Welfare Budget package for 2019, I increased the weekly personal rate for participants by €5.00 with proportionate increases in weekly payments for qualified adult dependants with effect from March 2019.

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