Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare application by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28489/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All disability allowance (DA) claims are subject to periodic reviews. The entitlement of the person concerned was reviewed by a social welfare inspector (SWI) and it was established that she had means not previously disclosed to the Department. On 21 January 2020 the person concerned was notified that her DA payment would be stopped due to having means in excess of the statutory limit with effect from 29 January 2020. She was also advised of her right to request a review of the decision or to appeal it to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO).

Following an appeal to the SWAO the decision was upheld with effect from 1 April 2020; however, the appeal was partially allowed from 29 January 2020 to 31 March 2020 as the person concerned was entitled to a reduced DA payment for that period. A letter issued informing her of this decision on 15 January 2021 and the arrears due for that period issued to the person concerned.

The SWAO stated that further evidence was required in order to determine the means of the person concerned from 17 July 2020. Further information has been received and is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer (DO). The person concerned will be notified in writing when a decision is made on her DA review.

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department only received one INVP claim for this lady on 7 February 2001. The claim was refused on the 6th March of that year on the grounds that the person concerned was not medically suitable.

According to my officials, there is no record of an application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance registered in the case of the person concerned. For convenience, an application pack has issued by post for completion and return to the Community Welfare Service at Balbriggan Intreo Centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the case of person (details supplied); when they will receive a transition payment including arrears owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28496/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned submitted an application for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds (BP65) with effect from 25/01/2021. The application was assessed and disallowed on the basis that the person concerned is not eligible to receive a BP65 as the only Class S Pay Related Social Insurance contributions on my Department’s records are those from his Approved Retirement Fund and as this income is continuing, he is deemed to be still engaged in self-employment. A decision dated 19/5/2021 issued to the person concerned informing him of the outcome of his application and advising him of his options, depending on his circumstances.

As outlined in the decision letter, it is open to the person concerned to seek a review of the deciding officer’s decision and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2. If the person concerned wishes to appeal the decision he should do so within 21 days of the date of the decision letter and include all relevant facts or evidence in support of his case. He will be informed of the outcome on completion of the Appeals Officer’s examination of his case.

It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for a Jobseeker’s payment if he fulfils the criteria for receipt of this payment. Information about my Department’s schemes, including qualifying conditions is available at www.gov.ie/dsp.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship he can contact his local Community Welfare Service in the Swords Intreo Centre where his circumstances will be assessed. This service can be contacted by phone at 01 4164190 or by email at swaswords@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will exclude arts grants and funding for artists from means testing for the blind pension and disability allowance to bring certainty to artists with disabilities and enable them to avail of funding without fearing loss of basic supports; and her views on whether the current means testing system causes unnecessary anxiety, stress and discouragement for artists with disabilities from reaching their full potential. [28518/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this is to maintain the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.

The assessment of means can vary from scheme to scheme depending on the nature and purpose of the scheme. Sometimes, a certain amount of income, or income from particular sources, is not taken into account for a particular scheme. This is known as an income disregard.

There is an earnings disregard in place for recipients of Disability Allowance which allows people to earn up to €120 per week (increasing to €140 per week in June) and retain their full payment. Only half of earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed in the means test. This aims to achieve a balance between ensuring resources are targeted towards those with the greatest need while supporting people to take up employment opportunities.

In addition, Disability Allowance is unique in the social welfare system as the first €50,000 of capital (e.g. savings, shares, property) is disregarded in the capital means test. This compares to €20,000 for most other social assistance schemes.

Legislation does not provide for a disregard for funding from grants for artists and as such, any awards made through these types of schemes are assessed as income in the means test.

Any extension of means disregards would need to be examined in an overall budgetary context.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will end the practice of including the income of partners or spouses in the means testing of recipients or applicants for the blind pension and disability allowance and to address the impact of the current practice on diminishing the independence of persons with disabilities. [28519/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.

The means test plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the Department will assess the couple's means when carrying out a means test for a social assistance payment. This is the case even if only one of the couple is actually claiming a payment. This is not exclusive to Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension and applies to all of the Department's social assistance schemes.

Any changes to the means test for Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28520/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Blind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.

There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension.

The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.

I am advised, however, that based on the Department's records, no claims for blind pension were disallowed in 2020 because of Arts Council grants or funding resulting in a claimant's means exceeding the statutory weekly limit.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28521/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.

Eligibility for disability allowance (DA) is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A person applying for DA may be disallowed on one or more of these conditions.

The department does not collate the requested data on the number of applications for disability allowance (DA) that were rejected as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold and therefore it is not available. The total number of DA applications disallowed in 2020 was 13,559.

Changes to the means test would have to be considered in the wider budgetary and policy context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28522/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Blind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.

The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.

However, I am advised that, in 2020, fewer than ten blind pension applications were disallowed because the income of the claimant’s spouse or partner exceeded the statutory weekly limit.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28523/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.

Eligibility for disability allowance (DA) is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A person applying for DA may be disallowed on one or more of these conditions.

The department does not collate the requested data on the number of applications for disability allowance (DA) that were rejected as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold and therefore it is not available. The total number of DA applications disallowed in 2020 was 13,559.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual administrative cost incurred to conduct means testing of blind pension and disability allowance applicants each year from 2010 to 2021. [28524/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The department does not collate the requested data on the annual administrative cost incurred to conduct means testing of blind persons pension (BPP) and disability allowance (DA) applicants and therefore the figures are not available.

Eligibility for BPP and DA is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A deciding officer must decide on each element of the qualifying criteria of the scheme and it is not possible to get a breakdown of the administrative cost involved in this decision making process.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual spending on both the blind pension and the disability allowance each year from 2010 to 2021, in tabular form. [28525/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Blind persons pension (BPP) is a means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.

Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.

The annual spending on the BPP and DA schemes for the years form 2010 to 2020 and including to the end of April 2021, is outlined below:

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the blind pension in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28526/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Blind pension is a residency-based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension.

The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.

I am advised, however, that based on the records available to my Department, the number of blind pension recipients at each year end from 2010 and at end April 2021, together with the estimated number of claims disallowed in the same periods due to household means exceeding the permissible limit, is as set out in the table below.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the disability allowance in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28527/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.

The Department does not collate data on the number of DA applications which are refused due to their means being in excess of the statutory limit for their circumstances. While figures for the total number of applications which were refused are available and are outlined beneath, it is important to note that these applications may have been refused for not meeting any of the range of qualifying conditions for receipt of DA.

The number of persons in receipt of DA and the total number of DA applications which were disallowed at the end of the years 2010 to 2020 and to the end of April 2021 are outlined in the table below:

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a lone parent application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28604/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the Department has made extensive attempts to engage with the customer since the initial application was made in October 2020. Officials from the Department’s office in Ballybofey are arranging an interview with the customer, to discuss the claim and obtain further documentation.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.