Social Welfare Code

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Questions (407)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

407. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if in the event of the death of a person who had been cared for by a person (details supplied) in County Longford, that the person who had been in receipt of carer's allowance could access Social Protection supports through a means other than job seekers' allowance; if the payment could be made directly to the person through the post office instead of the Social Welfare Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4028/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department administers a range of social insurance and assistance schemes to cater for the support needs of its customers. These schemes are contingency based and are designed to address particular circumstance such as involuntary unemployment, illness, disability, reaching pension age etc. Entitlement to payment depends on the individual circumstances of the customer concerned and in order to qualify for payment the person must satisfy the eligibility criteria and conditions of entitlement for the scheme.

In the case of jobseeker payments all customers are required to occasionally attend a Social Welfare Local Office to confirm on-going eligibility and to verify the fact that that they are still unemployed, available for work and that they are genuinely seeking employment opportunities. Payments to customers are generally made via the local post office. As the specific details of this case are not known I have asked my Department to contact your office to establish the person’s possible entitlement to another social welfare payment.