Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

653. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending illness benefit to those workers who are also in receipt of another social welfare payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54659/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a general principle of one person-one payment that applies across our social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. As a result, people on Widow’s Pension cannot be in receipt of an overlapping second payment, for example Illness Benefit, at the same time. They may, however, get a reduced rate of Illness Benefit, if a customer is getting a reduced rate of Widow’s Pension. In this case, the combined amount of both payments cannot be greater than the rate of Illness Benefit to which they are entitled.

People might be eligible to receive one of the following supports in addition to their Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension: Working Family Payment, Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Household Benefits Package depending on their living circumstances and their age. More information on overlapping payments and eligibility is available at gov.ie.

My Department operates the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Community Welfare Service, which provides a number of supports and services to help people facing financial hardship. Under this scheme, the Department may make an additional needs payment to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or working on a low income.

My Department will continue to keep the range of supports under review. Changing the underlying one person-one payment principle would however involve significant additional expenditure which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

656. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review correspondence from a local authority (details supplied); if she will address the issues outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54761/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.

Any decision to make the Fuel Allowance payment a year-round payment would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations and scheme policy.

In Budget 2023, however, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. There are a number of key aspects to this expansion. From January 2023, the general means test is being enhanced with the income threshold being increased from €120 to €200 above the relevant State Pension (Contributory) rate. In addition, I also provided that from January 2023, income from Disablement Benefit and Half-rate Carer's Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance. Most significantly, I was particularly pleased to be able to provide for a new means test to be introduced for over 70s., again with effect from January 2023. Under this new means test, a single person over 70 will be able to have income of €500 per week and a couple will be able to have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance.

More widely, the Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, in October, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients including pensioners, carers and people on disability payments.

In November 2022, a further lump sum payment of €400 will be paid to Fuel Allowance recipients to alleviate the burden of rising energy prices and inflation.

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This will also benefit households in receipt of Fuel Allowance. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills in November.

The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely.

I would also like to highlight that the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Service.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.