Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the contribution conditions.

The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 28 September 2023 and will receive their first payment to their nominated bank account on 30 November 2023. Any arrears due from 28 September 2023 to 29 November 2023 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 16 November 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the extension of parental benefit from seven to nine weeks from August 2024, will give the extra two weeks also to children born up to two years before the commencement date. [51026/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Currently, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.

In Budget 2024, the Government provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks for each parent from August 2024.

My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legal responsibility for Parent's Leave. I have responsibility for Parent's Benefit and the associated changes.

The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age two in August 2024 or, in the case of adoption, where less than two years have passed since the child's placement.

Parents of children who turn two during the month of August 2024, or adoptive children who have been with their parents for less than two years at that point, are entitled to the additional two weeks Parent’s Benefit. Applications for the additional two weeks in these cases must be made before their child’s second birthday, or before the second anniversary of the child's adoption.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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345. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51034/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work income support 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 has been received by the Department from the person concerned. This application was examined by a deciding officer and further information was requested on 17th May 2023. The additional information has not yet been received by the Department. A second request for the required information issued on 3rd July 2023 which also advised that a decision could not be made on their WFP claim until their partner’s Jobseekers Allowance Claim - which is currently under appeal - had been completed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. A third notification issued on 25^thAugust 2023 advising the person concerned a decision on the WFP could not be made until the appeal for Jobseekers Allowance was completed.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been received. This appeal has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.

When a decision has been made on this Appeal, a deciding officer will review the WFP claim and the person concerned will be advised in writing of the decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.