Vol. 503 No. 4
56 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the obligation, if any, on persons who loses a social welfare care to seek Garda confirmation of their identity; if he will issue instructions to social welfare offices that, where a person loses a card and can produce satisfactory identification, such as a medical card, passport or driving licence, this will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10317/99]
79 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the status of the social welfare card issued to social welfare recipients and those who sign for credits; if this is a voluntary card with no obligation on persons to carry it with them or produce it when requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10316/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 79 together.
The legal basis for the social services card is provided in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, as amended by the Social Welfare Act, 1998, Part IV, section 14 of the 1998 Act refers.
At present, the social services card is issued to all relevant persons who hold a personal public service number, PPSN. There is no legal obligation on a person to carry the social services card. However, the legislation obliges a person to produce the card at the request of the Department or other specified body for the purposes of a transaction.
The card is an important requirement in establishing the identity of persons receiving certain payments from my Department. The customer is paid on production of a valid social services card or a temporary signing card.
While persons signing for credits at a social welfare local office are not normally required to produce a social services card, they can be asked to do so.
The social services card is fundamental to the efficient payment of benefits and the delivery of good service to the customer. It is important to have a secure system in place regarding the replacement of social services cards which in such cases are used to collect payment. This also protects the customer as it prevents misuse or misappropriation of the card.
If a person loses their social services card, a form is given to him or her for completion. This form includes a portion to be completed at the customer's local Garda station in which a Garda certifies that the person has reported the loss of the card to that Garda station. The Garda station stamp is affixed to the form. There is no legal obligation, however, on a person who loses their social services card to seek Garda confirmation of their identity.
