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Stronger residency rules for welfare benefits in Ireland
Mariana Andrei - Communication Coordinator
8 July 2014
Tougher residency requirements for entitlement to child benefit and other welfare payments were included in a new Irish draft legislation regarding social welfare and pensions, according to Irish Times. This will lead to longer processing times for applications and longer waiting times for the potential welfare customers. The draft legislation will be debated next week.
Anyone claiming welfare benefits must be able to prove they were resident in Ireland not just at the time of application, but for the entire period the payment is claimed for. The change will not affect any non-Irish nationals currently in receipt of benefits, nor will it affect the payment of child benefit for non-resident children of EU migrant workers.
Another measure contained in the proposed legislation is a provision that families who qualify for the family income supplement will continue to receive the payment for a year, even if they have an increase in earnings. The supplement is an aid for employees on low pay with children. Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton stated in Irish Times that the draft legislation also includes new measures to recover social welfare over-payments. According to the Minister, the majority of social welfare customers received only the payment to which they were entitled.
There is also a provision for an extension of social insurance, to cover spouses. At the moment, the social welfare code excludes certain relatives, including spouses and civil partners, of self-employed contributors.
Problems regarding foreign citizens' rights to welfare benefits proved controversial not only in Ireland, but also in other countries, like the UK, particularly after severe public spending cuts.
Source:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/stronger-residency-rules-for-welfare-benefits-1.1817031#.U44V8bNn6r0.facebook
Anyone claiming welfare benefits must be able to prove they were resident in Ireland not just at the time of application, but for the entire period the payment is claimed for. The change will not affect any non-Irish nationals currently in receipt of benefits, nor will it affect the payment of child benefit for non-resident children of EU migrant workers.
Another measure contained in the proposed legislation is a provision that families who qualify for the family income supplement will continue to receive the payment for a year, even if they have an increase in earnings. The supplement is an aid for employees on low pay with children. Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton stated in Irish Times that the draft legislation also includes new measures to recover social welfare over-payments. According to the Minister, the majority of social welfare customers received only the payment to which they were entitled.
There is also a provision for an extension of social insurance, to cover spouses. At the moment, the social welfare code excludes certain relatives, including spouses and civil partners, of self-employed contributors.
Problems regarding foreign citizens' rights to welfare benefits proved controversial not only in Ireland, but also in other countries, like the UK, particularly after severe public spending cuts.
Source:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/stronger-residency-rules-for-welfare-benefits-1.1817031#.U44V8bNn6r0.facebook
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