Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 March 2011
53 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be re-examined in view of the hardship being caused to the family by the decision to reduce their rent allowance; if the rent allowance will be increased and if she will expedite a response. [6319/11]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that payment of rent supplement to the person concerned ceased as the rent payable was in excess of the rent limit for the family size. The Executive further advised that the person concerned has sufficient household income to meet her household needs.
54 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary welfare and assistance with mortgage payments will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if she will expedite a reply. [6320/11]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that payment of mortgage interest supplement ceased as the person concerned has sufficient income to meet his mortgage interest costs.
55 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has been reduced; if the case will be reviewed and if the payment will be restored as the person has a serious medical condition and the reduction is causing financial hardship and distress. [6327/11]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been awarded rent supplement of €36 per week from 11 April 2011. This is the maximum amount payable based on her household circumstances.
56 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent allowance being paid to persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be increased and if she will expedite a response. [6328/11]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that the persons concerned are in receipt of the maximum amount of rent supplement payable based on the household income from disability allowance and jobseeker's allowance.
57 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements that were adopted when a person on the live register was employed by the Central Statistics Office for the purpose of compiling census 2011; the savings that were made to the Department for each person employed in this way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6330/11]
View answerOne of the qualifying conditions for a jobseeker's payment is that a person is unemployed for three days out of six (not including Sunday). This means that an enumerator could work up to four days a week, including Sunday, and still receive a jobseeker's payment.
A person on jobseeker's benefit must sign off for any days worked as an enumerator. If a jobseeker's benefit customer carries out his/her duties as an enumerator over three days each week, s/he may be entitled to jobseeker's benefit for the other three days provided all other statutory conditions are satisfied. Customers in receipt of a jobseeker's benefit payment have an entitlement to 234 or 312 days benefit depending on the number of contributions paid. Where a customer signs off for any days worked during the life of the claim, this extends the duration of his or her entitlement to jobseeker's benefit. There are no savings to the Department.
Where a person on jobseeker's allowance carries out his/her duties as an enumerator over three days each week, s/he may be paid a full week's jobseeker's allowance less any earnings means from the days worked, provided all other statutory conditions are satisfied. Statistics are not maintained on the savings to the Department as means can differ in each case.
58 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent allowance will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [6331/11]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that payment of rent supplement automatically ceased in September 2010 as the person concerned had not collected her payment for a number of weeks. If the person concerned wishes to make a new application for rent supplement then she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre.
59 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when disability allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6345/11]
View answerThe person concerned applied for disability allowance on 4 February 2011. As this is a means tested allowance she has been asked to forward a P45 from her last employment and bank statements for the past six months. A decision on her entitlement to disability allowance will be given on receipt of the requested documentation and she will be notified directly of the outcome. The person has also been advised of her possible entitlement to an invalidity pension and an application for same has been forwarded to her.
