Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if weekly social welfare will continue in the case of persons (details supplied) on a temporary basis while awaiting housing accommodation by Kildare County Council; if all payments can continue without reductions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5764/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme. One of the qualifying conditions is that a person must be available for full-time employment and be genuinely seeking work. A person’s entitlement to JA is reviewed on a continuing basis to ensure that they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of JA at a rate of €208 per week which is the maximum personal rate for a person of his circumstances. The person concerned applied for an Illness Benefit payment with effect from 14/01/2022 which was disallowed. The person concerned also applied for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) with effect from 14/01/2022. JA and basic SWA cannot be paid concurrently.

A Disability Allowance (DA) application form was issued by my officials to the person concerned as he has indicated that he is currently unfit for work. If this is the case, he should return the completed form to my Department so that his application can be assessed. Once the completed DA application is received, the person's JA will continue to be paid until his DA application is finalised.

I trust this clarifies the matter.