Thomas P. Broughan
Question:226 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has considered changing the social welfare payment week to Monday to Saturday, to bring it into line with most employments. [23134/02]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Long term social welfare payments are paid to customers a week in advance with the payment week varying between Thursday to Wednesday or Friday to Thursday depending on the scheme involved. Payments are spread between Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so as to avoid congestion at post offices.
The payment week for unemployment benefit is Thursday to Wednesday and for unemployment assistance, Wednesday to Tuesday. Payments are made in arrears based on the customer's unemployment patterns in the previous week. Payments are spread over a number of days, again to avoid congestion at post offices. People are entitled to payment for all days of unemployment other than waiting days.
There is no set payment week for disability benefit. The payment week is governed by the period covered in the medical certificates submit ted by the customer. Payments are issued on a daily basis covering the period between the latest medical certificate and the previous medical certificate.
The current payment arrangements work well for the benefit of the customer and having regard to the logistics involved in making payments. There are no plans to change these arrangements at this time.