Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (440)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when arrears due to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for the month of January 2013 will issue in respect of their jobseeker's allowance payment which has since closed, this person having received a once-off payment in late December 2012 but no other payment up until 5 February 2013, who received no notification that their arrears were available for collection, and who has since visited the CWO in their local office on 18 of April and provided the requested documentation to illustrate they were in the jurisdiction for the time period relating to the outstanding arrears in question; if arrears can now be issued as was indicated would be done by their CWO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27466/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned made an application for jobseeker's allowance on 14 December 2012. He applied for supplementary welfare allowance while his jobseeker’s application was being processed. He collected his first supplementary payment on 21 December 2012 but he did not collect the following four payments covering the period 3 January to 30 January 2013.

When the jobseeker’s application was awarded on 30 January 2013 arrears were withheld as the person concerned failed to contact the office to explain why he did not collect the supplementary payments. His jobseeker’s application was closed with effect from 6 February 2013 as he failed to sign.

The person concerned made a fresh application for jobseeker’s allowance on 10 April 2013 and a fresh application for supplementary welfare allowance on 11 April 2013. He did not provide documentation confirming his residency in the country during the month of January. His applications for jobseeker’s allowance and basic supplementary welfare allowance were closed in April and he has not been in touch since then.

A decision regarding payment of arrears of jobseeker’s allowance for the period 3 January to 30 January 2013 cannot be made until the person concerned outlines his reasons for failing to collect the supplementary payments during this period. The local office will contact him again for the details required.