Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 6th December, 2022.

I, HEATHER HUMPHREYS, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 4 (as adapted by the Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 447 of 2020 )), and by Rule 1(2)(b)(viii) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 and Rule 1(2)(b)(x) of Part 5 of Schedule 3 to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005) hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation and construction

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 15) (Earnings Disregard) Regulations 2022.

(2) These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 to 2022 shall be construed together as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 to 2022.

Definition

2. In these Regulations–

“Regulations of 2021” means the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 17) (Earnings Disregard) Regulations 2021 ( S.I. No. 783 of 2021 ).

Commencement

3. These Regulations come into operation—

(a) in so far as they relate to disability allowance, on 4 January 2023, and

(b) in so far as they relate to blind pension, on 6 January 2023.

Earnings disregard

4. The Social Welfare Consolidated Claims Payments and Control Regulations 2007 are amended—

(a) in article 147(1)(d), (amended by article 4(c) of the Regulations of 2021), by the substitution of “€165” for “€140”,

and

(b) in article 150, (amended by article 4(d) of the Regulations of 2021) —

(i) by the substitution of “150. (1)” for “150(1)(a)”,

and

(ii) in sub-article (1)(d), by the substitution of “€165” for “€140”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

30 November, 2022.

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 increases in the earning disregards from employment or self-employment, for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension arising from Budget 2023.

The earnings disregard will be increased from €140 to €165 with effect from 4 January 2023 in the case of Disability Allowance and from 6 January 2023 in the case of Blind Pension.

The Regulations also correct a minor typographical numbering misprint in article 150.