Vol. 428 No. 1
160 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be granted mortgage supplement payments from her local health board through supplementary welfare allowance funds; and when a decision will be given in this regard.
It is understood from the SouthEastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the Wexford area, that an application for mortgage supplement from the person in question is currently being examined. The board has advised that it will contact the person shortly in order to complete its investigation. A decision will issue as soon as the investigation is concluded.
161 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the regulations in relation to mortgage supplement payments payable through supplementary welfare allowance in the health boards; and if he has satisfied himself that all health boards are applying similar guidelines in this regard.
Under section 209 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, a supplement may be paid to a person whose means are insufficient to meet his needs. Regulations made under this Act provide, inter alia, that a person may receive a supplement in respect of the interest portion of his mortgage commitment.
Entitlement to supplements is determined by the Health Boards and the supplement is calculated so that, after payment of mortgage interest, the person has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his family size less £5.
Guidelines have been issued by my Department to assist health boards in assessing applications for such supplements. The guidelines indicate the factors which should be taken into consideration by health boards in assessing applications.
An advisory group has been established under the chairmanship of my Department with representatives from all health boards. The task of the group is to review all aspects of the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme with a view to achieving consistency in the operation of the scheme across all boards. The group is currently completing an examination of the guidelines on rent and mortgage supplementation and revised guidelines will be published later this year.
