Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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379. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker’s allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56264/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Person Concerned is in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance since 15th November 2023

Their Current Rate is :

Personal Rate : €220.00 + Qualified Adult €146.00 + Qualified Child €42.00 = Total €408.00

Means from the Qualified Adults employment were assessed at €280.00, these are deducted weekly.

Total Payable weekly to The Person Concerned is €128.00.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether an exceptional needs payment might be made available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56265/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a range of supports provided by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).

The Department may make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons (DP) in the Community Welfare Service considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

Departmental records show that the persons concerned have not made an application for assistance under the SWA scheme. If they are experiencing financial difficulties they can apply for assistance by completing a SWA1 form and providing all relevant documents in support of their application. For convenience, an application pack has been posted to each of the persons concerned. On receipt of a completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim/s will be assessed, and the person/s will be advised of the outcome in writing. Alternatively, if the persons concerned have a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.

Further information on all of my Department’s schemes and payments is available at www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for review of carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56266/23]

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 application for CA was received from the person concerned on 28 November 2023.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 4 December 2023.

Once the information is received, the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The person concerned did have a previous CA claim in relation to same caree, which was stopped as per their own request to the Department on 26 September 2022 as they had taken up full-time employment at that time.

A letter issued to the person concerned to advise that they were no longer entitled to CA with effect from 12 October 2022 and that the last payment would issue on 6 October 2022. The person concerned was notified of this on 6 October 2022, the reasons for it and of their right of review/appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision might be made in respect of an application for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56269/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 30 November 2023. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

As their initial application did not contain all the information required to make a decision on entitlement, an information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 11 December 2023 to supply this supporting documentation. This is required to determine their eligibility for DA. The information request letter allows the person concerned 21 days to provide the required information in order to determine the eligibility for DA.

On receipt of this information, a decision will be made and they will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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383. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether a person (details supplied) qualifies for an exceptional needs payment, submitted via this office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56278/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP to assist with rent arrears. A request for the following information in support of the claim has issued to the person:

• Letter from landlord confirming a repayment plan for the arrears has been agreed.
• Copy of rent arrears.
• Verification of address, e.g., copy of lease/rent book or utility bill.

Amongst other qualifying criteria, a RS applicant must have been living in private rented housing for a period of 183 days within the previous 12 months of the date of their application.

Persons with a long-term housing need should contact their local authority where information is available regarding suitable housing supports including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

The following documentation has been requested from the person concerned in support of their claim:

• RS1 form completed by person concerned and their landlord.
• Proof of rent for 6 out of the past 12 months.
• Tenancy agreement.
• Two utility bills.
• Six-months statement for all financial accounts held.
• Proof of ownership from the landlord.

I trust this clarifies the matter.