John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

391. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if fuel allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [58747/22]

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

Fuel allowance is a means tested payment payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people.

Based on the information provided to the department, this person concerned lives with someone in receipt of a State Contributory Pension (SPC).

A letter issued to the person concerned on 22 November 2022 informing them the Contributory Pensioner must apply for the fuel allowance.

An application for Fuel allowance was enclosed for the SPC recipient to apply for the Fuel allowance and submit the completed application to the National Fuel Scheme Section in Sligo who process the SPC payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

392. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58761/22]

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

The person concerned reached pension age on 02 July 2022. An application for State Pension non-contributory was received in my Department on 09/08/2022.

The State Pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment. As such, all recipients of the State Pension non-contributory are subject to a means test. Social welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to an applicant (and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable) is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance schemes, such as the State Pension non-contributory. This includes all income and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant.

To calculate the rate payable, the means of the claimant is deducted from the maximum rate of State Pension non-contributory. As the means of the claimant exceeded the maximum rate of State Pension non-contributory, they were not entitled to this pension.

An application for State pension (contributory) was received on 11 October 2022. Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor is regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) where the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching pension age, and all self-employment contributions payable are considered to have been paid.

Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant’s reaching pension age, State pension (contributory) may only be awarded from the date on which self-employment liability is deemed as discharged.

As the person concerned has outstanding liabilities for 2019, they do not meet the qualifying criteria for State pension (contributory). It is open to them to contact this Department directly when their outstanding liability is discharged, and their entitlement to State pension (contributory) will be reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

393. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58762/22]

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

The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.

Fuel Allowance in this case was awarded from 14 October 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing on the 17 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

394. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) [58764/22]

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

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 that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 03 August 2022.

Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 18 October 2022.

Further medical evidence was received on 09 November 2022 and a review of this decision was carried out. The original decision was upheld and the person concerned was notified in writing on 23 November 2022. She was also advised of his right to appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). No request for an appeal has been received to date.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

395. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments by county in 2021 in total; and the number of applications awarded in tabular form. [58766/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

396. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments by county to date in 2022; and the number of applications awarded in tabular form. [58767/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term, introduced into our statistical reporting in 2022, used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The schemes are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

These figures in the enclosed table show the consolidated statistics for ANPs for 2021 and up to end September 2022. As they represent a snapshot of claim activity, they are subject to change.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

397. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown the waiting times in weeks for all additional needs payment and exceptional needs payment applications for the year 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form, broken down per numbers of week per application. [58768/22]

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

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make Additional Needs Payment (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to 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 scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

As of October 2022, over 75,000 applications for ANPs were processed and awarded; this represents a 63% increase in awarded applications compared to the same period in 2021. My Department has already paid an estimated €46 million in ANPs so far this year. Some of this increase can be attributed to the response to support families arriving from Ukraine.

The claims currently being received for ANPs are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced.

Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed very quickly. Where any application cannot be finalised quickly, the delay is normally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application and the length of time that it takes for the information to be provided. This can result in longer processing times for these less urgent applications as greater flexibility is given to customers with extended time to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application will then be processed quickly.

Where it is clear that a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.

In light of the increased level of applications, as part of the budget estimates I secured agreement for approximately 74 additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment has commenced for these additional staff, and it is anticipated that the staff will be in place by Q1 2023.

In the interim, until the staff have been recruited, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service since the start of November to assist with claims processing.

I trust this clarifies the matter.