Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied) submitted to her Department in November 2022 was sent to the social welfare appeals office; the reason that supporting documentation supplied was requested again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4885/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must be providing full time care and attention, and the time spent providing care each week must not be less than 35 hours per week over 5 to 7 days.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

On 9th December 2022, the Social Welfare Appeals Office requested a submission from the Department in relation to an appeal received from the person concerned. 

In order to prepare this submission, a request for further information was issued to the person concerned on 17th January 2023 to clarify conflicting evidence regarding the number of hours being worked and the salary being received.  I can advise the Deputy that this was clarified following the receipt of new information regarding working hours and following a new means assessment.

The Department's submission was sent to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 19th January 2023.  When a decision on the appeal has been made, the client will be notified directly by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider allowing widows and widowers to claim jobseeker’s benefit for periods of unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4896/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system, including the general principle of 'one person, one payment.'  Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally, as these payments are to help them meet their income needs, he or she can receive only one of those payments.

The concurrent payment of half-rate Jobseeker's Benefit in addition to Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension was discontinued as part of Budget 2012.

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension is a weekly payment to the husband, wife or civil partner of a deceased person.  The maximum personal rate is €225.50 per week in respect of a person under age 66 years, having recently been increased following Budget 2023.  In comparison, the maximum personal weekly rate for Jobseeker's Benefit is €220.00.

The combined rates of payment if a person were to be paid both a full rate Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension and Jobseeker's Benefit, neither of which are subject to a means test, would be significantly higher than those paid to other people by my Department.

There are no plans to change the underlying principle of entitlement to allow people to claim multiple payments concurrently. 

The Deputy will be aware that I have introduced a number of once-off income support measures to assist people with the increased cost of living.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will arrange to process a fuel allowance application (details supplied). [4966/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.  One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. 

From January 2023, the new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. 

Following a means assessment, it was determined that the means were €1,351.49 which exceeded the permissible weekly means of €1,000.00.  The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on 27 January 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will arrange to process a fuel allowance application (details supplied). [4967/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 06 January 2023.  They were notified in writing on 26 January 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.