Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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227. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48824/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 15 September 2022. In order to establish medical suitability two forms were sent to him on 30 September 2022.The deciding officer has also requested that he provide details of the workings of his farm and provide confirmation from his employer of his last day of work.

On receipt of the completed forms and the requested information, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and he will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department currently has a backlog of over 80,000 applications for exceptional needs’ payments, which is contradictory to the notion of financially assisting a person with an urgent exceptional need; her plans to deal with this significant backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48826/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Additional Needs Payment is available to support people when they face essential expenses that they are unable to meet from their income regardless of their employment situation or hours of work and each case is assessed on its merits taking account of the person’s income and expenses.

So far this year to the end of September 2022 66,000 Additional Needs Payments have been processed and paid.

13,900 applications for Additional Needs Payments are currently being processed. In the region of 63% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 4 weeks. Where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, this is generally due to additional information/ documentation being requested from the claimant to support their application. Where it is evident that a person is experiencing particular hardship and their application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, their application is prioritised.

The Community Welfare Service (CWS) is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. My Department is continuing to work to improve the service and is introducing innovations to increase efficiency in processing applications for SWA payments and minimise decision wait times.

I trust this clarifies the matter.