Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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335. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the grants or payments that can be made to a person (details supplied). [60188/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments 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 the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. Assistance can be provided for fuel costs where there are no other supports available.

The schemes are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the schemes 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. 

Anyone who struggles with heating costs is entitled to make an application for a payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance schemes. I would encourage them 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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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336. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider, with the pensions changes being proposed, that the treatment benefit scheme be extended to all recipients of the contributory State pension regardless of all types of contributions paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60194/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Treatment Benefit is a social insurance scheme provided by this Department. Under this scheme, eligible contributors can access dental and optical services, and grants towards certain medical appliances (hearing aids, medical lenses or wigs).

Contributions made under social insurance (PRSI) Classes A, E, P, H or S count towards eligibility for Treatment Benefit. The amount of social insurance contributions required depends on the person's age.

People who qualify for Treatment Benefit at age 60–65 can keep that entitlement for life.

Currently, people over 66 years of age must have -

- 260 PRSI contributions paid at any time, and 39 paid or credited contributions in the relevant tax year or the year immediately before it; or

- 260 PRSI contributions paid at any time and 26 paid contributions in both the relevant tax year and the year immediately before it.

The relevant tax year in this case is the second last completed tax year before reaching 66 years of age.

People who satisfy either of these conditions when they reach pension age will remain qualified for life.

Many people on State Pension (Contributory) satisfy these requirements already. However, some retired people who paid contributions under different PRSI classes do not qualify for Treatment Benefit. Most of these paid contributions in Class B, C and D.

Treatment Benefit is financed through the Social Insurance Fund. This Fund has been depleted due to the significant costs associated with Covid-19. The Programme for Government commits to giving consideration to increasing contributions from all classes of PRSI over time to replenish the Social Insurance Fund. I am not considering changing the qualifying criteria for Treatment Benefit at this time.

Any proposal to further extend the Treatment Benefit scheme would have to be considered in a financial and budgetary context, taking account of the prevailing economic circumstances, with a view to the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.