Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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911. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a jobseeker's allowance and childcare allowance will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33180/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All Jobseekers’ applications are examined in the first instance to assess eligibility for Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) with the option of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) should a customer not qualify for JB or qualifies for JB at a lower rate.

The person concerned submitted a Jobseeker’s application with effect from 8/6/2020. She did not qualify for JB on the basis that she had not paid Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions in the relevant governing contribution year, which was 2018. The person concerned was then assessed for JA which is a means-tested payment.

The weekly household means for the person concerned were assessed at €385 based on her spouses’ earnings. The weekly rate of JA for her family’s composition was €386 effective from the date of application, 8/6/2020 until 22/9/2020. Due to the assessed means of €385 a weekly JA payment of €1 is applicable and arrears of €15.30 will issue to the person concerned on 3/11/2020.

With effect from 23/9/2020 the weekly JA rate for this family composition reduced to €373.70, due to the enhanced allowance for an Adult Dependent reverting back to the original rate of €134.70. The Adult Dependent Allowance had previously been enhanced to €147 per week during the period 25/3/2020 to 22/9/2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the means of the person concerned are currently in excess of the prescribed limit for receipt of a JA payment.

A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 30/10/2020 advising her of the outcome of her application and informing her of the option to appeal the decision of the deciding officer to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the decision, it is open to her to appeal the decision within 21 days of the decision date.

It is also open to the person concerned to contact the Community Welfare Service in the Dun Laoghaire Intreo Centre to seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme if she is experiencing financial difficulties. This service is available by phone at 01 2145540 or by email at CWSDunLaoghaire@welfare.ie.

A Child Benefit application was received from the person concerned on 22/10/2020 and has been awarded. Payment, including arrears, was issued to the person concerned on 30/10/2020.

I trust this clarifies the matter.