Michael Ring
Question:549 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reassess a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who has been unfairly assessed on stock that he has not got and does not own. [8841/98]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The unemployment assistance entitlement of the person concerned was recently reviewed. Following this review, a deciding officer was satisfied that he is in beneficial occupation of a holding. The deciding officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £14.00 from 11 March, 1998, derived from benefit from that holding. This gives the person concerned a weekly unemployment assistance entitlement of £53.50.
The person concerned has appealed this decision. His case is with the independent social welfare appeals office, who will be in contact with him.
Ivan Yates
Question:551 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the family income supplement scheme procedures whereby there can only be one annual review date, in view of cases where their circumstances have changed and that they are entitled to a higher rate of payment if the date of review was changed; if other schemes in the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs have an annual review date which may be unfair and inaccurate to the person's circumstances from time to time; and if he will allow an earlier review date for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the changed circumstances. [8852/98]
The family income supplement (FIS) scheme is designed to provide an incentive for low paid workers with families to take up or remain in full-time employment.
An integral feature of the scheme is that, once the level of the FIS payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that level for a period of 52 weeks provided that the claimant remains in employment. The only circumstances in which the rate of payment can be amended is where an additional child is born in the course of the 52 weeks.
The purpose of this measure, which is unique to the FIS scheme, is to ensure that claimants can be certain that they will receive a guaranteed level of income support throughout the period. This certainty is critical to the success of the scheme in providing a real incentive to workers with families to avail of employment opportunities. It is recognised that, as a consequence of this measure, there is no provision to adjust the level of FIS payable upwards to compensate for any reduction in income that may occur in the course of the 52 week period. Conversely, of course, where earnings rise in the course of that period, there is no provision either to reduce the amount of FIS payable.
In the case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the current reduction in the household income arises largely from the fact that when the FIS claimant became unemployed in September 1997, his wife opted to surrender her personal unemployment assistance (UA) claim in favour of the payment of a qualified adult allowance with her husband's UA claim. When he resumed working in March of this year, payment of FIS was reinstated at the original rate. In the interim, however, his wife was no longer in receipt of UA in her own right and the couple's aggregate income was thus reduced. I understand, however, that she has recently applied again for UA and that her claim is currently being considered.
Any change in the existing arrangements would require legislative change, and given the nature and purpose of the FIS scheme, I am not convinced that any such change would be appropriate. I am committed to improving the effectiveness of all schemes operated by my Department. In this regard, the Social Welfare Act, 1998, makes provision for a substantial enhancement of the FIS scheme. From October of this year, entitlement to FIS will be calculated on a net income basis, rather than on gross wages as at present. This reform will significantly increase the supplements payable under the scheme, and thus act to increase the rewards from work. Finally, I should mention also that the income thresholds which define eligibility for FIS are being increased by £7.00 from June of this year.