Written Answers Nos. 140-150
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9453/13]
View answerThere is no record of a rent supplement application in respect of the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to apply for rent supplement she should complete an application form and return it to the Kildare Rents Unit, PO Box 11758 Dublin 24.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for an exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9454/13]
View answerThe Department has no record of a current application for an exceptional needs payment from the person concerned. The person concerned may contact the relevant office and make an application if a need exits.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the restricted entitlement to rent support in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9455/13]
View answerIn the case of the persons concerned, the limit for rent supplement for a family of three dependent children in their area as set in legislation is €900.00. This statutory limit expires on 30 June 2013, and as such cannot be reviewed before then.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support will be adjusted upwards in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9456/13]
View answerThe rent supplement claim of the person concerned has been reassessed in light of the new information provided. All arrears have been paid. The person concerned has been informed of the change in her entitlement.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the maximum level of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9457/13]
View answerThe person concerned has not yet had his current rent supplement entitlement reviewed in line with the limits introduced by the Government in 2012. The person in question currently has a rent level which is above the maximum rent limit therefore at review stage, he will be given an appropriate period of time to contact his landlord to renegotiate the rent. If the landlord does not agree to reduce the rent in line with the new rates, Departmental officials will discuss the options open to the person in question, up to and including seeking alternative accommodation having regard to any existing lease arrangements.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure no loss of child benefit in respect of the seven days a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was out of the country to seek medical attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9459/13]
View answerChild Benefit section was not aware that the person concerned had been out of the country and entitlement has not or would not be impacted by this short absence. According to the Departments records the person concerned is not now employed in Ireland and as a result entitlement to child benefit is currently under review. A letter issued to the person concerned on 19/2/2013 seeking further information. When a reply is received entitlement to child benefit will be determined promptly.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if dietary allowance or exceptional needs payment will be made payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9460/13]
View answerThere is no current application from the person concerned for a dietary allowance or exceptional needs payment registered with this department. A previous application for a dietary allowance was refused and the decision upheld on 16 November 2012. An application for an exceptional needs payment was approved on 10 January 2013.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of contributions recorded to date entailing ultimate eligibility for old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9461/13]
View answerAs the person concerned will not reach pension age until June 2022, her State pension entitlement will be assessed on the basis of the qualifying conditions at that time. The Department is unable to provide forecasts for people in relation to their possible future State pension (transition/contributory) entitlements, or to comment on individual pension planning enquiries. The person concerned has today been furnished with a copy of her PRSI record, which is a full representation of her social insurance contribution record as currently held by the Department, together with a Guide which explains how entitlement to a State pension (transition/contributory) is currently assessed, and which should assist her in calculating what her future State pension entitlements might be. The Department's website www.welfare.ie also provides a comprehensive suite of information in relation to State pension entitlements, including a range of frequently asked questions and answers. If the person concerned feels there are any gaps or omissions in her PRSI record, she should contact Client Eligibility Services, Department of Social Protection, Inner Relief Road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current entitlement in respect of illness benefit or disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9462/13]
View answerThe person concerned made a claim for illness benefit from 13 March 2012. According to Departmental records this customer does not have 13 reckonable PRSI contributions paid in the years 2008 to 2012. This is a necessary condition that a claimant must satisfy in order to qualify for payment of illness benefit. The Department subsequently wrote to this customer on 23 May 2012 requesting evidence of any additional PRSI contributions that may have been paid in the relevant years. No reply or evidence of additional reckonable PRSI contributions has been received. The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 24 January 2011. The medical evidence supplied was referred to a Departmental Medical Assessor. It was the opinion of the Medical Assessor that this applicant was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and disallowed the claim. The person was notified of this decision by letter on 13 April 2011. It is open to the customer to make a new claim for disability allowance and this will be assessed in the normal manner and the person concerned will be notified of the decision in relation to the claim in due course.
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure the continued location of a community welfare officer in the Derrinturn/Carbury/Johnstownbridge area of North West Kildare having particular regard to the need to provide such a service adjacent to a very large rural community including a large urban conurbation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9463/13]
View answerThe community welfare service for the Derrinturn, Carbury and Johnstownbridge areas is provided from Derrinturn Health Centre. The provision of services is under review at present to determine the optimum configuration of same in line with the ongoing development of integrated services in the Mid Leinster Division of the Department. In the meantime, the community welfare service will continue to be provided from the Derrinturn Health Centre.
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9464/13]
View answerThe person concerned applied for disability allowance on 27 August 2012. The application is now with a deciding officer for a determination of the person's means and when a decision is made the person will be notified in writing of the outcome.
