John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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445. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused the farm assist payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28849/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Farm Assist is a means-tested payment for low-income farmers. To qualify for Farm Assist, you must be a farmer in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. Farm income and income from off-farm employment is assessed as part of the means test.

Any income from self-employment, either the claimants or their partners, will also be assessed.

The person concerned applied for Farm Assist on 18/03/2025.

Following a report from the Social Welfare Inspector, the claim was disallowed as their means were in excess of the rate due for his family composition. These means are derived from Insurable Employment with Farm Relief Services (FRS) and his on-farm income.

The Person Concerned then requested a review which was completed on the 21/05/2025 and the decision remained unchanged.

The Person Concerned Appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 22/05/2025. The Social Welfare Appeals Office will contact the Person Concerned directly when they reach a decision.

Persons that do not qualify for a payment, may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). To make a claim for SWA, the person concerned should contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre or Branch office.