Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2011
97 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when basic payment will be made in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/11]
View answerThe HSE has advised that the person concerned was refused a basic weekly payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme as he was not considered habitually resident in the State, a decision that was upheld by the Appeals Office in the HSE.
This decision was then appealed to the Social Welfare Chief Appeals Officer. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this appeal in due course.
98 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which his reduced income was taken into account in the determination of his entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4365/11]
View answerThe person concerned has re-applied for jobseeker's allowance with effect from 24th January 2011. His application is currently being processed and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
99 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the period of unemployment and receipts of social welfare payment in the period 2004 to 2006 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4369/11]
View answerDuring the period in question the person concerned was paid jobseeker's allowance from 6th March 2006 to 27th January 2007 and received a total payment of €7,333.30.
100 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when he expects to reach a conclusion in respect of entitlement to child benefit claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4375/11]
View answerCorrespondence issued to the Lithuanian authorities on 12 October 2010 in relation to the person concerned, querying her entitlement to family benefits in that State as her son now resides there. No reply has been received to date, but based on experience of this type of case a reply from the Lithuanian authorities could take between 3 and 6 months.
On receipt of a reply from the Lithuanian authorities entitlement to Child Benefit will be examined and the person concerned will be notified accordingly.
101 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify his policy of considering ex-taxi drivers for jobseeker’s allowance; if it is policy to request them to surrender their PSV licence; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4390/11]
View answerSelf-employed people, including taxi drivers, can apply for the means-tested jobseeker's allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. If a taxi driver has ceased operating in the taxi business completely, the Department requires a letter from the Taxi Regulator confirming that the customer has surrendered his or her PSV licence. This is required, along with other evidence, so that the Department is satisfied that the customer is no longer receiving an income from self-employment in the taxi business.
If a self-employed customer is still trading as a taxi driver he or she does not have to surrender the PSV licence in order to claim jobseeker's allowance. Means from self-employment will be assessed to determine the level of jobseeker's allowance paid to the person. It is recognised that the present downturn in the economy is having a significant impact on many self-employed persons and the consequent reduction in their income and activity levels would be reflected in any assessment of their means from self-employment for jobseeker's allowance purposes.
If a self-employed person's situation changes after they have made an initial claim for jobseeker's allowance, the person can apply to have his or her means reviewed in the light of these changed circumstances.
Information on social welfare entitlements, including for self-employed people, is set out on the Department's website www.welfare.ie.
