Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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401. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a working family payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21324/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.

An application for WFP was received by the department on 6th April 2023 and this was examined by a deciding officer. The person concerned was in receipt of another scheme incompatible with WFP until 11th April 2023. The WFP claim was therefore awarded for the 52-week period from 13th April 2023. The person concerned has been advised in writing of their award and arrears have issued to their nominated bank account.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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402. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) and make contact with the relevant party to find a solution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21330/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, this Department may make Additional Needs Payments (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 the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

In this instance a CWO visited the person concerned at their home on 04/05/2023 to assist with the claim. The person advised that they had already acquired the appliance with use of a temporary loan from their brother and provided a receipt dated 19/04/2023. The person has been asked to provide confirmation of this arrangement from their brother and further telephone contact was made with her on 08/05/2023. As soon as this information is provided, the person’s claim will be assessed, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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403. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to enable full-time carers who are also pensioners to access the State pension (non-contributory) €200 cost-of-living lump sum payment as well as the carer's allowance cost-of-living lump sum payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21346/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.

In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing Monday 24th April 2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.

If a person receives more than one qualifying social welfare payment, they will receive only one €200 lump sum payment. Each eligible primary recipient of a social welfare payment receives one €200, regardless of the number of dependents (qualified adult or children) if any, or other social welfare payments.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.