Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys, has confirmed that payments to 5,000 daily allowance beneficiaries seeking asylum have ceased following means tests. Humphreys defended the timing of introducing the measure and stated that she approved the regulations promptly once the matter was brought to her notice.
The daily expenses allowance underwent an income assessment last month amidst governmental apprehension that employed refugees were still availing it. An individual applying for international protection and residing in housing provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), or on a waiting list for it, is entitled to a weekly allowance of €38.80 for an adult and €29.80 for a child. There is a higher rate of €113.80 per week for an adult who is on standby for an IPAS housing unit and does not have other lodging.
In 2018, a law was enacted requiring the Department of Social Protection to perform a means test after an applicant has been earning income for a minimum of 12 weeks, and consequently to moderate or cease the allowance if financial circumstances increase. In defence of the delay, Humphreys mentioned various significant developments in social protection in recent years, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the arrival of refugees from Ukraine.
Upon identifying the issue, Humphreys immediately ratified the regulations, resulting in a stoppage of payments to 5000 recipients and maintained that means testing continues to be performed on a weekly basis.
The Deputy Leader of Fine Gael admitted that she didn’t have the statistics immediately available regarding the amount her department has lost since 2018. Her comments were made at Connolly Station in Dublin while meeting the inaugural recipients of the new travel pass; a scheme aimed at those prevented medically from driving. As of this week, the scheme is expanding to include individuals who have never been able to drive because of a disability, and licensed drivers medically deemed unfit to drive for 12 or more months.
In a separate note, Ms Humphreys asserted that she was fully aware of the Government’s decision to allocate €14 million from the Department of Social Protection towards TV licences, as part of the RTÉ rescue plan. She announced that the money would fund free TV licences for the elderly, a growing population, and would be incorporated into the 2025 Budget. Dismissing rumours of her surprise at the decision, she dismissed them as pure conjecture.
She confidently stated: “I am perfectly capable of advocating for myself without being caught unawares; I presented the case for my Department of Social Protection and I will not shy away from ensuring the country’s pensioners receive the free TV licence.”
Furthermore, Hughpreys commented that while the current government wouldn’t introduce pay-related maternity benefits, it’s certainly an ideal that should be contemplated for the future governance.