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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004

Tuesday, 25 May 2004

Questions (379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385)

Michael Ring

Question:

399 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has had their old age non-contributory pension reduced. [15215/04]

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Michael Ring

Question:

403 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has had their pension entitlement calculated. [15329/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 403 together.

One of the couple in question was getting an old age non-contributory pension at a reduced personal rate of €144 per week. This pension rate was €10 less than the maximum weekly rate of €154, based on her weekly means of €17.38 from her British retirement pension. Her husband was getting a pre-retirement allowance at a reduced rate. However, when he applied for old age non-contributory pension in March 2004, the means of the couple had to be reviewed by my Department. This review established that their means had increased as each of them was now getting a British retirement pension. Their means were re-assessed and each was assessed with means of €37.60.

People who have weekly means of €37.60 are entitled to pension at the reduced rate of €124 per week. Each of the couple in question is currently getting a pension of this amount. In addition, the husband recently qualified for a fuel allowance of €9 per week that is payable during the annual heating season.

Michael Ring

Question:

400 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been approved disability benefit; and if she will provide a complete breakdown of their insurance contribution record. [15235/04]

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The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 March 2004. In the absence of 39 reckonable contributions in the governing contribution year 2002, he did not qualify for payment. According to the records of my Department, 38 credited contributions are recorded in respect of his record for the year 2002.

The person concerned was notified of the above decision and was requested to submit any further available evidence in support of his claim. No further evidence was submitted in respect of his 2002 record. The insurance record of the person concerned will be supplied separately to the Deputy.

Seán Haughey

Question:

401 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if one-parent family payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15284/04]

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An application from the person concerned for one-parent family payment was received by my Department last week. In accordance with procedure, her application is being forwarded to a local officer of the Department for investigation. On completion of all the necessary inquiries an early decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome. Under social welfare legislation decisions on 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.

Michael Ring

Question:

402 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for fuel allowance. [15322/04]

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The person concerned was recently awarded one-parent family payment in respect of herself and her child. Her claim for fuel allowance was refused. She does not qualify for this allowance as she lives with her parent who is in employment.

Question No. 403 answered with QuestionNo. 399.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

404 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this case can be reviewed as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15494/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that an application for rent supplement was refused on the grounds that the person concerned has not been in rented accommodation for six months in the previous 12 month period. In such cases, rent supplement may be payable if he or she is on the local authority's housing list, that is, if he or she has been assessed by the local housing authority as being in need of accommodation. However, in this instance the housing needs of the person concerned have not been assessed by the local authority and, consequently, she is not on its housing list.

The person concerned has a two year old child. She and her child live with her own parents and her two younger sisters. From inquiries made with the health board and the local authority, it is understood that the local authority considers that it is inappropriate to undertake an assessment before the person concerned reaches 18 years of age in August. It will do so if she makes application for an assessment on or after she reaches 18 years of age. The health board will have regard to the outcome of any such assessment in dealing with any claim for rent supplement that she makes subsequently.

In the meantime, the board advises that the person concerned is living in a supportive family environment and has been since the birth of her child. The board has advised that it has not been made aware of any change in the person's family circumstances which might indicate an urgent need for alternative accommodation. Having regard to all of the circumstances of the case, the board considers that it is not appropriate to provide rent supplement at this time on an exceptional basis to facilitate the person concerned in establishing a separate household ahead of the local authority's assessment of their housing needs later this summer. The person concerned has been advised of her right to appeal against this decision.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

405 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will inquire into the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is seriously ill and whose dietary allowance has been reduced from €60 per month to €20 per month with a view to restoring the allowance due to the hardship caused by the reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15561/04]

View answer

The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that at the time of application for a diet supplement the person concerned was an adult dependent on her husband's invalidity pension. During the course of a recent review it came to light that she is now in receipt of disability allowance in her own right. As the diet supplement is a means tested payment, the amount of supplement payable has been revised to €27.90 per month to take account of the increase in the level of assessable income.

The board has further advised that the person concerned has appealed against the decision to reduce her diet supplement. That appeal has not yet been heard.

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