Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
381. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when a response will be issued by her Department to this Deputy in relation to a query regarding a household benefit claim (details supplied). [52207/23]
View answerThe person concerned had her entitlement to the Household Benefits Package terminated on 9th February 2016, as she stated on an application form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) that she had moved address. In subsequent conversations with the Community Welfare Officer in relation to this SWA application at the time, the person concerned stated that she moved from her address and was staying some distance away, but declined to give the address to which she had moved.
The person concerned has been sent Household Benefits Package application forms on numerous occasions since then, including as part of the response to the Deputy's query on 26 September, but has not submitted a new application to date. Her entitlement including the issue of backdating can only be examined when a completed application form is received.
I can confirm that, as requested in the email from the Deputy's office on Tuesday, 26th September 2023, a response issued directly to the person concerned later that same evening. The Deputy's Oireachtas email address was copied in this response. A further email was received from the Deputy's office later that evening and an email response issued on 28th September 2023, again to the Deputy's Oireachtas email address. The person concerned was also copied on this email.
The Household Benefits Package is a non-statutory scheme and, as such, decisions are not appealable. Decisions can be reviewed by a higher officer.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
