Written Answers Nos. 139-144
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Written Answers Nos. 139-144
139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection in the event where the Department has assessed that a person owes the Department a sum of money as a result of an overpayment associated with customer error and where that person subsequently dies, if the amount due is collected from the person's estate or is the liability rescinded on the death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40311/13]
View answerOverpayments arise in cases where individuals receive social welfare payments to which they are not entitled.
People who have received an overpayment from the Department have a liability under law to refund the overpayment (Section 338 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended) refers). They have received money to which they were not entitled and my Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are recovered in full.
An overpayment will remain on record until it is fully recovered. Currently, my Department does not apply interest or penalties on the amounts owing. Recovery can be pursued by deducting from all future entitlements up to pension and following death, where an estate remains. Where there is no estate in respect of a deceased debtor, the debt is rescinded.
140. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid on farm assist claims in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the total number of claimants in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40312/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is laid before the Dáil when published and copies are lodged in the Oireachtas library. Furthermore these reports are available to the public at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx.
I enclose for the Deputy’s convenience a tabular statement detailing the number of persons in receipt of farm assist and the provisional cost of the scheme for 2010, 2011, 2012 and at the 31st of August 2013.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
31st August 2013 |
|
Farm Assist Recipients |
10,714 |
11,333 |
11,162 |
10,601 |
|
Expenditure |
€110,931,000 |
€113,724,000 |
€108,170,000 (Provisional) |
€67,777,000 (Provisional) |
141. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exception may be made to the JobBridge scheme for an extension of an internship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork in view of the recent announcement that interns can now undertake placements for a duration of 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40318/13]
View answerOn 18 September, I announced that the maximum cumulative duration of internships would be extended to 18 months. The maximum duration of individual internships will remain 9 months. Individuals will be able to avail of up to 3 internships. However, individuals will be permitted to undertake only one internship with a particular Host Organisation.
These changes reflect both the recommendations contained in the independent evaluation of JobBridge published by the Taoiseach and myself on 1 May 2013, and a significant demand from interns and other individuals made directly to me. This change will be of significant benefit to jobseekers as it will provide jobseekers who may be dissatisfied with their placement more flexibility in finding a suitable alternative placement.
However, those changes have not yet come into force. When they do come into force it will be announced on the Home Page of the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie. In the meantime, the Department is not in a position to make exceptions to the Scheme criteria currently in force.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a decision in respect of eligibility for invalidity pension will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40356/13]
View answerInvalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 8 August 2011. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion, based on the evidence provided, that the person concerned was not eligible for invalidity pension as she did not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 14 April 2012.
Further medical evidence was subsequently received from the claimant on several separate dates in the period between October 2012 and April 2013 with requests that the decision be reviewed. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor who also expressed the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria. The deciding officer has confirmed the original decision and notified the claimant of the outcome on 12 June 2013, advising her of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned appealed the decision and submitted further medical evidence with her appeal. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor on 5 September who expressed the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria required for invalidity pension. Accordingly the original decision of the deciding officer remained unchanged and a submission has been sent to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination of the person’s concerned entitlement to an invalidity pension.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when supplementary welfare payment will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40357/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who decided to hold an oral hearing of this case on 25 July 2013.
Prior to the hearing, Citizens Information Centre (CIC), Carlow, submitted a request for a copy of the file of the person concerned under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts, 1997 and 2003 and also requested an interpreter to attend the hearing. In view of the time constraints the oral hearing was postponed and re-scheduled for 11 September 2013.
CIC, Carlow, who are representing the person concerned, again contacted the Appeals Office and advised that they were not available to attend the hearing on the 11 September 2013 and requested the postponement of the hearing for an alternative date.
The Appeals Officer agreed to postpone the second scheduled hearing and it is intended to convene the oral hearing in late October 2013.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
