Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be awarded one-parent family allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29590/04]
View answerPayment of one-parent family payment was disallowed in this case because the person concerned failed to disclose all her means. She subsequently informed the Department that she had changed her address and she provided some documentation on her means. Her application has been referred to a local officer who has interviewed her at her new address. Investigations are ongoing, however, because all the information required to finalise the inquiries are not yet available. A decision will be made when the necessary inquiries have been completed 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. The officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.
120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs how he expects a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to survive on a net income of social welfare and rent support of €138 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29634/04]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of an invalidity pension from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Her pension is at the maximum rate and includes the appropriate increase in respect of a child dependant. She is also in receipt of a fuel allowance during the winter heating season from October to April. The person is in receipt of a monthly rent supplement of €366.50, which is the correct amount payable in her situation. Her net income after paying rent is €138.60 per week. This is the full net amount to which a household comprising one adult and one child is entitled, based on current payment rates.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, one-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from his or her weekly income. If the person concerned finds that she has essential expenses which she is unable to provide for, she can apply for an exceptional needs payment by contacting the community welfare officer at her local health centre. The determination of entitlement to rent supplement or to exceptional needs payments is a matter for the health board. Neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.
121 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for carer’s allowance. [29643/04]
View answerThe person in question has been awarded carer's allowance with effect from 19 August 2004, at the maximum weekly personal rate of €139.60. The decision was made after she submitted additional medical evidence last month to the social welfare appeals office. She has been notified of the award. Her payable order books will be available for collection at Belmullet post office on 25 November 2004 and any arrears of allowance due to her will issue shortly thereafter.
