Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a working family payment application by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43243/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, 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 have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.

The WFP renewal claim for the person concerned was due from 26th September 2024. The renewal claim was submitted online on the 8th of October 2024. A request for further information issued to the person concerned the following day the 9th of October 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 and, if awarded, any payments owed will be issued as arrears to their nominated bank account.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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540. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when will a decision be made in relation to a disablement pension for a person (details supplied) that is under review since January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43258/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disablement Benefit is a compensatory scheme for persons who have suffered a loss of faculty due to injury arising out of and in their insurable employment. To qualify for Disablement a loss of faculty must be assessed at 15% or more.

An application for Disablement Benefit was received on the 20 June 2020. A decision issued on 2 March 2021 stating that he did not qualify for the scheme as his loss of faculty was less than 15%. The decision was reached following a medical assessment of the claim with a loss of faculty assessed at 5%.

On 9 March 2021 the claimant lodged an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On 16 June 2021 the Appeal was disallowed, and the decision of Disablement Benefit upheld. In their decision the Appeals Officer allowed the option of a review if further medical evidence became available.

On 18 January 2023 a review with further medical evidence was submitted. This review is now complete and a decision issued to the person concerned on 17 October 2024. It stated that based on the evidence supplied by the applicant, the original decision still stands. He has been offered the right the request an appeal of this decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter.