Dan Neville
Question:46 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to extend the duration of the carer's benefit. [8428/03]
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
The objective of the carer's benefit scheme is to support people who must leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. It is a weekly income support payment which is based on PRSI contributions paid by the carer.
The maximum duration of the carer's benefit scheme is 65 weeks as it is considered that employers would experience difficulties in preserving an employee's rights for a longer period. Each care recipient may receive a total of 65 weeks care. This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in separate time periods. In the event of a person's carer's benefit expiring and the need for income support still existing, the carer may apply for carer's allowance.
The question of further improvements or changes in the carer's benefit scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context.
Question No. 47 answered with Question No. 44.
Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 15.
Paul Kehoe
Question:49 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total number of persons who have received the widowed parent grant in each year since it was introduced in April 2000; the efforts made by her Department to inform people regarding this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8429/03]
Since the introduction of the widowed parent grant in April 2000 my Department has paid a total of 3,395 payments of which 862 payments were made in 2000, 1,208 in 2001, 1,065 in 2002 and 260 have been made to date in 2003. The scheme is designed to assist with the financial needs of widowed persons with dependent children in the immediate aftermath of a bereavement.
Information regarding the grant is available in a number of booklets and information leaflets on the various social welfare schemes which are provided by my Department's information unit. These, together with application forms for the grant, are available from my Department's network of local social welfare offices. Other channels of information include my Depart ment's Internet site which can be accessed at www.welfare.ie and RTE's teletext information system, Aertel.
Recently my Department and Comhairle published a bereavement information booklet. It provides a range of information relating to practical issues that arise following a death. It also provides specific information concerning all social welfare entitlements relating to those who have been bereaved. The booklet will be available shortly at local social welfare offices and from representatives of the Funeral Director's Association nationwide.
In the majority of cases there is no need for a bereaved person to apply separately for the grant. It is payable in respect of widows and widowers with dependent children who became widowed on or after 1 December 1999 and who are in receipt of or entitled to any of the payments specifically provided by my Department for widows and widowers. When processing applications for these schemes, in cases where the widow or widower has qualified children, payment of the grant is issued automatically by cheque to the survivor once the death is notified and without the need to make a formal application. This proactive approach ensures that the grant is paid to the bereaved person with minimum delay.
I am satisfied that my Department has made all possible efforts to ensure that people are fully informed concerning their entitlement to the widowed parent grant.