Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2004
130 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the carer’s allowance, considering that the application was submitted at the end of January 2004. [19893/04]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded the carer's allowance with effect from 29 January 2004, at the maximum weekly personal rate of €139.60. She has also been awarded €33.60 dependent child allowance per week. She was notified of this decision on 30 June 2004 and arrangements have been made to have her payment collected from her nominated post office.
131 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent supplement will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has supplied all documentation as requested, including bank details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19915/04]
View answerThe South Western Area Health Board was contacted again regarding this case and has advised that it is currently examining additional documentation just received. The board expects to be in a position to make a determination on the person's application for rent supplement by the end of the week.
132 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when payments of one-parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19916/04]
View answerAn application for one-parent family payment by the person concerned was refused recently on the grounds of cohabitation. However, on 22 June 2004 the Deputy informed my Department that the person concerned was no longer cohabiting and requested that her entitlement be re-examined.
As a result, her file has been referred to a local officer of my Department to establish her current circumstances. On completion of all the necessary inquiries, the file will be referred to a deciding officer for decision and the person concerned 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.
133 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which rent allowance is available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has one child dependant, with special needs, and has no income other than one-parent family allowance for the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19917/04]
View answerAs I advised last week in my reply to the Deputy's previous parliamentary question relating to this case, the South Western Area Heath Board was recently made aware of changes in the person's financial circumstances which necessitated a review of the amount of rent supplement payable. The board was contacted again and has advised that the person concerned took up part-time employment in September 2003 and recently received an increase in her maintenance payments. She failed to notify the board of the changes in her circumstances and, consequently, she has incurred an overpayment of rent supplement. The amount of rent supplement payable has been revised to €497 per month with effect from the end of July.
The board is to contact the person concerned regarding the repayment of the overpayment. I should also advise that the person's one-parent family payment is also being reviewed arising from the changes in her circumstances. In addition, the board has advised that the person concerned is due to resume her part-time employment in September. Any changes in household income will necessitate a revision of the amount of rent supplement payable.
134 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if and when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be offered rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19918/04]
View answerThe South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the local authority has assessed this person's need for accommodation and that when she secures accommodation appropriate to her circumstances she should advise the board accordingly, so that her application for rent supplement can be finalised.
135 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an exceptional needs payment can be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19920/04]
View answerThe South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that there is no record of an application for an exceptional needs payment from the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to make such an application, she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre who will assess her circumstances and determine whether payment is warranted in this case.
136 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her Department’s views on payments made to town councillors as a result of their being elected; and the way in which such payments impact on disability allowance or other such allowances which may be granted by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19931/04]
View answerNew payments for councillors, known as representational payments, were introduced with effect from January 2002. The amount of the representational payment varies depending on the particular office held. Councillors are regarded as office holders in the same manner as TDs, MEPs, Senators and members of the Judiciary. Accordingly, the representational payment is treated, for social welfare purposes, as income from self employment and dealt with on that basis for social welfare payments.
For the purposes of disability allowance and other social assistance schemes, income derived from the representational payment is assessed as means. However, any legitimate expenses incurred in carrying out the self employment, for which the councillor is not otherwise compensated, may be disregarded in assessing the representational payment.
This may reduce the amount of means assessed so that the impact on the weekly rate of disability assistance would be reduced. Each case would have to be examined by reference to its own circumstances. For disability allowance purposes, a further disregard of €120 per week applies to earnings from employment or self employment that is rehabilitative in nature. This is subject to the approval of the Department's chief medical adviser on foot of satisfactory medical evidence. I consider that the present arrangements are appropriate and I am satisfied that local representatives are treated fairly in regard to social welfare entitlements.
