Written answers
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits
Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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462. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the most recent figure for the number of carers in receipt of the carer's allowance excluding those on a half-rate carer's allowance; the number of carers who receive a reduced rate of carer's allowance due to means, categorised by recipients aged under 66 years caring for one person aged under 66 years caring for two or more persons, aged over 66 years caring for one person and aged over 66 years caring for two or more people; the breakdown of these rates by the number of person's receiving a reduced rate carer's allowance payment under €100, between €100 and €150, €151 and €200, €201 and €251, €252 and €302, €303 and €353, €354 and €392, in tabular form. [59510/22]
Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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463. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the most recent figure on the number of carers receiving a half-rate carer's allowance; the number of carers who receive a reduced rate of the half-rate carer's allowance due to means, categorised by recipients aged under 66 years caring for one person, aged under 66 years caring for two or more people, aged over 66 years caring for one person and aged over 66 years caring for two or more people; the breakdown of these rates by the number of person's receiving a carer's allowance payment under €100, between €100 and €120, €121 and €141, €142 and €162, €163 and €183, €184 and €196, in tabular form. [59511/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.
Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.
At the end of October 2022, there were 91,892 recipients of Carer's Allowance. Of these, 42,136 were recipients of half-rate Carer's Allowance.
Rates of payment, based on their most recent payment, for full rate Carer's Allowance, split by age and number of carees, is shown in the tables below. Due to the fact that the data may be statistically disclosive and lead to individuals being potentially identified, my Department is unable to provide some of the breakdowns requested by the Deputy.
The figures below are the rate received by the recipient.
Table 1: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with one caree
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 1,166 |
100 to <150 | 958 |
150 to <201 | 1,279 |
201 or more | 36,694 |
Total | 40,097 |
Table 2: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with one caree
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 24 |
100 to <150 | 12 |
150 to <201 | 18 |
201 or more | 1,657 |
Total | 1,711 |
Table 3: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with two or more carees
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 67 |
100 to <150 | 74 |
150 to <201 | 156 |
201 to <252 | 177 |
252 to <302 | 216 |
Greater than 302 | 7,099 |
Total | 7,789 |
Table 4: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with two or more carees
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 302 | 6 |
302 or more | 153 |
Total | 159 |
Table 5: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with one caree
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 304 |
100 or more | 23,683 |
Total | 23,987 |
Table 6: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with one caree
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 82 |
100 to <120 | 85 |
120 or more | 15,377 |
Total | 15,544 |
Table 7: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with two or more carees
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
Less than 100 | 23 |
100 to <120 | 21 |
120 to <141 | 20 |
141 to <162 | 16 |
162 or more | 2,149 |
Total | 2,229 |
Table 8: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with two or more carees
Rate of Payment (€) | Count |
---|---|
All rates | 376 |
Total | 376 |
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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464. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which oral hearings in respect of appeals against disallowance for various payments are up-to-date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59538/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are currently 7,479 appeals at various stages of the appeals process. Under Article 13 of the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 108/1998), if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily. Once it is decided to hold an oral hearing it can usually be scheduled and held in a timely manner.
An oral hearing may be held virtually (online), by phone or, where it is deemed essential by the Appeals Officer, on an in-person basis.
Oral hearing arrangements will continue to be kept under regular review by the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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465. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of unemployment assistance on a short or long-term basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59539/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker’s Allowance, formerly known as Unemployment Assistance, is a means-tested income support for people who are unemployed. In the week ending 20 November, 2022, there were 114,650 Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients. Of these, 41.5 per cent (47,539) are long-term unemployed (one year or more), while 58.5 percent (67,111) are considered short-term recipients. It should be noted that people who are casually employed (or part-time unemployed) are defined as short-term recipients of the scheme.
Looking at jobseeker recipients more widely, as of 20 November 2022, 34.2 percent of those on the Live Register (which includes Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit and Credits) are considered long term claimants.
It should be noted that, unlike in previous years, Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients includes people who arrived under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive from Ukraine. This income support is provided in the first instance, until the most appropriate income support for the individual is determined.
It is welcome that, as reported in the Q3, 2022 Labour Force Survey published by the CSO last week, the Long-Term Unemployment Rate is 1.1%, which is below the pre-pandemic Q3 2019 level of 1.4%.
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