Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 922 of 15 June 2021, if eligibility for basic social welfare payment will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33370/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 922 on 15 June 2021, the person concerned submitted an application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payment with effect from 11/2/2021.  He received a SWA payment for the period 11/2/2021 to 26/5/2021 pending the provision of a letter from Kildare County Council confirming his address, as he stated he was residing in a property owned by the Council.  The person concerned was given notice in writing that he would be paid for 12 weeks pending receipt of the letter from the Council.

The person concerned failed to produce the requested documentation.  He subsequently informed officials he was living at 2 different addresses and in his car but that it was his intention to move to Rathfarnham to reside with his spouse. 

The person concerned should make contact with his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth as soon as possible so that his current needs and circumstances can be fully established.  The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at (01) 6106143 or by email to KildarenorthCWS@welfare.ie.  If the person concerned has moved to Rathfarnham, he should contact (01) 6732000 (option 7) or email CWSNutgrove@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had their qualified adult allowance stopped. [33414/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant 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.

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable.  Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €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.

The person concerned applied for State pension contributory in September 2020 and reached pension age on 20 December 2020.  The initial assessment of the IQA claim was based on the drawings or income attributed from the farm to the qualified adult, resulting in a means assessment of €115.38 per week from farm income.  This gave an entitlement to a weekly IQA payment of €137.80.  A decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 30 March 2021, and included a breakdown of the means assessment.

Following review of the decision, it was noted that the farm is in joint names.  Accordingly, the assessment of means should have been based on half of the farm income/profit rather than the drawings of the qualified adult from the farm.  This resulted in an increased means assessment of €374.22 per week from farm income, exceeding the weekly means limit of €310. 

Notification issued in writing to the person concerned on 16 April 2021.  This included a breakdown of the new means assessment, outlined how this would impact the IQA payment and afforded them an opportunity to respond, prior to a decision being made.  A decision letter issued on 5 May 2021 advising that the allowance would be stopped from 13 May 2021.

The person concerned has the right to seek a review or to appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if additional information relating to a jobseeker’s review by a person (details supplied) was received; when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33470/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The customer's application for Jobseekers Allowance is currently pending a decision.  A Social Welfare Inspector of this Department wrote to the customer in April 2021 and again on 31 May 2021 by registered post, requesting outstanding information which was deemed necessary in order for a Deciding Officer to make a determination on the claim. 

The outstanding requested documentation was received by the Inspector on Friday last - 18 June 2021.  The Inspector has completed his report and the report has been forwarded to the Dungloe INTREO office, in order that a decision can be made on the claim.

If the customer is experiencing financial difficulty while awaiting the outcome of her claim, it is open to her to contact her local Community Welfare Service in order to seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.  Information for schemes administered by my Department can be viewed at the Department’s website, via www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.