Bernard Allen
Question:149 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when payment of supplementary welfare allowance will be made to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [29324/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards and neither I nor my Department has any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.
The purpose of the SWA scheme is to provide a basic weekly allowance to people who have little or no income. Any person living in the State who satisfies a means test and who has applied for any other benefit, assistance or allowance to which they may be entitled, may be eligible to receive assistance under the SWA scheme. Assistance may be given in the form of a basic payment, supplements which may be paid in respect of such needs as rent, diet or heating and exceptional needs payments which may be paid where in the opinion of the health board exceptional circumstances exist.
The South-Western Area Health Board was contacted on behalf of the person concerned and has advised that he applied for disability benefit but did not have the required number of contributions to qualify. He applied for and was granted a basic supplementary welfare allowance on 13 September 2001. The person concerned was certified unfit for work for the period up to 10 October 2001.
No further medical certificates were submitted after that date and accordingly payment of the allowance was stopped with effect from 10 October 2001. The board has further advised that if the person concerned is still unfit for work he should submit the appropriate medical certificates so that payment of the allowance may resume.
Michael Ring
Question:150 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is receiving £57.50 weekly pension. [29345/01]
The person concerned was awarded a reduced rate widow's non-contributory pension based on her means from farming and employment. The rate of award of £57.50, 73.01, per week is the correct rate, based on the information available to the deciding officer at the time of the decision. This information has already been conveyed to the Deputy in response to a parliamentary question. My Department has received no information from the person concerned to the effect that her means have altered. However, in view of the Deputy's question, her file has been forwarded to a local officer of my Department for further investigation.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
Michael Ring
Question:151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused fuel allowance. [29346/01]
The person concerned does not qualify for a fuel allowance on the basis that his heating and other needs are provided for under the terms of a deed of transfer of property to his son.