Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2011
415 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will explain the position that sees a person who lost his job a year ago and returned to education last September, completing a FETAC certificate, deemed ineligible for the position of a Tús supervisor, in view of the fact that he was in receipt of a back to education grant, as opposed to jobseeker’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24141/11]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative provides short-term community-based work opportunities for people who are fully unemployed for more than a year. The person concerned, who completed a Back to Education Allowance Scheme in June this year, does not satisfy the eligibility criteria for participating on TUS or for recruitment as a full time TUS Supervisor/Team Leader.
416 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection when a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [24142/11]
View answerThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year.
The administrative arrangements for the 2011 BSCFA scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of BSCFA entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers, 127,000 households in respect of over 250,000 children received their payment automatically in June.
Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete and return an application form to the Department. The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors including: the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements and other relevant information regarding an individual's application.
In addition, some aspects of the applications are inevitably time consuming and delays can occur where further investigations or third party evidence is required. Delays can also arise if the applicant is slow to respond to requests for additional information. Staff are working as quickly as possible on clearing the large volume of manual application claims received. Based on the current volume of applications it could take up to 8 weeks from date of receipt to process claims. Departmental records show that an application form was received from the person concerned on 22nd July 2011 and it is expected she will be notified of the outcome of her claim shortly.
417 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for family income supplement in respect of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24149/11]
View answerIn order to qualify for family income supplement (FIS), a person must (inter alia) be an employee who is engaged in remunerative employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 19 hours per week or 38 hours per fortnight.
When a person is absent from work due to illness and claims illness benefit (IB), both FIS and illness benefit are only payable for a period of 6 weeks. Section 247(7) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides for the withdrawal of FIS after 6 weeks where a person is in receipt of illness benefit.
The person concerned received both FIS and illness benefit concurrently until 27 July 2011 when payment of FIS was withdrawn as the 6 week period allowed for concurrent payment of these benefits had expired.
Subsequently the person concerned made an application for carer's benefit indicating that she had ceased work to provide full time care to her husband. Arrangements are currently being made to award carer's benefit with effect from 15 September 2011 and the person concerned will be notified directly.
A disability allowance application was received on 6 July 2011 for the husband of the person concerned. His claim is currently being assessed by a medical assessor from this Department. His claim is also awaiting a decision on his weekly means. Claims are dealt with as quickly as possible and in date order of receipt in the Department. A decision on his entitlement to disability allowance will be issued as soon as possible and he will be notified directly of the outcome.
In the meantime the person concerned continues to receive a weekly supplementary welfare allowance payment for the family pending the award of her carer's benefit.
