Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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944.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payment status for a person (details supplied) entitles them to a free television licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34234/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package consists of the Free TV licence and the Electricity or Gas allowance.

To qualify for the Household Benefits Package, an applicant under 66 years of age must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant to be in receipt of one of the following payments:

- Disability Allowance

- Invalidity Pension

- Blind Pension

- Carer’s Allowance (if living with the person being cared for)

- Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months)

- Equivalent Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with

AND

  • If applicable, living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
An applicant’s spouse/civil partner or cohabitant must be a “Qualified Adult”.

A spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is regarded as a “Qualified Adult” for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package if:
  • The applicant is receiving an increase for a Qualified Adult with their social welfare payment for this person, or would have received an increase but for the fact that the spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in their own right.
OR
  • The spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right
OR
  • A means test is satisfied, if the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is on a benefit payment or is aged over 66.
The person concerned can apply online at MyWelfare.ie for the Household Benefits Package if they have a verified MyGovID account, or they can complete an application form.

Application forms are available to download from the Gov.ie website or, alternatively, from any Intreo Centre or by contacting the Household Benefits Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at householdbenefits@welfare.ie.

On receipt of their claim, the person's entitlement will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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945.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied).[34239/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that an application for DCA in respect of their child was received by my Department from the person concerned on 5 June 2024.

Following a successful application, DCA was awarded with effect from 1 July 2024 (month following receipt of the application) as provided for under legislation and the person concerned was notified of that decision in writing on 4 July 2024.

The applicant requested a review in relation to the backdating of the award date of their claim.

Following a review, including the subsequent correspondence received from the applicant in support of their request for backdating, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the effective award date of 1 July 2024, as per review decision dated 14 August 2024. The person concerned was notified of this review decision in writing on 14 August 2024 and of their right to request a further review and / or to appeal the decision.

A request for a further review in relation to the backdating of the award date, including additional information in support of their request, was subsequently received from the person concerned.

Following this review, a Deciding Officer decided to revise the effective date of award and backdated the entitlement by 2 months, effective to 1 May 2024, as per further decision dated 03 September 2024. Backdating of entitlement (2 months) was allowed, as provided for under social welfare legislation, following consideration of the additional information that was subsequently submitted by the person concerned in their further correspondence.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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