Written answers

Wednesday, 17 May 2023

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance claim in view of the circumstances in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23361/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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.

Firstly, I understand the care recipient has passed away and my Department offers sincere condolences to the bereaved family.

I can confirm that an application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 21 April 2023.

The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector on 25 April 2023 to determine the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are satisfied. 

Once the Social Welfare Inspector has reported regarding the relevant conditions remaining, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider allowing those who are paying Class S PRSI to make additional voluntary contributions to allow them access to illness benefit, given the increased awareness and necessity for persons to isolate when ill from many illnesses, and the increasing number of persons in this group who are on low or middle incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23381/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. Such contributors are currently covered for a wide range of social insurance benefits including State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity, adoptive and paternity benefits, treatment benefits, invalidity pension, partial capacity benefit if in receipt of invalidity pension, jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) and parent’s benefit.

Since 2017, self-employed contributors have gained access to a number of social insurance benefits such as invalidity pension, treatment benefit, jobseeker's benefit (self-employed), paternity and parent's benefit, without any increase in their rate of contribution. With respect to the level of contribution to the social insurance fund by self-employed workers, they are now covered for most of the social insurance benefits available - representing approximately 93% of the value of all available benefits - in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than that made in respect of employed contributors. 

In view of the significant increased access to a range of social insurance benefits in recent years, without any associated increase in the rate of contribution by self-employed workers, access to the remaining benefits, including illness benefit, would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the context of any future proposals for changes to social insurance contribution rates to underpin the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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