Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be issued with the carer's support lump sum that was issued recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60166/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance, which is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that required by children of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

In line with Budget 2023 measures, certain cost of living supports were introduced to assist families, pensioners, persons with disabilities and carers with the cost of living. These measures which apply to claimants who are in receipt of a specified qualifying payment, range from an autumn cost of living double payment and a once off lump sum payment where applicable. The autumn cost of living double (weekly) payment applies to recipients who are in receipt of a specified qualifying payment in October 2022, while the cost-of-living lump sum payment (€500.00) applies to persons who are in receipt of a qualifying payment in November 2022.

DCA is a qualifying payment for the autumn cost of living double payment. This double (additional weekly) payment of €71.20 was issued to DCA recipients along with their October monthly payment on 18 October 2022.

DCA is not a qualifying payment for the cost-of-living lump sum payment (€500.00).  Rather, the above cost-of-living lump sum payment (€500.00) is payable to all recipients of the Carer's Support Grant (CSG), including all DCA recipients who also automatically qualify for CSG. This lump sum payment was issued to CSG recipients (including DCA recipients) on 24 November 2022.

According to the department's records, the cost of living double (weekly) payment was issued to the person concerned as an additional €71.20 with their October 2022 monthly payment 18 October 2022.

The entitlement of the person concerned to DCA and the associated CSG payment ceased at the end of October 2022.  As a result, the above cost of living lump sum payment is not payable to the person concerned as they were no longer eligible for the CSG in November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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334. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if any allowances or grace period will be made for persons who switched relevant payments shortly before the budget 2023 lump sums were issued, given that many of these persons are still disproportionally affected by the current cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60167/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I announced on Budget Day that the Government will spend €2.2 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments from January 2023.

Those measures will make a real difference in terms of protecting our most vulnerable – our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, low-income families and lone parents.

A person must be due payment in the relevant week on a relevant payment in order for my Department to process the payment through our IT systems. 

If an individual or family are struggling with additional costs, Additional Needs Payments can provide help and support to people facing financial hardship.  Under the scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment to people on a low income, whether they are working or receiving an income support, to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.