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Family Income Supplement Application Numbers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Questions (408)

Michael Lowry

Question:

408. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of family income supplement applicants and renewals submitted from persons in Co. Tipperary since June 2012; the number of these applications still awaiting a decision; the average turnover time for such applications; the steps being taken to tackle these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52799/12]

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Written answers

The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. FIS claims, both new and renewal, received on or after the 5th November 2012 are currently being processed on receipt. There are 284 new family income supplement (FIS) applications and 340 renewal applications from the County of Tipperary pending decision since before 5th November. An in-depth business process improvement (BPI) project has recently been completed for the FIS scheme. This project focused on optimising output, improving customer service and the elimination of backlogs. Part of the project was a detailed examination of workloads and a full assessment of existing capacity within the area and what capacity is needed in order to process the volumes of claims, both new and renewal, being received on a weekly basis. The outcome of this review is a detailed plan outlining the process required to manage both the continuous weekly intake and backlog claims clearance. This plan sees the current weekly new claim and renewal intake processed by one team, while the backlog is ring-fenced and a focused team assigned to this work with a clear plan for its elimination.

The team, including additional temporary resources has been identified and is already assigned and working on the backlog claims. In order to reduce the time it will take to eliminate the backlog, some claims are being processed outside of Longford Social Welfare Services Office. This team is fully focussed on the elimination of the backlog of claims in the shortest possible timeframe, concentrating in the first instance on those claims which were previously in payment but where payment has expired and continuing on to first-time new claims. Within those categories, those waiting the longest will be processed first. It is expected that the backlog will be fully eliminated by the end of March 2013. Claims which are approved by the backlog team will be backdated to the date of claim or the date of expiry of the previous claim, as appropriate, and all arrears due will be paid.

Questions Nos. 409 and 410 withdrawn.
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