Michael Ring
Question:109 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the medical criteria a person needs to satisfy for receipt of a disability allowance. [10047/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Michael Ring
Question:110 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the way in which an application for a disability allowance could have been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo when the medical examiner did not physically assess or even see the applicant; and if he will give details of the exact medical assessement of this person. [10048/97]
Michael Ring
Question:111 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether all applicants for a disability allowance are physically seen by a medical examiner before a decision is made on their application. [10049/97]
Michael Ring
Question:112 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the average length of time it would take for an application for a disability allowance to be processed, including a medical examination. [10050/97]
Michael Ring
Question:113 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Mayo could have been medically assessed for a disability allowance without actually being physically seen by a doctor, when his own general practitioner certifies this man is not capable of work; the reason it took four months from the date this person's application was received by his Department before he was seen by a medical examiner; when an oral hearing will be scheduled for this man in view of the fact that his application has already taken six months to process so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10051/97]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos.109, 110, 111, 112 and 113 together. An application for disability allowance was received in my Department from the person concerned on 13 November 1996. A medical assessor of the Department then examined the case and, taking into account the medical details outlined by the person's doctor on the application form, considered that he did not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of disability allowance. A deciding officer decided on 29 January 1997 that the person did not satisfy the medical conditions for receipt of disability allowance.
The person concerned appealed this decision and the appeal was received at the social welfare appeals office on 12 February 1997. The appeals officer, having considered the grounds of appeal, decided that a medical examination was warranted. Accordingly on 12 March 1997 he was examined by a medical assessor who considered that he did not satisfy the necessary medical criteria.
An oral hearing of the person's case has been arranged to take place in Westport in the week commencing 26 May 1997. He will be informed directly of the time and venue as soon as arrangements are in place.
To qualify for disability allowance a person must be suffering from an injury, disease, illness or physical or mental disability which has continued or is likely to continue for at least one year. As a result of this condition a person must be substantially handicapped in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to age, experience and qualifications.
The evaluation of the medical condition is conducted by my Department's medical assessors who are qualified and experienced medical practitioners. They examine each case on its merits and advise a deciding officer whether in their opinion, a particular applicant meets the criteria and where doubt exists they recommend that a formal medical examination be undertaken.
In a small number of cases, where the available medical evidence suggests that the incapacity is of a mild, moderate or short-term nature they may advise, without conducting a further examination, that the medical criteria are not met.
The majority of disability allowance cases are decided within six weeks. However, where medical examinations and/or appeals are involved the timescale can be significantly longer. In this case the period between date of claim, 13 November 96, and decision issuing, 29 January 97, was 11 weeks. This delay was primarily due to the fact that following the transfer of the disability allowance scheme to my Department backlogs arose because of a higher than anticipated volume of new claims and additional work arising in the transfer process.
Ivor Callely
Question:114 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of recipients with a Dublin address in receipt of social welfare payments; if he will give a breakdown of this figure under the various schemes; if he will give comparative figures for 1992 and 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10129/97]
The information requested by the Deputy is compiled at the end of each year. The position at the end of 1996, 1992 and 1989 is contained in the following table.
The table shows that there has been a steady increase in the numbers of people in receipt of contributory pensions, either old age or retirement, and a steady decrease in the numbers of people in receipt of means-tested old age non-contributory pensions, reflecting the growing importance of social insurance.
There has also been an increase in the number of recipients of invalidity pension and a corresponding decrease in the numbers in receipt of disability benefit. This reflects the movement of people from disability benefit to invalidity pensons in cases of very long-term illness so that they are no longer obliged to produce medical certificates on a regular basis to maintain their payments.
The significant increase in the number of recipients of contributory widow's and widower's pensions is largely because of the extension of coverage to widowers from October 1994.
The steady increase in the numbers of people parenting alone during the period in question is reflected in the increased numbers of people in receipt of the one parent family payment.
Recipients in Dublin.
|
Scheme |
1996 |
1992 |
1989 |
|
Old Age Contributory Pension |
25,894 |
28,204 |
28,900 |
|
Retirement Pension |
21,140 |
15,291 |
11,440 |
|
Sub-total: Old Age and Retirement |
47,034 |
43,495 |
40,340 |
|
Old Age Non-Contributory Pension |
10,424 |
11,828 |
12,560 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance(1) |
3,350 |
3,816 |
— |
|
Disability Benefit |
13,885 |
16,900 |
20,670 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
15,020 |
12,163 |
9,630 |
|
Sub-total: Disability and Invalidity |
28,905 |
29,063 |
30,300 |
|
Injury Benefit |
210 |
204 |
150 |
|
Interim Disability Benefit |
262 |
338 |
n.a. |
|
Family Income Supplement |
2,254 |
1,173 |
n.a. |
|
Maternity Benefit |
1,464 |
1,073 |
1,210 |
|
Child Benefit (families) |
143,609 |
138,636 |
n.a. |
|
Disability Allowance(2) |
8,186 |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Carer's Allowance(3) |
1,008 |
405 |
— |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
628 |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Widow/er's Contributory Pension |
26,943 |
23,922 |
23,760 |
|
Widow's Non-Contributory Pension |
1,782 |
1,721 |
1,770 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
6,587 |
5,863 |
4,710 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
669 |
564 |
1,950 |
|
One Parent Family Payment(4) |
20,610 |
13,986 |
— |
|
Unmarried Mother's Allowance |
— |
— |
8,280 |
|
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance |
— |
— |
109 |
|
Live Register(5) |
83,549 |
92,812 |
73,931 |
Notes:
(1) Introduced in 1990.
(2) Formerly disabled person's mainrenance allowance and adminisered by the health boards.
(3) Introduced in 1990.
(4) Introduced in January 1997, one parent family payment replaced the lone parent's allowance which in turn had, in 1990, replaced unmarried mother's allowance and absorbed recipients with children of deserted wife's allowance, widow's non-contributory pension and prisoner's wife's allowance.
(5) The live register total includes people signing for credits who do not receive a payment.
Ivor Callely
Question:115 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the most recent figures available for the total number of people in receipt of social welfare payments on the live register, on pre-retirement schemes and other such payments to people who could claim unemployment if not in receipt of their existing payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10130/97]
The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the following table which shows that 245,020 people were in receipt of an unemployment payment. Approximately 30,000 of these are part-time workers which means that 215,000 can be regarded as unemployed in the strict sense of the term.
Section (1a) of this table shows that the number of persons on the live register on 28 March 1997 who were in receipt of either an unemployment benefit or an unemployment assistance payment was 245,020. A further 17,394 people on the live register were signing for credited contributions only and, therefore, receive no payment and are not generally regarded as actively seeking work.
Section (1b) shows the number of persons who were receiving a payment or credited contribution who are not included on the live register.
Section (1c) shows the numbers availing of various relevant programmes operated by the Department of Social Welfare. These people are not included in the live register.
Table 1
|
(1a) Live Register |
|
|
Unemployment Benefit |
66,222 |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
178,798 |
|
Total |
245,020 |
|
Other registrants (mainly signing for credits) |
17,394 |
|
Total Live Register |
262,414 |
|
(1b) Persons not included on the Live Register |
|
|
Pre-retirement Allowance Scheme |
11,951 |
|
Pre-retirement Credits Scheme |
6,051 |
|
Smallholders |
8,793 |
|
Self-employed |
3,095 |
|
Others (over 65s) |
721 |
|
Total |
30,611 |
|
(1c) Other Social Welfare Payments |
|
|
Third Level Allowance |
3,136 |
Source: Live Register Statement, 28 March 1997 Central Statistics Office and Department of Social Welfare Statistics for the end of March 1997, unpublished.
The reduction in the number of persons on the live register who are claiming an unemployment benefit or an unemployment assistance payment continues the decline, with the first two weeks of April showing a dramatic drop in cases of 4,000.
Similarly, the number of persons availing of the various programmes which provide supports to the unemployed has increased substantially in this period, particularly among those participating in the back to work allowance scheme.
Ivor Callely
Question:116 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the recommendation by the Commission on Social Welfare Payments in 1985 for the minimum adequate income required by a single person; the equivalent in 1997 terms; the actual level in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/97]
In 1985 the Commission on Social Welfare made a number of alternative estimates of the minimum income required for one adult which they termed the "Main Rate". All of the estimates were in the range of £50 to £60 weekly in 1995 terms. This range is equivalent to between £69.20 and £83 in 1997 terms.
The payment rates announced in the 1997 budget are set out in the attached table which also shows these rate as a percentage of the Commission's "Main Rate". I am pleased to confirm that old age contributory, retirement, widow's and invalidity pensions, deserted wife's benefit and carer's allowance will be at or above the recommended rate when the improvements announced in the 1997 budget take effect in June 1997 and that most other payments will reach 98 per cent of the recommended rate in June 1997, while the lowest rates, supplementary welfare allowance and short-term unemployment assistance, will reach 95 per cent of the recommended rate.
The Government is committed to implementing the minimum rates recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare. Partnership 2000 contains a commitment to achieve this during the lifetime of the agreement.
Table 1
Social Welfare Personal Rates as a percentage of the CSW main rate (£50, in 1985, £69.20 in 1997)
|
Payment |
1997 Rate |
% of CSW Rate |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
£ |
% |
|
—Disablement |
91.20 |
132 |
|
—Survivor's |
89.40 |
129 |
|
Old Age Contributory and Retirement Pensions |
78.00 |
113 |
|
Widow's-Widower's Contributory Pension and Deserted Wife's Benefit |
71.10 |
103 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
70.50 |
102 |
|
Invaldity Pension |
||
|
—Under 65 |
69.20 |
100 |
|
—65 or over |
78.00 |
113 |
|
Old Age Non-Contributory Pension |
67.50 |
98 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance, Prisoner's Wife's Allowance, Widow's (Non Contributory) Pension |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Unemployment Benefit, Injury Benefit and Disability Benefit |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Disability Allowance |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Long-Term Unemployment Assistance |
67.50 |
98 |
|
Short-Term Unemployment Assistance |
65.40 |
95 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
65.40 |
95 |
Ivor Callely
Question:117 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the percentage of recipients of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance with an address in the Dublin region; if he will give a comparative figure for Galway; the consideration, if any, he has given for additional benefit to the unemployed in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/97]
The percentage of those on the live register at Dublin and Galway local offices of my Department is 30.8 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively.
The Deputy will be aware that the recently enacted Social Welfare Act, 1997 provides for increases in the weekly rates of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance which are well in excess of the projected rate of inflation for 1997. In addition, a range of pro-employment measures has been announced in this year's budget which includes the following: provision for certain social welfare recipients to continue to get increases for dependent spouses where the spouses income is between £60 and £90 a week.
Retention of child dependant allowance for 13 weeks for social welfare recipients who take up employment immediately following a community employment scheme or who take up employment under the jobs initiative scheme.
Improvements in family income supplement which, from June 1997, will be calculated on the basis of gross earnings less PRSI contributions and levies. The income thresholds will be increased by £10 per week at each point, which will mean that most families getting FIS will be at least £6 a week better off while an additional 1,000 low paid workers with children will now qualify for a FIS payment.
An easing of the conditions for requalifying for unemployment benefit which is designed to be of particular benefit to casual and part-time workers. Approximately 10,000 people will benefit under this revised arrangement.
A reduction of 1 per cent in the Class A rate of employees PRSI, from 5.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.
An increase of 5,000 in the number of places on the back to work allowance scheme bringing the limit from 17,000 to 22,000 with 1,000 places reserved for a pilot scheme for people with disabilities. In addition, substantial additional resources are being provided for technical assistance grants for back to work allowances recipients and a loan guarantee fund will be set up to allow credit unions provide low-interest loans to back to work allowance recipients.
A special fund of £300,000 for projects to assist unemployed people return to work is being established.
I will continue to work towards ensuring that the social welfare system is capable of providing the supports necessary to ease the transition from unemployment to employment.
Ivor Callely
Question:118 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the consideration, if any, he has given to increasing the living alone allowance to social welfare recipients in 1997 in view of the fact that he failed to grant an increase in the budget announcement in January 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10135/97]
The living alone allowance of £6 per week is payable as an addition to weekly social welfare pensions to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and who reside alone. While the living alone allowance was substantially increased, 22 per cent in last year's budget, pensioners have also benefited substantially from a 12 point package of measures announced in last January's budget which will directly improve the position of pensioners and carers. I refer the Deputy to my reply of 25 February 1997 in which I provided him with details of those measures as announced in my budget speech of 23 January 1997 as follows: £3 per week increase in personal rates and £1.50 per week in adult dependant allowances from next June; introduction of pro-rata pensions for pensioners whose yearly average of contributions over their working lifetime is between 10 and 20; refunds of PRSI contributions for certain self-employed contributors; easing of the means test including the exemption of rental income in certain circumstances; retention of treatment, dental and optical, benefits for certain pensioners; extending the time-limit for late claims from pensioners; improvements to the free schemes of free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowances and the free travel companion pass; and significant improvements to the carer's allowance including an extra 50 per cent for certain carers and easing of the rule requiring full-time care and attention in certain circumstances.
Ivor Callely
Question:119 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the consideration, if any, he has given to increasing the child dependant payments to social welfare recipients in 1997; if not, if he will review these payments with a view to increasing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10136/97]
It is recognised that the loss of child dependant allowances by social welfare recipients on taking up employment, can act as a disincentive to taking up available work opportunities. This problem has also been highlighted in various reports, including the final report of the Expert Working Group Report on Integrating Tax and Social Welfare.
The policy direction of this Government has, therefore, been to concentrate resources for child income support on child benefit and this has been continued in the 1997 budget package. This approach involves increasing child benefit as part of a planned strategy of moving towards a more integrated child income support system.
Child benefit remains one of the most effective means of tackling poverty, as it channels resources directly to families. It is of particular importance to families on low incomes as it is not taxable, is not withdrawn when an unemployed parent takes up employment and is not assessed as means for other secondary benefits such as differential rents, medical cards, etc. Therefore, it cannot act as a disincentive to taking up employment or improving wages.
Accordingly, priority has been given in the last three budgets to assisting low income families and in particular, larger families. This has been achieved by increasing the higher rate of child benefit, payable in respect of third and subsequent children from £25 in 1994 to £39 this year. In addition, the lower rate of child benefit, payable in respect of the first and second child, has been increased from £20 in 1994 to £30 this year. This represents an increase of 50 per cent in the rate payable in respect of the first two children and 56 per cent in the higher rate payable in respect of third and subsequent children since this Government came to office.
In addition, in the context of reducing disincentives to work, priority has been given to utilising family income supplement (FIS) as a means of increasing the net return from work to families with children. Accordingly, FIS is being reformed so as to be calculated on a net income basis, rather than on gross wages, as at present. This will significantly increase the supplements payable under the scheme, thereby increasing the rewards from work. As a first step, this year's budget provides that, with effect from June, FIS will be calculated on the basis of gross earnings less any PRSI contributions and levies payable. Pension contributions will also be deductible. The income thresholds governing entitlement to FIS have also increased by £20 at each point since 1995. These measures will mean that virtually all FIS recipients will be at least £12 better off since this Government took office.
Another improvement I introduced last year to overcome disincentives to work was to provide for the continued payment of child dependant allowances for a period of 13 weeks to people who have been in receipt of an unemployment payment for 12 months or more, when they take up employment which is expected to last for at least four weeks. This measure overcomes one of the obstacles faced by some families during the transition from unemployment to work, as it can take some weeks for a person taking up employment to establish entitlement to FIS.
These real improvements which have been introduced since 1995 clearly demonstrate this Government's commitment towards providing genuine supports for families, whether in or out of work.
Seán Power
Question:120 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has concluded his review of the Defence Forces in relation to section 11 of Statutory Instrument 156 of 1954; and the changes, if any, he intends to make in this regard. [10137/97]
The regulations referred to by the Deputy make provision for the terms and conditions under which qualified PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses are entitled to receive dental, optical and aural benefits under the treatment benefits scheme administered by my Department.
Current arrangements provide that, in the case of serving members of the Defence Forces, entitlement to those benefits is limited to the provision or repair of dentures and optical appliances. This reflects the fact that the Department of Defence operates a health scheme for those members covering primary dental and optical treatment but excluding the provision of dentures, spectacles, contact lenses or hearing aids. This limitation on benefit applies only for the duration of the member's period of service and entitlement to the full range of dental and optical benefits is restored on discharge from the Defence Forces. In addition, the limitation does not apply at any time to qualifying dependent spouses of serving members of the Defence Forces.
Following my review of the existing arrangements, I have decided that the continued exclusion of serving members of the Defence Forces from assistance towards the cost of contact lenses and hearing aids under the treatment benefit scheme is no longer justified. I propose, therefore, to introduce the necessary regulations to rectify this position in the near future.