Written Answers Nos. 670-692
670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the flexibility exists under social welfare legislation for a person who is in receipt of partial jobseeker's allowance and working for two days a week, and who qualifies for State pension transition to retain their jobseeker's payment and hence their entitlement to hold employment in lieu of not claiming the State pension transition when they reach 65 years. [17230/13]
View answerThe jobseeker's allowance scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for this scheme that a person must be available for full-time work and the scheme is also subject to a means test.
A person is entitled to jobseeker’s allowance where, inter alia, they are fully unemployed for at least 4 days in any period of 7 consecutive days. It is not payable in respect of any day during which the person is engaged in insurable employment.
Jobseeker’s allowance is payable up to the age of 66 so may, subject to scheme criteria, be paid when a person is 65.
671. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the total number of persons in County Waterford that have taken part in the JobBridge programme since its inception; the total number that have completed an internship; the total numbers that are now in full-time employment after completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17237/13]
View answerJobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, came into operation on 1st July 2011. To-date, 16,326 placements have commenced. Of which, 556 placements have commenced in County Waterford. Of those in County Waterford, 356 individuals have now finished their internship and 200 individuals are currently on an internship. Of the 356 individuals who have finished their internship, 126,(36%) stated that they went directly into employment, either with their host organisation or with another employer, immediately on completion of their internship. This figure excludes interns who would have entered employment in the weeks subsequent to completing the internship.
An independent evaluation of JobBridge carried out by conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants found that 61% of individuals who have participated in JobBridge have progressed into employment within five months of completing their internship placements. This high level of progression into employment exceeds that of similar schemes across Europe, suggesting that JobBridge is an appropriate labour market intervention. If internships in County Waterford follow the national trend it would mean that 217 individuals would have found employment within 5 months of finishing their internship. Please see table below for further information.
Table 1.
JobBridge in County Waterford (1 st July, 2011 – 11 th April 2013)
|
Category |
Number of Individuals |
|
Total Internships |
556 |
|
Total Finishers |
356 |
|
Total Finishers progressing into Employment on immediate completion of their internship |
126 |
|
Number in Employment 5 months after completing internship based on Indecon analysis |
217 |
672. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an illness benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17318/13]
View answerPayment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
An appeal was registered on 20th March 2013 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been completed.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
674. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining eligibility for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17338/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 10th April 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
675. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of phoning the Citizens Information Service; the reason for changing form a freephone number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17344/13]
View answerThe Citizens Information Service did not operate a freephone number but did operate a LoCall service for a number of years. Due to the deregulation of the telephony market and the introduction of different packages and plans for residential customers, as well as the rise in numbers of people owning mobile phones, the costs to customers of calling this LoCall service could vary.
While it is not possible to state the exact cost to individual customers, the introduction of a new 0761 prefix for Citizens Information and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) telephone numbers is part of a Government initiative to reduce call costs for both public bodies and customers. Calls to 0761 numbers are charged at national call rates, from both landlines and mobile numbers and are included in any bundle of minutes offered by all telephone service providers.
680. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the phasing out of the one parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17426/13]
View answerI am very conscious that the forthcoming changes to the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme highlight the need for additional supports for lone parents that will be affected by these reforms. In particular, there will be a need for additional after-school child care provision so as to assist former OFP recipients to make their transition into employment or other activation supports. The subsidised after-school child care scheme that Minister Fitzgerald and I jointly announced as part of Budget 2013 recognises the support that these individuals will require. This new scheme will provide 6,000 subsidised after-school child care places for social welfare income support recipients who enter employment and have children of primary school age. Officials from my Department, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and the Department of Education and Skills have worked closely to finalise the scope and parameters of the scheme. This initiative will be rolled out on a nationwide basis during 2013 commencing with a pilot of 500 places in late April, 2013 across 7 Intreo and Social Welfare Local Offices.
The availability of these additional after-school child care places is a positive measure for lone parents and builds on my pledge to work to address the child care needs of lone parents in light of the reforms that are being carried out on the OFP scheme. In addition, I have postponed the commencement date of the reductions to the age of the youngest child for receipt of the OFP payment from January, 2013, to July, 2013.
I think I have always been clear that my policy objective is to incentivise people of working age to work and this includes lone parents. All of the evidence shows that work is the best route out of poverty for parents and children. Activation is therefore a critical policy tool which I have ensured underpins the approach of my Department. I do of course keep this and all policy matters relating to working age payments under review. The Deputy will be aware that the Social Welfare Bill has not yet been published or approved by Government so I am not in a position to comment further on its contents.
681. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a domiciliary care appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [17433/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th November 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10th April 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
682. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a domiciliary care allowance appeal will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17462/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25th February 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
684. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any further plans for the respite care grant this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17473/13]
View answerExpenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant and; €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. Carers also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million. The revised rate of the respite care grant of €1,375 will still be more than what it was in 2006 when the rate was €1,200.
The respite care grant is paid to more than 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in receipt of more than one grant as they care for more than one person. Almost 54,000 people are in receipt of the carer’s allowance and 27,000 in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance. There are also 1,700 in receipt of carer’s benefit. Some 5,000 carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment also receive the grant.
Carers receive significant income supports from my Department, among the highest rates of income support in Europe. A person getting certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person can keep their main social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer’s allowance as well. The half-rate carer’s allowance was protected in Budget 2013.
The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient.
I have no further plans for the respite care grant this year.
685. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17478/13]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 13th July 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 30th September 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and he was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th April 2012 that the appeal had been disallowed.
The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not made available to the deciding and appeals officers when they made their decisions, it is open to her to re-apply for the allowance.
686. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17481/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25th March 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
687. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25th March 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
688. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which it is proposed to reduce mortgage interest supplement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17601/13]
View answerFollowing a review, the mortgage interest supplement payable to the person concerned was reduced with effect from 1st April 2013 because her mortgage interest repayments have reduced.
A calculation sheet and an explanation note were issued to the person concerned on 20th March 2013.
689. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to refuse State pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if consideration was previously given to partnership with their spouse in respect of a joint business venture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17608/13]
View answerThe State pension (contributory) claim of the person concerned has been reviewed and her employment history has been fully investigated. Her application was disallowed on 18 June 2012 as she has a total of 303 full-rate paid social insurance contributions (and an additional 26 credited contributions, which is insufficient to satisfy the minimum 520 full-rate paid contribution condition. Social insurance payable during her employment as a teacher from 1968 to 1969 would have been at the modified rate and cannot be used in the assessment for State pension (contributory) entitlement. A period of employment in 1971, even if deemed insurable, would not be sufficient to increase her overall record in order to satisfy the qualifying conditions.
It is open to anybody to apply for retrospective recognition of a commercial partnership. Spouses who have been actively engaged in a partnership may be brought into the social insurance system, subject to certain criteria. The Department has no record of the person concerned applying for recognition of a commercial partnership. If she wishes to make such application, she can do so to the Department’s Scope Section, Oisín House, 212-213 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Her application will be investigated. If the existence of a commercial partnership is recognised, following the payment of any assessed self-employed PRSI liability, her State pension (contributory) claim will be reviewed and she will be notified of the outcome without delay.
690. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will accept a late appeal in respect of carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17609/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. A form for the opening of an appeal has been forwarded to the person concerned and requesting her to state the grounds for her appeal. On receipt of her reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
691. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection having regard to vulnerable circumstances, if an exceptional needs payment might be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17610/13]
View answerThe person concerned has not submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment. To do so she should contact her local community welfare service office by phoning 1800 383 800.
692. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17611/13]
View answerI am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an appeal was registered on 11th April 2013, and in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Appeals Office have contacted the applicant and asked him to set out the complete grounds of his appeal. On receipt of his response the relevant departmental papers will be requested from the Department and the appeal will then be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister of Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
