Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Eligibility

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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870. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps being taken to ensure that individuals facing life-limiting illnesses are not burdened by unnecessary bureaucratic procedures when applying for financial assistance as in the case of a person (details supplied). [1004/25]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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According to the records of the Department, the person concerned was initially in receipt of a Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) payment. Upon cessation of this payment, the person concerned submitted three claim applications for financial assistance to the Department; Disability Allowance (DA), Invalidity Pension and basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). Disability Allowance and basic SWA are both mean-assessed payments. As part of the application process for these payments, a person is asked to provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of each claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.

I can confirm that on review of all three applications, the person concerned has been awarded an Invalidity Pension at the new weekly rate from 02/01/2025. Their first payment including any arrears due issued to their nominated bank account on 16/01/2024. Arrears will be paid at the previous weekly rate from 12/12/2024, which is the day following their last working day. A letter advising the person concerned of this outcome has issued to them on 07/01/2024.

The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The person concerned application for a basic SWA has been closed as their primary payment, Invalidity Pension, has now been awarded.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties with cost of living/household/essential expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income, it is open to make an Additional Needs Payment application by completing a SWA1 form and providing any necessary supporting documentation. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.

I understand that a Designated Person contacted the person concerned on 08/01/2025 to discuss the outcome of their applications further, as well as to advise them of any other financial assistance that may be available to both the person concerned and their family. The Designated Person has provided her contact details to the person concerned and remains available to be contacted directly to discuss any information pertaining to available assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Danny Healy-RaeDanny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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871. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider updating the rule regarding fuel allowance for those on benefit payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1023/25]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year). It is paid from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €400 million in 2025. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty.

Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, as in the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment due to illness. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid. Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.

Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). Recipients of both of these payments are eligible for Fuel Allowance, subject to fulfilling all other qualifying criteria.

Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the Fuel Allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.

My Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources. Additional Needs Payments, where appropriate, can be paid to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. Also under this scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income.

Additional Needs Payments are not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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