Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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685. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department can provide clarity as to the outcome in the matter of the double welfare payment due where nursing homes have automatic access to and control of a resident’s regular payment; if in this case the resident will have independent control of, and access to, the second part of the payment, or if it will be treated in the way of the usual payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/22]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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All participants within the NHSS contribute up to 80% of their income (40% if part of a couple) and 7.5% per annum of the value of their assets (3.75% if part of a couple). The first €36,000 (€72,000 if part of a couple) is excluded from assessment. For the purposes of financial assessment, income includes:

- Earnings, including income from farming or business activities

- Pension income

- Social welfare benefits/allowances

- Rental income

- Income from holding an office or directorship

- Income from fees, commissions, dividends or interest

- Any income which an applicant has deprived themselves of in the five years prior to application

Financial assessments are undertaken at application stage to establish the client contribution amount and is based on an established annual sum. A re-assessment of means is normally undertaken at the request of the client under certain circumstances, as per the NHSS Act. The HSE can also undertake a re-assessment at any time.

This means that, whilst social welfare benefits and allowances are considered to be assessable income under the scheme, at a practical level, once-off payments that do not have a substantial impact on a participant's overall level of means - such as the second part of the double welfare payment - are not taken into account for financial assessment.