Finian McGrath
Question:152. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a hearing grant in respect of a person (details supplied). [23410/13]
View answerTreatment Benefit Scheme Applications
Questions (152)
Written answers
Eligibility to the treatment benefit scheme is based on the person concerned having paid the required number of pay related social insurance contributions (PRSI). Qualifying conditions vary depending on the person's age, someone aged under 21 years requires a minimum of 39 PRSI contributions paid at Class A, E, H, or P. According to the Department's records, the person concerned has not paid any PRSI contributions to date and therefore does not qualify for the benefit. If the person concerned has a medical card, his local HSE office will be able to advise him of his entitlements under their scheme.
Social Welfare Appeals Delays
Questions (153)
Catherine Murphy
Question:153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review processes in her Department in situations where an appeal against a refusal is accepted and registered with the appeals office and where there is often a long delay in the appeals office receiving the file from the relevant scheme department, in some cases leading to excessive delays in the ability of the appeals office to decide the case in a timely manner, in some cases decisions can exceed a full year (details supplied); if she will she outline the process involved and identify the part of that process is causing the delay or delays in sending the files to the appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23411/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers and works to ensure that claims and appeals are processed in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme.
There have been significant improvements in work practices across all schemes during the past year, specifically in the illness related schemes which underwent major service delivery modernisation projects. In addition major process improvement projects have been completed with significant improvements in processing times and the elimination of backlogs in many scheme areas.
As a consequence of the very high number of decisions made in the last year, there has been a corresponding substantial increase in the number of appeals being received. This had put pressure on the administration of appeals and resulted in some delays which are regrettable. This is being addressed and will be cleared in the next number of months. In addition, delays did develop in the processing of medical assessments and reviews due to a combination of factors including the increased workload for medical assessors and the reduced number of medical assessors due to retirements. The Department has addressed this issue by recently running a competition to establish a new panel of medical assessors. To date six Medical Assessors have been appointed from this panel, three of whom took up duty in November 2012 and a further three in March of this year. It is expected that a further four medical assessors will be appointed from the panel in the near future.
I place great emphasis on ensuring that all appeals are processed in a timely manner but the length of time from when an appeal against a refusal is accepted and registered with the appeals office to where the appeals office receives the file from the relevant scheme area varies. Depending on the case quite a few activities must occur before the file can be finalised for submission to the appeals office, including time spent in the scheme area for comment by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department's Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. Because of its quasi-judicial nature, the processing of appeals takes time and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.
In relation to the specific case highlighted I can confirm that the Department received a Carer's Allowance application from the person in question on the 23rd of February 2012. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. He was notified of this decision, the reason for it, and of his right of review or appeal on the 8th of August 2012. The applicant subsequently appealed this decision and sent in further medical evidence on the 31st of August 2012. This medical evidence was scanned on 22nd of September 2012 and a review of the medical evidence was completed by a Medical Assessor on the 7th of January 2013. The additional information did not alter the opinion of the medical assessor, the deciding officer saw no grounds to change the original decision and the file was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 18th of January 2013. An Appeals Officer upheld the original decision to disallow the application and the appeal was disallowed on the 16th of April 2013. Following the receipt of further medical evidence, the file was subsequently recalled by the Social Welfare Appeals Office and was returned to them on 30th of April 2013. The file is currently with an Appeals Officer since the 3rd of May 2013.
Questions Nos. 154 and 155 withdrawn.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments
Questions (156)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:156. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a county breakdown of the number of person's who availed of the religious ceremonies grant over the last five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23447/13]
View answerWritten answers
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The Government has provided €47.6 million for the ENP scheme in 2013.
For 2013, the Department has recommended that payment of the allowance specifically in respect of religious ceremonies will cease. Applications can continue to be made under the scheme for assistance with child clothing. This measure will ensure that the ENP scheme will continue to respond to specific needs and not to the occasion.
ENP's statistics in respect of religious ceremonies are not available on a county basis. Detail of ENPs paid during the past five years for religious ceremonies is provided in the tabular statement.
Tabular Statement
ENP Statistics on Religious Ceremonies 2008 to 2012
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
Amount |
|
2008 |
9,180 |
€2.5m |
|
2009 |
10,660 |
€2.9m |
|
2010 |
12,660 |
€3.3m |
|
2011 |
13,970 |
€3.4m |
|
2012 |
12,460 |
€1.5m |
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (157)
Pat Breen
Question:157. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23448/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th March 2013. The person concerned was afforded an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of their appeal. For this purpose, a form SWAO1 was issued to her on 15th March 2013. This form was returned to this office on the 8th May 2013 and in accordance with the statutory requirements the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal are being sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
Question No. 158 withdrawn.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Questions (159)
Tom Fleming
Question:159. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23455/13]
View answerWritten answers
The weekly rate of disability allowance payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed. The legislative provisions regarding disability allowance state that means will be assessed from all income which the claimant or claimant's spouse may reasonably expect to receive during the year following the date of their claim with certain exceptions. Maintenance payments made to a former spouse/partner are not included in these exceptions.
Following a review of the person’s disability allowance claim in September 2011 the person was assessed with weekly means of €9.92 derived from his earnings from insurable employment. He was awarded a reduced rate disability allowance with effect from 5 October 2011.
The person subsequently appealed the decision to reduce his rate of disability allowance. On 6 February 2013, the Social Welfare Appeals Office informed him that his appeal was partially allowed. The Appeals Office assessed the person with weekly means of €3.00 derived from his earnings. His weekly rate of disability allowance will now be revised in line with the Appeals Officer's decision and the person will be notified shortly of this decision.
Mortgage Arrears Proposals
Questions (160)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:160. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering extending the mortgage arrears information and advice service to include financial brokers. [23460/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to assist people in mortgage distress.
The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two elements involve the enhancement of the website www.keepingyourhome.ie and the establishment of a Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline within the Citizens Information Board both of which focus on the provision of comprehensive mortgage arrears information in particular to people in arrears or pre-arrears.
The third element of the service is the provision of independent financial advice to mortgage holders who are being presented with long term mortgage resolution proposals by their lenders. This advice is provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main accountancy institutes in Ireland who have agreed to participate and support this independent service. This panel is available on a county by county basis on the website www.keepingyourhome.ie.
When a lender is proposing longer-term mortgage resolutions, the lender advises the borrower to obtain independent financial advice on the proposed arrangement and that, if the borrower wishes to avail of this option, that the lender will pay €250 to an accountant of the borrower’s choosing for the provision of this advice.
The advisory framework has commenced with practising accountants because they already operate within a regulatory regime which includes qualitative oversight by their regulating bodies and in these circumstances it was possible to establish the advisory framework for people with mortgage distress within a relatively short timeframe.
There is nothing to inhibit other financial intermediaries from continuing to give advice on mortgages as required by borrowers. The advisory framework is being monitored on an on-going basis and a full review of the service will be undertaken in June 2013. The review will be undertaken to ensure that it is meeting its objectives and will encompass all aspects of the service including if participation is extended to other interested parties, the criteria that would be required in terms of relevant qualifications, experience, independence, professional indemnity insurance, etc. All interested organisations will have an opportunity to input to the review of the service.
Employment Support Services
Questions (161)
Mattie McGrath
Question:161. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Tús scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23464/13]
View answerWritten answers
In 2013, the Employee’s PRSI-Free Allowance of €127 per week was abolished for all workers. Participants on work placement and similar schemes earning €352 or more per week are now subject to PRSI at a rate of 4%. Employment on Tús is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts for all social welfare benefits and pensions. Tús participants are insured at Class A8/A9 PRSI, which gives them a paid contribution for each week, as with other Class A workers. The Budget changes which apply to PRSI have impacted on all employees who are paying an A class PRSI contribution, including those on Tús.
Question No. 162 withdrawn.