Written answers

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Payments

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for an additional needs payment from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46722/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An Exceptional Needs Payment has been awarded to the person concerned and a payment for €150 will be available for collection at his local Post Office on Wednesday, 28/09/2022. A letter advising the person of the award has issued to his home address.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Photo of Chris AndrewsChris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the period in which rent supplement payments can be backdated will be increased from the current limit of six months. [46783/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The rent supplement scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme provided support to 10,423 recipients as at the end of August 2022.

Since the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment, rent supplement is reverting to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy costs while they seek alternative employment. Responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need remains with local authorities.

Customers who establish an entitlement to rent supplement by satisfying the conditions of the scheme will receive payment from the date of application. There is a provision for the backdating of the claim for a period up to six months before the date of application where specific circumstances apply. There are no plans to extend this period of support beyond this time. Any decision to extend the period of back dating would need to be considered from within a budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46784/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 4 August 2022.

The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 11 August 2022 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

Following the SWI report, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 20 September 2022, with effect from 11 August 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 29 September 2022.

Arrears for the period 11 August 2022 to 28 September 2022 will issue on 29 September 2022.

The person concerned was notified on 20 September 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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