Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

437. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an application by a person (details supplied) for the working family payment has not been put into payment; when they will receive payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47612/21]

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

Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work, weekly payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP, an applicant must provide such documents, certificates, information or evidence as is required to process their application.

An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 16 March 2021. Their application was disallowed on 06 April 2021, as the applicant failed to provide the requested employment related information. (2 recent payslips)

Following the recent receipt of the above requested information from the person concerned, a review of the Department's decision of 06 April 2021 has been completed. The person concerned has been awarded WFP with effect from 18 March 2021 to 16 March 2022.The first weekly payment and any arrears due will have issued to their selected financial account on 30 September 2021.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this revised decision on 29 September 2021, and of the right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

438. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the fuel allowance for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47638/21]

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

The fuel allowance is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments and who also satisfy certain other conditions.

Carer's allowance (CA) is not a qualifying payment for receipt of fuel allowance.

However, carers may qualify for the fuel allowance if they are getting half-rate CA and another qualifying social welfare payment.

In this case, the person concerned is not in receipt of a qualifying payment.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a weekly or monthly supplement may be paid to assist people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs in certain circumstances.

A special heating supplement may be paid to assist people who have special heating needs. A person may qualify for a heating supplement, if they can show that they have extra heating needs because of their age, medical condition or disability, are living alone or only with a dependent adult or dependent children and satisfy a means test.

In addition, exceptional needs payments (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his or her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is decided on the particular circumstances of the case. The person concerned could apply for these payments from her local community welfare service.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.