Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
410. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for jobseeker's benefit; the number of applicants currently waiting for their jobseeker's benefit application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5226/13]
View answer411. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for jobseeker's allowance; the number of applicants are currently waiting for their jobseeker's allowance application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5227/13]
View answer415. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for one parent family payment; the number of applicants currently waiting for their one parent family payment application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5231/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 410, 411 and 415 together.
In 2012, a total of 432,557 claims for jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit and one-parent family payment were received in my Department’s Local Offices. At the 31 December 2012 there were 29,556 claims (6.8% of the total received) awaiting decision. A breakdown of the number of claims awaiting a decision by scheme together with the average waiting time from date of application to award in weeks is contained in the tabular statement. It is to be noted that both jobseekers allowance and one parent family payments are subject to an assessment of means and other qualifying conditions. Accordingly, processing times are longer than for jobseekers benefit which is a PRSI contributions based payment.
|
Scheme |
Pending Claims end of December 2012 |
Average Time to Award (Weeks) |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
18,464 |
4 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
7,723 |
2 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
3,369 |
14 |
