Written answer
Social Welfare Payments
The Government plans to extend post-death social welfare payments from six to 12 weeks during its term, with some schemes already providing longer continuation.
104. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending the continuation period for social welfare payments from six weeks to 12 weeks. [67652/26]
Comment on this
The Government has agreed a number of commitments that are to be achieved over the lifetime of the Government. One of the proposals in the Programme for Government is to extend the period of payment after death from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
While, in general, across social welfare schemes payment continues for a period of 6 weeks after death, there are some exceptions, with some payments already paid for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the recipient. For example, with Carer’s Allowance, payment continues for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for, while in the case of Domiciliary Care Allowance, payment continues for a period of 3 months after the death of the recipient.
This measure will be progressed over the lifetime of the Government.