Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 March 2012
131 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for domiciliary care allowance currently on hand; the likely timescale for decisions; the degree, if any, to which she can speed up the processing of such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12038/12]
View answerThere are currently 450 applications for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) on hands in the Department, with approximately 100 new claims received each week. Each application is assessed by one of the Department's medical assessors before being returned to the deciding officer for decision. Applicants are notified of the outcome of their applications in writing. Currently, it takes approximately seven weeks to process an application.
132 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure against the occurrence of overpayments which result in recovery and consequent hardship, with particular reference to cases in which the overpayment is not as a result of oversight or negligence on the part of the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12039/12]
View answerMy Department is fully committed to recovering 100% of overpayments arising as a result of suspected fraud or error. Effective debt recovery is seen as an integral part of the deterrent to fraudulent claiming. Debt holders should be aware that a departmental debt will remain on their records until fully recovered and will result in a reduction of all future entitlements up to and including state pension. Following the death of a customer who owes a debt, the Department will have a claim on any estate remaining.
Those clients who are aware that they are being or have been overpaid by my Department should contact their local social welfare office immediately. An overpayment recovery plan, acceptable both to the customer and to the Department, will then be agreed. The general approach is that the recovery amount proposed will be the maximum repayment that the debtor can afford in order to recover the overpayment as quickly as possible.
The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of my Department. In the context of the Fraud Initiative 2011-2013 which I launched last September, the Department is reviewing its overall approach to debt recovery. A range of options are currently being considered with a view to both minimising overpayments and increasing the rate of recoveries. The consideration of all the options has to be balanced, of course, clearly taking into account the core income support and social inclusion purpose of social protection payments and any particular legal requirements.
133 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the position of people on local authority housing lists who have not been offered housing accommodation and continue to rely on private rented accommodation, which in turn is the subject of very strict guidelines regarding the maximum rent payable, with particular reference to areas such as north Kildare, which, by virtue of their location, are in the higher rent bracket, and who now find themselves unable to source rental properties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12040/12]
View answerRent supplement provides short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Since 2005, rent supplement expenditure has increased from €369 million to a provisional outturn of €503 million in 2011. The number of persons claiming the allowance increased from almost 60,200 persons in 2005 to over 96,800 at end 2011, a 61% increase.
The Government has effectively two initiatives to deal with long term reliance on rent supplement. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is in operation since 2004 and the new Housing Policy Initiative as announced by our colleagues the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Housing and Planning on 16th June 2011.
Both initiatives give the local authorities specific responsibility for meeting the long term housing needs of people receiving rent supplement. Latest figures show that over 37,700 rent supplement tenancies have now been transferred from rent supplement to RAS and other social housing options since its inception.
The new maximum rent limits were set after an analysis of the most up to date market data available. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation.
As the Department currently funds approximately 40% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review, reflect current market conditions and do not distort the market in way that could increase rent prices for others, such as low paid workers and students.
As existing claims come up for review (most claims are reviewed every six months), or when an existing lease expires, they will be reassessed using the new limits. Where a claim is under review and the rent is above the new maximum limit the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates departmental officials will discuss the options open to the tenant up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Departmental guidance to the officers administering rent supplement states that where negotiation with the landlord fails then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to thirteen weeks at the higher rate.
However, once the lease has expired, the tenant will be expected to find suitable accommodation at below the new limits in force. It is accepted that in limited circumstances rent supplement recipients may be forced to secure alternative accommodation. It should be stressed however, that these new limits will not cause or create homelessness for anyone in receipt of rent supplement.
