Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005
122 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there is a different system in relation to community welfare officers in different health board areas in regard to payment to applicants who are having their applications for unemployment assistance processed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2169/05]
View answerThe Department of Social and Family Affairs endeavours to ensure that applications for unemployment assistance are decided as quickly as possible in all local offices. A person awaiting a decision on an application for assistance from the Department or whose application is in dispute who finds that he or she has insufficient means with which to provide for his or her basic needs may apply for interim assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.
Of the 4,426 people who are receiving basic supplementary welfare allowance while awaiting a decision on a claim for unemployment assistance, 340 are in the former Midland Health Board region, 578 are in the former South Eastern Health Board region and 1,260 are in the former ERHA region. The totals in each region are broadly proportionate having regard to the levels of unemployment assistance in the regions.
The decision in any individual case on whether an applicant is entitled to the allowance is a matter for the relevant community welfare officer, based on the applicant's circumstances. An applicant for the allowance who is not satisfied with the decision taken in his or her case may lodge an appeal, which will be dealt with firstly by an appeals officer at a senior level in the health service. If the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal, he or she may lodge a further appeal with the independent social welfare appeals office.
While there is no automatic entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance in circumstances where another social assistance claim is in process, a community welfare officer may award supplementary welfare allowance in any case in which the Health Service Executive considers that the circumstances of the case so warrant. An assessment of a person's means and needs is carried out in each case. If there is a shortfall in a person's income a payment may be made to bring it up to the appropriate supplementary welfare allowance rate.
123 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person’s involvement on a community employment scheme prevent the person from obtaining a rent subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2170/05]
View answerA person on a community employment scheme may apply for rent supplement. The claim will be assessed under standard rules concerning means, housing need and other factors that are considered in all new cases. Rent supplement will be awarded if the standard conditions are satisfied. Under standard assessment rules, rent supplements are calculated to ensure that an eligible person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €13 which each recipient is required to pay from his or her own resources. Up to €50 — increasing to €60 from the end of January 2005 — in respect of additional income from part-time employment is disregarded in the means test, thus ensuring that a person is better off as a result of taking up such an opportunity. Community employment is regarded as part-time employment for these purposes.
A person who is already in receipt of rent supplement and who is considering taking up an offer of a community employment place may continue to receive rent supplement, subject to the standard means test described above or under special arrangements if they are more beneficial in the individual case. Such special arrangements, which have been in place for a number of years, allow people to retain a portion of the rent supplement if they take up employment through approved schemes such as community employment, subject to a weekly household income limit of €317.43.
Rent supplement may be retained on a tapered basis, such as 75% in the first year, 50% in the second year and 25% in the third and fourth years. People who take up a community employment place are not automatically disqualified from receiving rent supplement if their weekly household income exceeds the €317.43 limit. Any participant in community employment has the option of being assessed under standard rules or using the retention arrangement described above and will be entitled to receive payment under the more favourable option in his or her situation.
