Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

632. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on a carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44022/24]

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

Carer's Allowance 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.

I can confirm that two applications for Carer's Allowance were received from the person concerned on 22 October 2024.

The person concerned was awarded Carer's Allowance in respect of two carees from 24 October 2024.

The first payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person concerned on 31 October 2024.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 24 October 2024.

I hope this clarifies the position for the deputy.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

633. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the supports that are in place for recently retired people who were Civil Service and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995; if she is considering changing the rules to allow this cohort apply for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44023/24]

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

Matters relating to civil and public sector pension schemes are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. However, it should be noted that public service agreements relating to pay entitles civil and public sector pensioners covered by those agreements to pension increases.

In general, public servants recruited prior to 1995 paid a modified or reduced rate of PRSI Class (i.e., not the full Class A rate). Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment.

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. A person eligible for the LAI will receive the full €22 supplement even if they are not in receipt of the maximum rate of their primary payment.

For those aged 66 or over, payments eligible for the LAI include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit. LAI is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.

There are no circumstances where the LAI can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department or who do not meet the living alone eligibility criteria.

The Free Travel pass is available to everyone aged 66 or over who lives in Ireland, irrespective of whether they are in receipt of a social welfare payment or not.

The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Household Benefits Package is available to all those aged 70 or over, subject to one package per household. Furthermore, the package is available to those aged 66-69 who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment, subject to satisfying a means test.

In 2023 I enhanced the Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions for those aged 70 or over. The enhanced qualifying conditions included that a person aged over 70 no longer has to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, thus allowing those in receipt of only a public service pension to qualify for the payment for the first time, where they satisfy the means test and other qualifying conditions. As part of Budget 2025, I announced that from January 2025, the enhanced Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions will now be available to those aged 66 and over, which will allow more retired public servants to qualify for the payment.

Finally, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and can include payments towards essential heating or repair costs.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.