Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005
340 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason payment of the disability allowance was discontinued for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the action which is being taken to rectify the situation; when payment will be restored; the person who assessed the claim and dealt with this person. [3367/05]
View answerContinued entitlement to disability allowance is subject to the person satisfying a means test and the medical eligibility criteria that apply. Legislation provides that all income which the claimant and his or her spouse or partner have is assessable for means purposes subject to certain exemptions.
Following a review, the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer from 19 January 2005 on the grounds that he had failed to show that his income from self-employment did not exceed the statutory limit for receipt of the allowance. He was notified of this decision on 24 January 2005, the reason for it and of his right of appeal to the social welfare appeals office. He is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance. If the person concerned provides full details of his income, his entitlement to disability allowance will be assessed and payment of any moneys he may be due will be made without delay.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.
341 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding extending the respite care grant to pensioners and others not claiming the carer’s allowance. [3369/05]
View answer347 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the changes announced in budget 2005 the respite care grant; the way in which eligibility for this grant will now be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3543/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 347 together.
The conditions for receipt of the extended respite care grant will be set out in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill and regulations. As set out in my speech at budget time, the following broad conditions will apply: the carer must be providing full-time care to a person who is in need of such care; as is the case with recipients of carer's allowance, a full-time carer must not be engaged in employment for more than ten hours per week; and those who are on unemployment payments will be excluded since they are required to be available for and actively seeking full-time work. Full details of the conditions for receipt of the extended respite care grant will be widely publicised in advance of the payment date.
342 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the pension of persons (details supplied) in County Wexford was reduced; the payment they are in receipt of; the options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3370/05]
View answerA person aged 66 years or over may qualify for an old age non-contributory pension if his or her weekly means do not exceed €171.10. All income is taken into account in calculating the means including the value of any property owned, but excluding a person's own home.
Each of the couple concerned is getting an old age non-contributory pension of €38.50 per week based upon weekly means of €133.05 which were assessed in January 2002. However, following a recent review of their circumstances by a social welfare inspector, their weekly means had increased to €185.23.
As the means of each of the couple are currently in excess of the maximum statutory limit, their pensions are due to be revoked. However, before a formal decision is made on this matter, a deciding officer of my Department wrote to the couple in January 2005 affording them a period of 21 days in which to supply any evidence which might indicate that their means assessment is incorrect. If no reply is received to this letter, a decision on their entitlement to pension will be made based upon the facts currently available.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions relating 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.
