The timing of means testing an allowance for applicants seeking international protection has been justified by the Minister of Social Protection, reports Breaking News.
Asylum seekers living in state-provided housing have been subject to a means test for daily expenditures allowance since June.
Previously, applicants were eligible for a weekly stipend of up to €38.80, but this is now based on their income.
For those earning more over €60 a week, the rate is lowered, and for those making more than €125, it is completely eliminated, reports Breaking News.
A few weeks prior to the local and European elections, Minister Heather Humphreys—who has held the position since 2020—announced the means test for the stipend.
But since 2018, the State has been able to implement means testing for these kinds of payments.
“There was a lot going on,” the minister responded when asked why she had not put the legislation into effect sooner, reports Breaking News.
“A lot of things have happened in the Department of Social Protection since 2020,” she continued. We were in the midst of the epidemic, which included the conflict in Ukraine and the pandemic unemployment benefit.
When she learnt of the restrictions in April after the Comptroller and Auditor General’s examination, Ms. Humphreys claimed she “immediately signed the regulations.”
She added: “Since then, 5,000 payments have been stopped and we will continue to means test from now,” reports Breaking News.
When asked how much money the taxpayers lost because the payouts were not means tested before this year, she stated she was not aware of the exact amount.
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