Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
342 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has received an application for rent allowance from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when the application will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31348/04]
View answerApplications for rent supplement are made to the health board and not to my Department.
It is a condition for receipt of rent supplement that the amount of rent payable in the accommodation concerned is subject to a reasonable upper limit, which varies according to household size and region.
The Midland Health Board has advised that the person concerned was refused rent supplement on the ground that the rent being sought for her accommodation is in excess of the relevant limit in its area. The person concerned was unsuccessful in appealing against this decision to the health board appeals officer. The health board further advised that her case has been referred to the chief appeals officer of the social welfare appeals office for adjudication.
343 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will give consideration to an application for orphan’s allowance for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [31349/04]
View answerA claim for orphan's contributory allowance by the person concerned in respect of a grandchild was refused by a deciding officer on 23 October, 2000 on the grounds that the child was not an orphan within the meaning of the relevant social welfare legislation.
An appeals officer subsequently upheld the deciding officer's decision.
The person concerned re-applied for orphan's contributory allowance on 14 May, 2003. His application was again disallowed by a deciding officer on 21 May 2003 as no new evidence was supplied that might have warranted a revised decision.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of invalidity pension at a rate of €240.40 per week and child dependant allowance increase of €57.90 in respect of three children including the grandchild in respect of whom the orphan's contributory allowance was claimed. He is also in receipt of a fuel allowance of €12.90.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in regard to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
344 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when payment of one parent family allowance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin as all documentation that has been requested has been supplied; the reason this payment was stopped in the first place; the delay in restoring this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31372/04]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of one parent family in respect of herself and five children since January 1999. In the context of a review of her means, she was requested on two occasions to provide information necessary to determine her continued entitlement but did not do so. She was advised of the intention to suspend payment if the information requested was not disclosed.
Her case has now been referred to a local social welfare inspector to afford her an opportunity of providing the information requested. On receipt of the officer's report, the claim will be referred to a deciding officer for a formal decision.
Social welfare legislation places an obligation on people applying for a means-tested payment to disclose their full means at the time of application and to notify my Department of any subsequent changes that may arise.
