Michael Ring
Question:1663 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not being paid the full entitlement to child benefit for both their children. [15729/02]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Child benefit is paid up to the age of 16 year or up to the age of 19 where a child is in full-time education.
The person concerned is in receipt of child benefit at a monthly rate of €117.60 in respect of his daughter. This will be paid up to May 2003 when she will be 19 years old. Payment in respect of his son ceased in August, the month of his 16th birthday. Payment will be restored in respect of this child subject to confirmation from the relevant school or college that he is receiving full-time education.
Paul McGrath
Question:1664 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath for a widow's contributory pension has not been finalised; and if this case can be expedited. [15792/02]
The person concerned received widow's contributory pension between 17 October 1986 and 8 April 1994. Her entitlement was discontinued on the grounds that she and another person were cohabiting as husband and wife. An appeals officer subsequently upheld the deciding officer's decision.
The person concerned reapplied for widow's contributory pension on 2 October 2001. She was awarded payment at the maximum weekly rate of €113.13 or £89.10 with effect from 5 October 2001. At present she is in receipt of this payment at the weekly rate of €123.30 and a fuel allowance of €9.
In the light of the information and evidence available the deciding officer concluded that there is no basis on which to backdate widow's contributory pension. A letter of clarification will issue to the person concerned as soon as possible and she will be informed of her right of appeal.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
Paul McGrath
Question:1665 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the duration of delays, per section, in processing applications for various payments from her Department; and her proposals to eliminate these long delays. [15793/02]
My Department is committed to providing quality customer service for all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and entitlements issued as quickly as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply.
The average time to process new claims under the main Department schemes at present is as follows:
|
Scheme |
Weeks |
|
One parent family payment (separated) |
16 |
|
Carer's allowance |
13 |
|
One parent family payment (unmarried) |
10 |
|
Old age contributory pension |
10 |
|
Disability allowance |
9 |
|
Old age non-contributory pension |
8 |
|
Free electricity etc. allowance |
8 |
|
Retirement pension |
8 |
|
Invalidity pension |
7 |
|
Widow's non-contributory pension |
5 |
|
Widow's contributory pension |
4 |
|
Unemployment assistance |
4 |
|
Bereavement grant |
3 |
|
Disability benefit |
2 |
|
Unemployment benefit |
3 |
|
Child benefit |
2 |
|
Family income supplement |
2 |
The above figures relate to the elapsed time from the date the initial claim is made until the date on which a decision on entitlement is given. Factors outside the Department's control can impinge on the time taken to make a decision in any case. These factors include delays in claimants supplying necessary documentation or in securing key information from other agencies, including agencies abroad. In cases where a means test or medical examination is required a certain level of delay is unavoidable. Furthermore, in some cases significant delays are caused by the necessary inquiries into the circumstances of claimants for certain schemes or in verifying the insurance record of claimants for insurance based payments, particularly pensions.
It should also be borne in mind that many applications for pensions and allowances are made in advance of eligibility commencing. Even though there is apparent delay payment may be made well in advance of the relevant event. For example, 85% of claims for old age contributory pension were awarded before pension age where the claim was received one month before pension age. Many applicants for payments are already in receipt of another social welfare payment. This normally continues until entitlement to pension or allowance is determined.
The clearance times achieved are an indication of performance in a given period having regard to all of the factors affecting entitlement. The overriding consideration is to ensure that customers receive their correct entitlement and decisions cannot be taken until all appropriate information is received.
Improving customer service is a priority on my Department's agenda. In relation to clearance times, challenging performance targets have been set for all of the main schemes and these are published and reported on. Other initiatives include the development of a new service delivery system based on the most modern technology which, when implemented, will transform the way the Department delivers service to customers. The first phase of this system will be implemented for the child benefit scheme later this year. It will be extended to all the Department's schemes.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the need to develop and improve the levels of service and to preserve and build on the high reputation which the Department has for service to its customers.
Status Report on Organisational Targets for 2001
Clearance Time Targets
|
ActivityNew Claims |
StandardClearance Time(1) |
StatusPerformance |
|
% |
||
|
Old age contributory pension(2) |
55% in 5 weeks |
46 |
|
Retirement pension |
80% in 5 weeks |
71 |
|
Widow(er)'s contributory pension |
80% in 5 weeks |
78 |
|
Old age non-contributory pension |
65% in 8 weeks |
57 |
|
Blind pension |
65% in 8 weeks |
57 |
|
Widow(er)'s non-contributory pension and one parent family payment (widow) |
75% in 5 weeks |
87 |
|
One parent family (unmarried parent) |
65% in 8 weeks |
31 |
|
One parent family (separated spouse) |
65% in 12 weeks |
38 |
|
Carer's allowance |
80% in 8 weeks |
26 |
|
Free schemes |
70% in 5 weeks |
51 |
|
Unemployment benefit |
85% in 2 weeks |
71 |
|
Unemployment assistance |
70% in 2 weeks |
52 |
|
Disability benefit |
90% in 1 week |
74 |
|
ActivityNew Claims |
StandardClearance Time(1) |
StatusPerformance |
|
% |
||
|
Treatment benefit(3) |
90% in 2 weeks |
78 |
|
Child benefit |
90% in 1 week |
53 |
|
Maternity (before commencement of benefit) |
80% |
72 |
|
Family income supplement |
70% in 3 weeks |
82 |
|
Invalidity pension |
70% in 9 weeks |
68 |
|
Disability allowance |
70% in 9 weeks |
60 |
|
Arrears |
||
|
PSO (Sligo) |
80% within 3 weeks of |
87 |
|
Longford SWS |
being put in payment |
80 |
This table covers both insurance based and means tested schemes. Of their nature, means tested schemes take longer to process.
1 Clearance time – elapsed time from date of receipt of claim to date of decision.
2 Old age contributory pension – 85% awarded before pension age where claim received one month before pension age.
3 This relates to all optical claims and 40% of dental claims where pre-retirement claims are submitted.
Michael Noonan
Question:1666 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if entitlements are due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15794/02]
The person concerned, who is engaged in a third level course of study, was not in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment prior to participation in the course.
The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups, including people who have been unemployed for a certain minimum period, to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active workforce.
To qualify for participation an applicant must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months or 156 days immediately prior to commencing an approved course of study. As the person concerned was not in receipt of a payment she is not eligible for the allowance.