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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2010

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Questions (199, 200, 201)

Deirdre Clune

Question:

251 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if emergency fuel allowance payments will be awarded to fuel allowance recipients in view of the long spell of cold weather; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2429/10]

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Written answers

The Department assists social welfare recipients with heating costs, through their basic payments, the fuel allowance scheme and the household benefits package of electricity and gas allowances. The household benefits package is payable throughout the year to almost 380,000 pensioners, people with disabilities, and carer households to assist them with their heating, light and cooking costs. This scheme cost approximately €200 million in 2009. In addition, the national fuel allowance scheme helps householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments to meet the additional cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full and must be seen in the context of the overall level of income available to the family. In budget 2009, the duration of the payment was increased by an extra two weeks to 32 weeks, while the weekly value of the allowance was increased by €2 to €20 a week, or €23.90 in designated smokeless areas. This compares with just €14 and €17.90 respectively in 2006. These are in addition to other improvements made in recent years, including a significant increase in the income threshold for the allowance with effect from 2008. A single person aged under 80, with a household income of less than €330.30 a week can now qualify for the fuel allowance. The income limits for couples are €483.80 a week where the qualified adult is aged under 66 and €536.80 a week where both adults are aged over 66. As a result of these improvements, almost 318,000 people benefited from the fuel allowance in 2009 at an estimated cost of €217 million.

In addition to the basic welfare payments, household benefits and fuel allowance payments highlighted above, the Department also provides funding to the Community Welfare Service to assist people with special heating needs. Community welfare officers can pay a heating supplement to people in certain circumstances with specific heating needs due to infirmity or a particular medical condition. They can also make exceptional needs payments to people who do not have enough money to meet their heating costs. Since the onset of the adverse weather conditions, community welfare officers have provided assistance to people to purchase additional fuel, heaters and clothing. They have also given funding towards the payment of heating bills and for repairs arising from burst pipes. Over €170,000 has been paid out since 1 January 2010 in respect of such claims. Assistance will continue to be provided towards the payment of heating bills for those in need. Paying a special increase in response to the bad weather would not necessarily represent a good targeting of limited resources. Rather, it is considered desirable to continue to give the CWOs the discretion and the funding to assist people who need extra financial support.

Jack Wall

Question:

252 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in relation to a domiciliary care grant for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2563/10]

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In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received by the Department on 4 June 2009. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child in question did not meet the medical criteria to be eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. A letter issued to the person in question on 21 July 2009 where she was advised of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance for not satisfying the medical criteria. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor specially designated for this task. If a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer, they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. There has been no appeal of the decision or request for a review received in the Department to date.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

253 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was refused domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2581/10]

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In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received by the Department on 23 November 2009. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child in question did not meet the medical criteria to be eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. A letter issued to the person in question on 13 January 2010 where she was advised of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance for not satisfying the medical criteria. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor specially designated for this task. If a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

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