Dermot Ahern
Question:143 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up to date position regarding payment of arrears under the equality payments directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Equal Treatment Arrears.
Dermot Ahern
Question:148 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare when equal treatment arrears will be paid; the manner in which these payments will be made; if cases are being dealt with on a phased basis, the factors which determines the reason one case is dealt with before another; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 143 and 148 together.
Claimants with a potential entitlement to arrears under the Equal Treatment Arrears provisions were identified from the Department's records and issued with claim forms in June and July 1992. A total of 84,500 completed claim forms have been received.
The Equal Treatment Regulations provide for payment of arrears on a phased basis in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Phase 1 payments, which include arrears in respect of the higher personal rates of benefit and extra duration of unemployment benefit, commenced in August 1992. Some 68,500 claims have been processed to date and payments have issued to almost 53,000 claimants. Phase 1 payments are now expected to be completed by the end of March 1993.
Phase 2 payments provide for the payment of household supplement in respect of adult and child dependants and also for the payment of unemployment assistance. These are to be paid in two equal instalments — the first instalment before 31 December 1993 and the second instalment before 1 July 1994. Amounts of less than £100 will be paid in full in 1993.
Claims are processed in the order in which they were received and registered in the Department. However, delays may occur in some cases where further details of the claimant's circumstances during the relevant period have to be ascertained.