Vol. 576 No. 1
115 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if post viral fatigue syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome is recognised as a medical condition based on which, if sufficiently serious, disability allowance is payable; and if not, the reason therefor. [28987/03]
Disability allowance is a social assistance payment made to people whose employment capacity is substantially restricted because of a disability and whose income falls below certain limits. Continuing entitlement to disability allowance is subject to the person satisfying both a means test and the medical eligibility criteria that apply. In this regard my Department recognises post viral fatigue syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and ME, myalgic encephalomyelitis, as medical conditions for which, if sufficiently serious, disability allowance is payable.
Where a person claims a payment in respect of illness, an opinion regarding the person's medical condition is given in the first instance by his or her doctor. Where required, a second opinion is provided by medical assessors employed by my Department for the guidance of the Department's deciding officers who ultimately determine entitlement. When conducting an examination the medical assessor does not dispute the existence of the certified cause of incapacity but rather she or he assesses the degree to which the loss of function in work-related activities resulting from the disease or injury affects the ability of the person to perform either his or her own job or alternative work.
116 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount paid in rent supplement in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29082/03]
117 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the numbers in 2003 who have claimed supplementary welfare allowance rent supplement, having previously been in rented accommodation for a six month period or less; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29014/03]
353 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to reverse the requirement that those on low income be in rented accommodation for six months prior to applying for rent allowance. [29176/03]
355 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to withdraw rent supplement from persons who are in receipt of the supplement but have not been renting for a period of six months or more. [29191/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 117, 353 and 355 together.
The purpose of the supplementary welfare allowance is to deal with emergencies and short-term needs that arise when a person has a change in circumstances, for example when a tenant becomes unemployed and can no longer afford their rent. Expenditure on rent supplements in 1998 was €112 million. In 1999 it was €128 million and in 2000 it was €151 million. In 2001 it rose to €179 million while in 2002 it reached €252 million. Expenditure this year is expected to be approximately €330 million or almost three times the 1998 level.
As Deputies will be aware, future rent supplements will be payable only where, at the time of application for a rent supplement, the person has been in rented accommodation for a period of six months. Provision will be made for cases where a housing authority designates that a person is homeless or a person has been identified by a housing authority as having a housing need which cannot be met by the housing authority or by a voluntary housing organisation or by the person concerned. This will help re-focus the rent supplement on its original objective of short-term income maintenance. The six month requirement is not currently a condition for entitlement to rent supplement and therefore details in respect of the number of recipients in 2003 who had previously been in rented accommodation for a six month period or less are not available.
118 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of the one parent family allowance who have received notification from the external review section of her Department to indicate that they have been overpaid due to income from earnings. [29064/03]
In April of this year my Department commenced a special review of the one parent family payment scheme to examine the entitlement of clients identified as having earnings from employment at a level above the statutory limit for receipt of the payment and who had not notified the Department of this fact. To date, over-payments have been assessed in 444 cases. Those concerned have received a formal decision on their claim, a detailed breakdown of the amount of money overpaid and the period involved. All have been advised of their statutory right of appeal. In all cases, the over-payments are recoverable and those concerned have been notified of the code of practice operated by my Department which affords them the opportunity to comment on the repayment method proposed.
This review is part of the ongoing anti-fraud measures undertaken by my Department which, for the first nine months of this year, have yielded savings of almost €230 million. It is imperative that social welfare payments, funded by the taxpayer, are targeted at those most in need and are not abused. The reviews in question are continuing.
119 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the numbers who will be affected by the change in criteria in the payment of unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29017/03]
The conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit or UB aim to preserve a fair balance between contributions paid and the benefit received. In view of this and the need to remove a number of anomalies or to better target scheme resources, a number of measures were introduced as part of the Estimates process.
