Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58199/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned applied for Fuel allowance on 21 October 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €490.30 which is within the permissible weekly means limit of €610.30 for the household. Fuel Allowance was awarded from 21 October 2022, and the person concerned was notified in writing on the 21 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that persons who were receiving a disability payment from her Department and have then commenced training or entered into further education and were transferred to a training allowance for the duration of their training and education, will not be eligible for the €500 lump sum one-off payment; the measures that she is taking to address these anomalies which will impact persons who are on community employment schemes or who are in receipt of the back-to-work education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58208/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Social Protection acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

I can confirm, however, that it is absolutely the intention that people on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

Officials in the Department of Social Protection are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on training courses as soon as possible.

In relation to Community Employment schemes, Community Employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide people with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week. Participants can also work outside of the 19.5 hours that they participate on Community Employment, income from this employment does not affect their Community Employment payment rate.

The minimum rate of payment on a Community Employment scheme is €230.50. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children.

Community Employment participants are not eligible for the €500 disability lump sum.

As part of the measures announced in Budget 2023, Community Employment participants will see an increase of €17 being applied, increasing the minimum payment from €230.50 to €247.50 per week from January 2023.

In addition, weekly payments for qualified child dependents will increase by €2 to €50 for children aged 12 or over and to €40 for children aged up to 12.

A number of once off bonus payments were announced in Budget 2023, which will benefit eligible Community Employment participants, including a once off payment of €400 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance. These are in addition to the Autumn Cost of Living double week payment, the double payment of Child Benefit in November and the Christmas double payment in December 2022.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to take up self-employment opportunities. It allows a person to retain 100% of their payment in year one and 75% in year two, with no restriction on the number of hours worked. There is no restriction on the income that a person can earn in their self-employment during the two-year period.

Persons in receipt of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance are not eligible for the €500 disability lump sum.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether it is fair or logical that the benefit payment for 65 year olds can only be applied for when the person has turned 65 years of age and is no longer in work (details supplied); her further views on whether this policy is a barrier to entry for the payment; her further views on whether this is best practice or a reasonable policy to implement in order to provide fair access to this payment for those would qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58342/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseekers Benefit scheme, was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66.

The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. The social insurance contribution requirements are not as high as for receipt of the State Pension, and people retiring at age 65, given they have a recent attachment to the workforce, should, in most cases meet the required PRSI conditionality.

The qualifying conditions of the scheme, including the PRSI social insurance contribution requirements, can be found on Gov.ie.

Where a person is unsure as to whether they may qualify for the payment they can contact their local Intreo Centre for assistance.

I trust that this clarifies the position.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for the fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58351/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned applied for Fuel allowance on 07 October 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €352.57 which is within the permissible weekly means limit of €373.30 for the household. Fuel Allowance was awarded from 07 October 2022, and the person concerned was notified in writing on the 21 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a living alone increase by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58355/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned submitted an application for an increase for living alone. My Department requested information to support their application on 12 November 20222. On receipt of the requested information a decision will be made. The person concerned will be notified in writing.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58358/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is considered a short-term scheme and as such is not a qualifying payment for the secondary benefits associated with long-term social welfare payments.

Most people only stay on Illness Benefit for a short period. As you know, some people are on it since 2009 – they are known as Continuous Duration customers. As of October 2022, there were 8,536 Continuous Duration customers. This number reduces each year as people reach pensionable age.

Any Continuous Duration customer who qualifies for a long-term disability scheme may wish to consider applying, as it might be more suitable to their needs.

Long-term income supports, such as Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance, provide for those with long-term or permanent illnesses and disabilities who cannot work or have a limited capacity to work. These schemes entitle people to secondary benefits like the Free Travel Pass, Fuel Allowance, and other increases and supports depending on their circumstances.

My Department also provides Additional Needs Payment under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment. The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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129. 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. [58367/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 08 September 2022 and will receive her first payment to her nominated bank account on 01 December 2022. Any arrears due from 08 September 2022 to 30 November 2022 will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 18 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.