Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Ivan Yates
Question:
96
Mr. Yates
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the proposals, if any, he has to increase the level of units to certain categories of pensioners who live alone under the free electricity allowance scheme where there is medical certification of extreme hardship whereby special heating or other needs arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7518/99]
The free electricity allowance is available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are either in receipt of a welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy this condition. It is also available to people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type pensions. In addition, widows/widowers between the ages of 60 and 65, whose late spouses were in receipt of the allowance, retain that entitlement.
The free electricity allowance covers a standard number of units, up to 1,500 each year, in addition to the normal standing charges. VAT due on this standard allowance is also covered. The value of the allowance, if fully taken up, is £154.09 per annum.
One of the qualifying conditions for the free electricity allowance is that the applicant must be living alone or living only with certain excepted people. If the applicant is disabled and residing with someone who provides them with full-time care and attention, medical certification of the applicant's disability must be supplied. Applicants for the free electricity allowance, who are living alone, are not required to submit any form of medical certification with their applications. The allowance is a standard one provided to all recipients and there is no provision in the scheme to vary this allowance to cater for special needs associated with the medical condition of the recipient.
There are currently no proposals to change the free electricity allowance scheme. A major review of the free schemes has just commenced and the question of providing for special needs will be considered in the context of this review. The review will be completed later this year and will then be considered in a budgetary context.
There is already provision for special heating needs through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Under this scheme, a person who has special heating needs due to ill health or infirmity, may qualify for a heating supplement which can be paid in addition to other social welfare payments, including the free electricity allowance. An application for a heating supplement may be made by contacting the community welfare officer at the local health centre.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
97
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Sligo who is in receipt of unemployment assistance applied in September 1998 for a dependant's allowance in respect of his son; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a social welfare officer called and interviewed the applicant in his rented accommodation in February 1999 and no decision had been made in respect of the claim by 4 March; if these delays are normal in terms of processing claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7529/99]
On 15 October 1998 the person concerned, who was receiving an unemployment assistance payment, applied to his local Social Welfare Office for child dependent allowance in respect of his dependent child.
The claimant and his wife are separated. His wife is in receipt of child dependent allowance on her deserted wife's benefit payment in respect of the child concerned. Where a couple are separated, child dependent allowance is paid to the parent with whom the child is normally resident. It was necessary to interview the person concerned to verify the circumstances. In the normal course of events this would be done more quickly. However, in this case it proved difficult, mainly because he changed his address on a number of occasions and failed to attend for interview when this had been scheduled for him. He was finally interviewed on 5 March 1999.
It has now been decided that the person concerned was entitled to a child dependent allowance in respect of his child from 24 September 1998. Payment of child dependent allowance and any arrears due will issue to him within the next ten days.
