Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
763 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement with a breakdown by duration at intervals of three months; if she will provide comparative date with the end of year position in 2007 and 2008. [1458/10]
View answer764 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average monthly or weekly payment of mortgage interest supplement. [1459/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 763 and 764 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department.
The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only.
The average mortgage interest supplement payment is €78.78 per week. There follows a tabular statement on mortgage interest supplement recipients by duration for end 2007, end 2008 and end 2009.
|
Months |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
0 to 3 |
527 |
1,607 |
1,234 |
|
3 to 6 |
630 |
1,869 |
2,315 |
|
6 to 9 |
453 |
1,045 |
2,626 |
|
9 to 12 |
343 |
788 |
2,997 |
|
12 to 24 |
874 |
1,250 |
4,124 |
|
24 to 36 |
405 |
593 |
830 |
|
36 to 48 |
231 |
290 |
417 |
|
48 to 60 |
192 |
176 |
177 |
|
60 to 72 |
139 |
139 |
112 |
|
72 plus |
317 |
334 |
269 |
|
Total |
4,111 |
8,091 |
15,101 |
(1)Claims with duration of precisely 3 months are recorded under the 3-6 months heading, claims with duration of precisely 6 months are recorded under the 6-9 months heading and so on.
766 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide details of the nationalities of those who were refused social welfare payments due to a failure to meet the habitual residence requirement in 2008 and 2009 detailing the number and specific welfare allowance in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1496/10]
View answer789 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of Irish citizens refused benefit payments in 2009 due to their failure to meet the habitual residency requirement. [1943/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions 766 and 789 together.
The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. The requirement does not apply to benefit schemes.
All applicants — regardless of nationality — for the following assistance payments are required to be habitually resident in the State:
Jobseeker's Allowance
State Pension (Non-Contributory for persons aged over 66)
Blind Pension
Widow's, Widower's and Orphan's Non-Contributory Pensions
One-Parent Family Payment
Carer's Allowance
Disability Allowance
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (including Rent Supplement)
Domiciliary Care Allowance
Child Benefit
The number of people who were disallowed payments in 2008 and 2009, based on the failure to satisfy the habitual residence condition was 6,297 and 10,582 respectively.
The following tables set out the yearly breakdown by scheme and nationality.
|
2008 |
Irish |
UK |
EU 13 |
New Member States |
Other |
Total |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
879 |
150 |
498 |
2,874 |
134 |
4,535 |
|
State Pension (Non-Con) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Blind Pension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Widow/er’s & Orphan’s Non-Con Pensions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
37 |
7 |
16 |
160 |
75 |
295 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
7 |
0 |
1 |
46 |
33 |
87 |
|
Disability Allowance |
40 |
3 |
13 |
158 |
64 |
278 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
Scheme administered by HSE |
0 |
||||
|
Child Benefit |
22 |
5 |
32 |
548 |
495 |
1,102 |
|
Total |
985 |
165 |
560 |
3,786 |
801 |
6,297 |
|
2009 |
Irish |
UK |
EU 13 |
New Member States |
Other |
Total |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
530 |
401 |
669 |
5,211 |
673 |
7,484 |
|
State Pension (Non-Con) |
9 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
16 |
|
Blind Pension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Widow/er’s & Orphan’s Non-Con Pensions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
23 |
27 |
13 |
230 |
88 |
381 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
33 |
34 |
7 |
75 |
43 |
192 |
|
Disability Allowance |
98 |
74 |
23 |
280 |
95 |
570 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
14 |
|
Child Benefit |
45 |
154 |
114 |
1,130 |
475 |
1,918 |
|
Total |
738 |
692 |
826 |
6,944 |
1,382 |
10.582 |
Statistics on the number of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) claims that do not satisfy the habitual residence condition are not maintained by the various HSE areas. However, it is estimated that approximately 1.5% of all SWA claims are disallowed for HRC reasons. It is open to any customer who is not satisfied with the decision on their claim to appeal that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
