Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004

Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Questions (164, 165)

John McGuinness

Question:

184 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason it has taken so long to give financial assistance and support to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the further reason the orphan’s allowance was refused; if supplementary allowance will be awarded; if an application for same will be expedited; if an immediate review of this person’s case will be carried out and financial and other supports put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32044/04]

Written answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

A claim for orphan's contributory allowance by the person concerned was refused by a deciding officer on 14 July 2004 on the grounds that the child, who currently resides with his father, is not an orphan within the meaning of the legislation. The objective of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the health boards, is to provide assistance to an eligible person whose means are insufficient to meet his or her basic needs and those of his or her dependants.

With the exception of those participating in approved schemes, such as back to work or community employment, people engaged in full-time remunerative employment are excluded in legislation from receipt of supplementary welfare allowance. The person concerned is in full-time employment and therefore does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of this allowance.

David Stanton

Question:

185 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications being considered for the family income supplement; the average time it takes to process an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32068/04]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Family income supplement, FIS, is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families and thereby preserve the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if s/he were claiming other social welfare payments. There are currently 14,506 FIS recipients. The average weekly payment is €73.32. A total of 618 new claims are currently awaiting decision.

So far this year up to the end of November 2004, my Department has decided 6,759 new or first time applications and a further 13,250 applications for renewal of entitlement to FIS. In November 2004, 67% of new claims were awarded within three weeks. In October, 66% of new claims were awarded within three weeks while in September, 65% were awarded within three weeks.

My Department has introduced improvements in the way claims are processed. As a result, the proportion of claims decided within three weeks is rising despite the fact that the number of new application received so far this year is more than 13% higher than in the same period last year.