S.I. No. 571/2023 - Social Welfare (Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Provisions) Regulations 2023

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 24th November, 2023.

I, HEATHER HUMPHREYS, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 4 (amended by section 10 of the Social Welfare Act 2020 (No. 30 of 2020)) and 292 (amended by section 1 of the Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Act 2023 (No. 13 of 2023)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005), with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Support Grant) (Temporary Provisions) Regulations 2023.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations—

“Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 ;

“relevant date” means in relation to carer’s support grant—

(i) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer on the basis of an entitlement to carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, or a payment under section 186A of the Principal Act during the period commencing on 30 November 2023 and expiring on 6 December 2023, 1 June 2023;

(ii) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer on the basis of an entitlement to domiciliary care allowance during the period commencing on 1 November 2023 and expiring on 30 November 2023, 1 June 2023;

(iii) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer under paragraph (c), and who on 27 November 2023 is providing full-time care and attention to a person who is in receipt of an increase of disablement pension under section 78 in respect of the need for constant attendance, 1 June 2023; and

(iv) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer under paragraphs (d), or (e), and who on 1 June 2023 has established an entitlement to payment under articles 163, 164, and 165 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 142 of 2007 ), and who on 27 November 2023 is still providing care to a relevant person under section 224(1), 1 June 2023;

“relevant week” means—

(a) in relation to disability allowance, the period commencing on 22 November 2023 and expiring on 28 November 2023,

(b) in relation to invalidity pension, the period commencing on 23 November 2023 and expiring on 29 November 2023, and

(c) in relation to blind pension, the period commencing on 24 November 2023 and expiring on 30 November 2023.

Temporary variation of rates of certain social welfare payments

3. (1) This article applies to a person who is, or becomes, entitled to a payment specified in article 4 of these Regulations in respect of the relevant date or the relevant week, as the case may be.

(2) Where sub-article (1) of this article applies, the amount payable in respect of the relevant date or the relevant week, as the case may be, shall be increased by €400.

(3) A person shall not be entitled to an increase in accordance with sub-article (2) of this article in respect of more than one payment specified in article 4 of these Regulations.

Specified payments

4. The following payments are specified for the purposes of article 3(1) of these Regulations—

(a) invalidity pension,

(b) blind pension,

(c) disability allowance,

(d) carer’s support grant.

The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

16 November, 2023.

PASCHAL DONOHOE,

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

16 November, 2023.

HEATHER HUMPHREYS,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the payment of a bonus to recipients of disability allowance, blind pension, invalidity pension, and carer’s support grant in November 2023.

The amount of the bonus is €400 in addition to the normal payment that is due to the recipient.