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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Questions (1157, 1158, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1163)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1336 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if and when disability allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22231/04]

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Written answers

The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 5 August 2004. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that the medical eligibility criteria are met and that the means test which applies is satisfied.

While he satisfies the medical criteria for receipt of disability allowance, his means have yet to be determined. In this regard, his case has been forwarded to an investigative officer of my Department to establish his means and see whether the conditions for receipt of the allowance are met.

His entitlement to disability allowance will be further considered in light of the investigative officer's report and a formal decision will be issued to him directly.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1337 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when unemployment benefit will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for the period claimed from 27 July 2004 to 6 September 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22233/04]

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There is no record of a claim for unemployment benefit or assistance referring to the person concerned at her local social welfare office.

The person concerned applied for supplementary welfare allowance at her local health centre on 3 August 2004. Payment was not allowed in her case as her household income was in excess of the rate applicable to her family size.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1338 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent supplement will be awarded in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22236/04]

View answer

The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the community welfare officer is awaiting clarification of a lease agreement so as to enable the application for rent supplement to be processed.

The board has advised that only one of the persons referred to by the Deputy has applied for rent supplement. The accommodation in respect of which a rent supplement has been sought is shared with the second person who is in open market full-time employment and, accordingly, is excluded by legislation from receipt of rent supplement.

As soon as the clarification is provided the community welfare officer will be in a position to determine whether or not a rent supplement is payable to the applicant.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1339 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive rent assistance or supplementary welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22239/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned has been requested to provide clarification relating to her domestic and financial circumstances so that an accurate assessment of her application for assistance can be carried out. As soon as the necessary clarification is provided the community welfare officer will be in a position to determine whether the person concerned qualifies for assistance under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1340 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent support will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22246/04]

View answer

The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that at the time of application the person concerned did not qualify for rent supplement as the level of his assessable means was sufficient to provide for his rent costs.

If the circumstances of the person concerned have changed, he should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre who will carry out a review of his circumstances to determine whether or not he has an entitlement to rent supplement at this time.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

1341 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when dietary supplement allowance will be awarded to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22254/04]

View answer

The South Eastern Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that there is no record of an application for a diet supplement from the people in question. If they wish to make an application for a diet supplement, they should contact the community welfare officer at the local health centre who will assess their circumstances with a view to determining whether they satisfy the conditions for receipt of diet supplement.

Michael Ring

Question:

1342 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused the bereavement grant; and the contributions that were used in the assessment of this application. [22276/04]

View answer

A bereavement grant is payable on the insurance record either of the deceased person or his-her spouse. The person concerned applied to the Department for a bereavement grant in respect of her late father who died in May 2004. According to the records of my Department, her father had a total of 58 reckonable contributions paid over the years from 1954 to 1967, inclusive. His late spouse, who has been deceased for a number of years, did not have a social insurance contribution record.

On the basis of her late father's social insurance contribution record, the qualifying conditions for receipt of bereavement grant have not been met and the application has been disallowed. She has been notified of this decision and of her right of appeal.

Question No. 1343 answered with QuestionNo. 1302.
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