John McGuinness
Question:400 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review a decision not to grant a back to school allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [23812/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The back to school clothing and footwear – BSCF – allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards in parallel with the supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme. The scheme is designed to assist certain recipients of social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. The scheme operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year. An allowance of £63, 79.99, is payable in respect of qualified children from two to 11 years and an allowance of £78, 99.04, is payable in respect of qualified children from 12 to 22 years.
A person may qualify for payment of the BSCF allowance if he or she is in receipt of a social welfare, health board payment, participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and has household income at or below certain prescribed levels. Details of the income levels, which vary depending on the composition of the household, are shown in the following tabular statement.
The South-Eastern Health Board was contacted on behalf on the person in question and has advised that her application was refused on the grounds of excess means. The person in question has two children in respect of whom the application for BSCF allowance was made. The appropriate income limit is £141, 179.03, per week. While she is in receipt of family income supplement, FIS, this is disregarded in deciding her entitlement to BSCF allowance. Her weekly income from employment is £211, 267.91, which puts her £70, 88.88, per week in excess of the appropriate BSCF income limit. The board has further advised that that the person in question appealed the decision not to award her a BSCF allowance. The health board appeals officer upheld the original decision.
Income limits for various household sizes are as follows:
|
Household size |
Weekly Income Limit |
||
|
Couple with one child |
£194.40 |
(246.84) |
|
|
Couple with two children |
£209.60 |
(266.14) |
|
|
Couple with three children |
£224.80 |
(285.44) |
|
|
Couple with four children |
£240.00 |
(304.74) |
Limit is increased by £15.20, 19.30, per week for each additional child.
|
Household size |
Weekly Income Limit |
||
|
Lone parent with one child |
£124.00 |
(157.45) |
|
|
Lone parent with two children |
£141.00 |
(179.03) |
|
|
Lone parent with three children |
£158.00 |
(200.62) |
|
|
Lone parent with four children |
£175.00 |
(222.20) |
Limit is increased by £17, 21.59, per week for each additional child.
401.Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the amount of rental subsidy paid through social welfare officers throughout the country for 2001 to date; the total amount for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23670/01]
Details of expenditure on rent supplements paid by the health boards under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the years from 1996 to date are as set out in the following tabular statement.
Expenditure on rent supplements has increased substantially in recent years. This was mainly due to increases in rent levels in the private rented sector rather than recipient numbers. For example, there are currently 43,247 households in receipt of rent supplement, compared to 42,682 at the end of 2000 and 41,873 at the end of 1999. However, expenditure in 2001 is expected to be some £134 million, 170.14 million, compared to £101 million, 128.24 million in 1999, an increase of 33% over a two year period.
Expenditure on Rent Supplements 1996-2001 (to date).
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
1996 |
£62.6 million (79.49 million) |
|
1997 |
£75.3 million (95.61 million) |
|
1998 |
£88 million (111.74 million) |
|
1999 |
£101 million (128.24 million) |
|
2000 |
£118.6 million (150.59 million) |
|
2001 (to date) |
£103.9 million (131.93 million) |