I propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 640 together.
The Deputy has clarified that this PQ is regarding two specific issues relating to the timelag between making a claim and receiving a decision. In particular, (1) delays when a person is claiming invalidity pension (IP) having previously been in receipt of illness benefit (IB) and (2) delays in processing family income supplement (FIS) payments where a person or their spouse is awaiting a decision on another social welfare application.
Since January 2009 payment of IB is limited to a maximum of 104 weeks (624 pay days) in most cases. There are a number of possible social welfare payments for which a customer may qualify thereafter, depending on their circumstances. Letters are sent to IB customers 13 weeks before their claim is due to expire. The customer is advised about other possible schemes for which they may qualify, including invalidity pension, disability allowance, jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and supplementary welfare allowance. Customers are also advised that if they are considering applying for any of the schemes they should do so as soon as possible.
Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the PRSI conditions. In an effort to ensure continuity of payment priority is given to applications received from IB recipients whose payment is due to expire. Since the introduction of the two year expiration of IB there has been a significant increase in the number of IP claims received in this department. A high percentage of these applicants are not suitable for IP as they are not medically assessed as being permanently incapable of work.
The processing time for individual Invalidity pension claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the qualifying criteria.
Payment of FIS is based, inter alia, on a fixed proportion of the gap between the assessable income (net of income taxes, PRSI, Pension contribution and USC) of the household and prescribed FIS income thresholds.
In assessing weekly family income for the purposes of FIS most weekly social welfare payments are also taken into account when means are assessed. Accordingly in order for a FIS means assessment to be completed the value of other assessable social welfare payments being made to a household must be available.
Consequently there can be a delay in completing the FIS means assessment in a small number of cases where a final outcome is awaited on the value of another social welfare payment due to a household.
There are approximately 69 FIS claims currently awaiting finalisation of a means test pending a decision on another social welfare application by a household. These cases are being kept under review to ensure that the final FIS means assessment is completed as quickly as possible.
This Department is continually reviewing its processes in an effort to improve processing times and subsequently customer service. Customers waiting on a decision on a social welfare claim, who have urgent income support needs, can apply for the means tested supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) from their local Community Welfare Officer.