Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their working family payment application. [24458/24]

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 8^th May 2024. Further information was requested by the deciding officer on 24th May 2024. When the requested information is received, a deciding officer will review the claim and the person concerned will be advised in writing of the claim decision, if awarded, any payments owed will be issued as arrears to their nominated bank account.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there are so many reviews of persons’ entitlements to carer’s allowance causing stress and some costs in preparing submissions (details supplied); her views on whether carer’s allowance plays a major role in reducing admissions to residential care and is a major saving on the State, taking into account that the majority of people want to remain at home, with supports, if at all possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24461/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I wish to acknowledge the crucial role that Carers play in Irish society and I am fully committed to supporting all Carers in that role.

The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance (CA) is to provide an income support to Carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because of their caring responsibilities.

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.

For entitlement to exist, these conditions must be satisfied on an ongoing basis. This results in the need for periodic reviewing of claims to ensure that only those who continue to satisfy the conditions receive the payment. Additionally, a person can, at any stage, request a review of their entitlement.

The time taken to conduct a review is dependent on the type of review being carried out and the information available at the time of the request. Some reviews require more detailed investigation and interaction with the customer and this can lengthen the timeframe of the review.

However, at all times, every effort is made to conduct and complete reviews as quickly as possible to avoid causing any undue stress to the customer.

If there is a specific case which the Deputy would like examined, please send on the relevant details and my officials will assist as best they can.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an invalidity pension will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24471/24]

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 pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP from the person referred to on 1 November 2023. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Notification issued to the person concerned on 31 January 2024 informing him of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

Following the submission of further medical evidence, a deciding officer reviewed his entitlement to IP. The person concerned has now been awarded IP from 2 November 2023 and he will receive the first payment to his nominated post office on 6 June 2024. Any arrears due from 2 November 2023 to 5 June 2024 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 28 May 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review a welfare payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24495/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.

The primary social assistance scheme for people who are blind or visually impaired is the Blind Pension, which is a means-tested payment payable to those aged between 18 and 66. Blind Pension is the only income support payment designed to cater for a specific disability.

Eligibility for Blind Pension requires that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation. The scheme is designed to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their own employment ambitions, be that self-employment or insurable employment.

Means-testing of Blind Pension is a statutory requirement under social welfare legislation. The means test plays a critical role in determining if an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency - be that illness, caring, unemployment or disability.

Applying a means-test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted at those who need them most.

By its nature, the means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital. It does not take account of a person’s expenditure. In line with most social assistance payments, deductions permitted for Blind Pension include PRSI, union dues and pension contributions.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the funeral costs associated with the death of a person (details supplied) will be paid to a local undertaker, as the deceased had no family or next-of-kin. [24509/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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According to the records of the Department, an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance Assistance Towards Funeral Expenses (SWA 5), and a bill for funeral costs were submitted by a person who noted himself as a friend of the deceased person on the SWA 5 form. An application for this type of assistance must be made by the deceased person’s next of kin or the person who arranged the funeral. It was not possible to consider the claim as the application submitted listed the deceased person as the applicant, and so the claim could not be progressed.

Following your representation, a SWA application pack has been issued to the friend of the deceased person. These forms should be completed by the deceased person’s next of kin or the personal representative who arranged the funeral. When all the necessary documentation has been returned to my Department, the claim can be progressed, and the applicant will be advised of the outcome in writing. If the application is successful the payment can be made directly to the Funeral Director.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.