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. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.

My Department periodically reviews CA payments to ensure that there is a continued entitlement and that a customer is in receipt of the correct rate of payment. To accurately assess the means of customers, it is necessary to obtain up to date income and capital information for the customer and their spouse/partner (if applicable).

Where applicable, CA Customers are required to complete and return a Means Assessment Review form and provide relevant information and documentation to support the information supplied on the form. This information will enable a review of the existing CA payment to ensure that the customer is in receipt of the correct rate of payment. Every effort is made to complete these reviews as quickly as possible.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review for carer's allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) from County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32649/23]

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. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.

My Department periodically reviews CA payments to ensure that there is a continued entitlement and that a customer is in receipt of the correct rate of payment. To accurately assess the means of customers, it is necessary to obtain up to date income and capital information for the customer and their spouse/partner (if applicable).

Where applicable, CA Customers are required to complete and return a Means Assessment Review form and provide relevant information and documentation to support the information supplied on the form. This information will enable a review of the existing CA payment to ensure that the customer is in receipt of the correct rate of payment. Every effort is made to complete these reviews as quickly as possible.

Accordingly, a review of the payment to the person concerned was initiated on 21 February 2023 and information request letters issued on 21 April 2023 and 8 May 2023. I can confirm that some, but not all, of the information requested has been received to date.

Additional information was requested by a Deciding Officer on 26 June 2023 regarding a 2nd employment and outstanding bank details from the spouse of the person concerned. Once the information is received, the review will be completed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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404. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was not switched automatically from disability allowance to a State pension (non-contributory) on reaching the maximum allowable age limit for the allowance; if she is aware that the local office and the social welfare inspector are still conducting inquiries six months after the person's sole financial assistance was suspended; the reason for the delay in its decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32654/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over who have a legal right of residence and habitually reside in the state, and who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or only qualify for a reduced-rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

All recipients of disability allowance are informed, in writing, three months in advance of reaching state pension age, that their disability allowance payment will cease from their 66th birthday and the need, if they wish, to apply for a state pension (contributory or non-contributory). As the means assessment frameworks for disability allowance and state pension non-contributory differ, there is no automatic transfer process between these schemes.

An application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 9 December 2022. On 23 February 2023, a Social Welfare Inspector reported to the Deciding Officer that the applicant had failed to provide certain requested financial documentation. The Deciding Officer disallowed the person's application as they had failed to disclose their means.

On 9 March 2023, the case was re-activated and referred back to the Social Welfare Inspector as the Department was advised that the person had been in hospital. On 15 May 2023, the Inspector issued a communication to the person concerned requesting confirmation of the capital value of their farm or, if still farming the land, a copy of their farm accounts. To date, no reply has been received from the person concerned. The Inspector has re-issued this information request on 30 June 2023. The Inspector has been requested to expedite completion of their investigation and to contact the applicant again seeking the outstanding information.

On receipt of the Inspector’s further report, a Deciding Officer will make a determination on the eligibility of the person concerned for state pension non-contributory and the person will be notified of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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405. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the household benefits package increased to €45 per month based on 2022 figures. [32669/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers.

People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.

Based on 497,196 households in receipt of the electricity/gas element of the HHB package at the end of December 2022, increasing the gas/electricity monthly rate of €35 to €45 would cost in the region of €59.7 million in a full year.

Any decision to enhance or increase the electricity and gas aspect of the package would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the spring cost of living bonus has not yet issued to a person (details supplied) despite being promised payment within two weeks in a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32818/23]

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 who has an entitlement to a primary payment, in their own right. The Spring Cost of Living payment has already issued to over 1.2 million people.

On review of the person concerned's eligibility to the Spring Cost of living Bonus, it came to light that this person had, in fact, already received their €200 lump sum payment from their participation in the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). This was paid to their nominated post office in week ending 28 April 2023.

RSS is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in the community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishers who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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407. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of payments currently being made under the rent supplement scheme; the total cost per week; the total amount paid out under this scheme in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32832/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 8,861 active recipients at the end of May 2023.

The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Rent supplement weekly expenditure is not maintained; however a tabular statement providing the total expenditure and number of recipients at the end of December for the years: 2021 and 2022; and for the five months to the end of May 2023 is provided.

Tabular Statement 1 - Rent Supplement Recipients and Expenditure Figures

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.