Written Answers. - Equal Treatment Arrears.
Austin Deasy
Question:
35
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the estimated number of qualifying applicants for equal treatment arrears payments; the number of applications received; the number who have received payment; and if he will ensure that payment will issue promptly.
The provisions for paying equal treatment arrears to married women for the period December 1984 to November 1986 are contained in the European Communities (Social Welfare) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 152 of 1992). The Regulations provide for (a) the payment of a higher personal rate in the case of certain social welfare payments, (b) the extended duration of unemployment benefit, (c) payment of a household supplement in respect of a dependent husband and-or dependent children and (d) payment of unemployment assistance.
In accordance with the legislative provisions payment of arrears is being made on a phased basis in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Phase 1 provides for the payment of arrears in respect of the higher personal rates and extended duration of unemployment benefit while Phase 2 provides for the payment of arrears of household supplement in respect of dependants and the payment of unemployment assistance. The legislation provides for Phase 2 arrears to be paid in two equal instalments—the first instalment to be paid not later than 31 December 1993 and the second instalment to be paid not later than 1 July 1994 with amounts of less than £100 to be paid in full in 1993.
A total of 85,340 applications for equal treatment arrears were received and all these have been processed for Phase 1 entitlement except for a small number of cases where additional enquiries had to be made to determine entitlement. Some 17,100 applicants were not eligible for Phase 1 payments. These consisted mainly of widows, wives separated from their husbands and married women who had claims or who were single during the relevant period. A small number of claims are still being received each week and these claims, while technically late, are being accepted. The number of applicants eligible for Phase 1 payments was 67,755 and 67,554 have been paid. Payments are issued once a week.
Processing of arrears of household supplement due under Phase 2 of the provisions commenced last April. To date some 17,700 applications have been processed. Of those 11,200 were entitled to payment and the remaining 6,500 were not entitled to household supplement. Those not entitled to Household Supplement fall into two categories—(a) a married woman with no child dependants and whose husband was not considered a dependant because he was earning in excess of £50 a week, and (b) a married woman whose husband was in receipt of a social welfare payment during the relevant period. As regards the latter category the husband received the full household supplement for child dependants on his claim at the time and in such cases the household supplement is deemed to be fully paid to both spouses. A total of 10,730 applicants have received their Phase 2 entitlements. A further 67,640 claims have yet to be determined for Phase 2 entitlements. Based on experience to date between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of these cases will be eligible for payment.
Payments of arrears due are being made within the timescale provided for in the legislation. Those qualifying for payments are being paid promptly after decisions have been made on their claims. In summary almost all of the eligible Phase 1 claims received have been paid. As regards Phase 2 cases, 17,700 have been examined and, of the 63 per cent of those eligible for payment, almost all have been paid. A further 67,640 cases will be reviewed for Phase 2 entitlements over the next six months and eligible cases will be paid promptly.
