Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

198. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the up-to-date position regarding an application for the one-parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37041/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of supports to assist an eligible person who is parenting alone including the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, described below:

• One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age.
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme which a person may qualify for if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the up-to-date position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37042/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

According to my Department's records, an application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) has not been received from the person concerned to date. However, an application form (Dom Care 1) has now been posted to this person. The form is also available to download online at www.gov.ie or can be requested at any Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office, or Citizens Information Centre.

New DCA claims are currently taking an average of 6 weeks to process from date of receipt of application.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

200. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for an exceptional needs payment can issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37043/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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).

My 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 CWS considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

Departmental records show that the person concerned has not made a recent application for assistance under the SWA scheme. If the person concerned is 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 persons home address. On receipt of a completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim will be assessed, and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account, they can apply for an ANP at .

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

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for rent supplement will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37048/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Rent Supplement (RS) scheme administered by my Department, 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 responsibility for the provision of rent support to those with a long-term housing need has transferred from the Department of Social Protection to the local authorities. 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).

Amongst other qualifying conditions for RS, a person must be fully unemployed or in part time employment only. A person cannot qualify for RS if they are in full time employment of 30 hours or more per week.

As previously advised to the Deputy in my reply to Dáil Question 1347, the person concerned applied for RS and their claim was disallowed on the basis that they are in full time employment. The person concerned was advised of this outcome in writing on 15/07/2024.

It is open to the person concerned to request an appeal of this decision in writing, including any facts/evidence/documentation in support of their case, to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin, D02 XY3. The Social Welfare Appeals office operates independently of this Department.

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. SWA payments are means tested and are administered by Community Welfare Officers in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties with household/cost-of-living expenses, it is open to them to make an application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at . Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account, they can apply for an ANP at .

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for the lone parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37047/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of supports to assist an eligible person who is parenting alone including the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, described below:

• One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age.
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme which a person may qualify for if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.