Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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649. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exemption can be provided to a person with a disability who is receiving a birth negligence case settlement award, to enable an application for the winter fuel payment and the household benefit package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54614/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The criteria for Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits package are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. In general, to qualify for these benefits, an applicant aged under 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and in the case of Fuel Allowance satisfy a means test and satisfy the household composition criteria. This ensures that the payments go to those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

While the Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, there are no plans to grant automatic access to these benefits without regard to the qualifying criteria. Any decision to do so would change the nature of the schemes and would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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650. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the possibility that someone in receipt of disability benefit can have his or her benefits withdrawn if he or she spends as little as two days in custody; if her attention has further been drawn to the possibility that someone in receipt of carer's allowance can have his or her payment withdrawn if the person he or she cares for is in custody for two days (details supplied); and her views on whether this procedure has a hugely negative impact on families and that it needs to be reversed. [54620/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I confirm the person concerned is in receipt of DA since 22 May 2013.

Following Notification that the person concerned had been incarcerated DA was stopped with effect from 18 October 2022.

The Department would reaffirm the importance of applicants notifying the Department’s scheme area of any change in circumstances. This is imperative that no overpayments occur and to ensure that a decision is made as quickly as possible on their claim. The Prison release paper was sent to Carer's Allowance Section on 18 October 2022.

Following confirmation that the person concerned was released from prison, DA has been reinstated with effect from 19 October 2022.

The first payment issued to the nominated post office of the person concerned on 3 November 2022. As a control measure, no agent was allowed at that time. The person concerned was notified on 28 October 2022 of this decision.

A Review of the Agent Application of 02 February 2016 was carried out on the claim of the person concerned on 02 November 2022. It was decided that his Spouse has been reinstated and re-authorised to collect his DA payment. A letter notifying the person concerned of this decision was issued on 02 November 2022.

Arrears of payment due to the person concerned will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.

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.

I confirm the person concerned is in receipt of CA since 6 June 2013.

Following notification that the care recipient had been incarcerated, CA was stopped with effect from 19 October 2022.

The person concerned was notified on 12 October 2022 and 20 October 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

Following confirmation that the care recipient was released from prison, CA has been reinstated with effect from 20 October 2022.

The first payment will issue to the nominated post office of the person concerned on 3 November 2022.

Arrears due from 20 October 2022 to 2 November 2022 will issue on 3 November 2022.

The person concerned was notified on 28 October 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.