John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the dependent adult allowance based on their contributory pension and the split of savings. [32167/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to State pension (contributory) claimants whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit. 50% of jointly-held means or assets is assessable.

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are between €100 and €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.

An IQA review commenced on 12 May 2021 whereby a means questionnaire and explanatory letter was issued to the spouse of the person concerned, being the State pension (contributory) customer. As qualified adult on their spouse’s pension, the person concerned was assessed with weekly means from capital in excess of €310.00. As this exceeds the current statutory limit for the IQA payment, the IQA has ceased with effect from 10 June 2021, and the customer has been notified accordingly.

The person’s entitlement to a State pension (contributory) in their own right can be determined on receipt of a completed application form. An application form has been issued and I have also arranged for a copy of their social insurance record to issue to them.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32201/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 5 May 2021. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that the person concerned was substantially restricted in taking up employment.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 14 June 2021 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports in place for persons in receipt of the carer’s allowance and who have been in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; if there has been consideration for those carers who cannot return to work as yet and who also cannot sign up to jobseeker’s allowance as a result of their part-time employment and means-testing requirement of the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32210/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.

The main income supports to carers provided by this Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2021 is €953 million. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2021 is expected to be approximately €1.5 billion.

Carer's Allowance is a social welfare assistance scheme which is means-tested and provides a payment for carers who, on a full-time basis, look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention and where the carer's income falls below certain limits. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the means test which applies is satisfied.

The primary objective of Carer’s Allowance is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is significantly constrained as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and, in doing so, to protect the interests of the person in respect of whom care is being provided by ensuring that payment of the allowance is contingent on the provision of the necessary hours of care. However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care. The maximum period in which a person may engage in in employment, education and training is 18.5 hours per week and during this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

In responding to COVID-19, my Department made special provisions for those who may be most vulnerable and negatively affected at this time and have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. As the Deputy is aware, the Department introduced the following short-term emergency payment- the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). A carer whose work ceases as a result of COVID-19 and whose situation qualifies them for the PUP will get the payment along with their current carer income support, whether Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit.

.Jobseeker’s Allowance is not payable with Carer’s Allowance as in order to qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance a person must be unemployed and looking for work. The conditions attached to the Jobseeker’s Allowance payment are fundamentally incongruent with the nature of the Carer’s Allowance payment.

With regard to other supports available for carers it should be noted that the annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to all family carers providing full-time care and assistance, regardless of means. This is not available for any other group nor is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe. The Grant is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for a ‘standalone’ grant. As part of Budget 2021, I increased the Grant from its previous rate of €1,700 to €1,850 – the highest ever rate at which it has been paid since it was first introduced. At the start of June the Grant was paid to some117,000 carers. The estimated expenditure on the Carer’s Support Grant this year is over €265 million.

I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by this Department under review and will ensure that consultations with carer’s representative groups continue so that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any changes to the current supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and could only be addressed in an overall budgetary context.