Michael Ring
Question:131. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a rent supplement review will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [54644/13]
View answerRent Supplement Scheme Appeals
Questions (131)
Written answers
Following a review, the person concerned was awarded a rent supplement payment from 18th November 2013 at the weekly rate of €29.80 with an overpayment deduction of €10.00 giving him a net weekly payment of €19.80. He was informed of this decision on 12th November 2013.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision by writing to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St, Dublin 2.
Question No. 132 withdrawn.
Pension Provisions
Questions (133)
Seán Fleming
Question:133. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when the State pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54657/13]
View answerWritten answers
The person has been awarded State pension (non-contributory) with effect from 23rd November 2012, the date of application. Arrears will issue this week and the pension will commence in payment after Christmas.
Family Income Supplement Payments
Questions (134)
John Halligan
Question:134. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 24 October 2013, in which this Deputy requested details of the number of public service workers currently supplementing their income with family income supplement payments, if she will provide a further breakdown the 3,595 public service workers in receipt of FIS in the year 2013; the number of same that are members of the armed forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54670/13]
View answerWritten answers
At the end of August 2013, 41,391 customers were in receipt of FIS with 3,595 or 9% recorded as public servants. Of these, 1,365 (3% of the overall number of FIS recipients and almost 38% of the total public servant recipients) were recorded as members of the Defence Forces.
At the end of November 2013, 43,668 customers were in receipt of FIS with 3,744 or 9% recorded as Public Servants. Of these 1,330 (3% of the overall number of recipients and just over 35% of the total public servant recipients) were recorded as members of the Defence Forces.
A further breakdown of the balance of 2,414 Public Servants is unavailable as this data is not currently captured on the department’s computer database for FIS.
Pension Provisions
Questions (135, 136)
Finian McGrath
Question:135. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding pensions. [54685/13]
View answerFinian McGrath
Question:136. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a pension issue. [54686/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 broadened the options available to the trustees of a pension scheme in the event of the restructure of scheme benefits in include the benefits of deferred scheme member and post retirement increases in such benefits. Prior to the 2009 Act, only the benefits of active scheme members could be considered in a restructure of scheme benefits. The Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill further extends the options available to trustees of a scheme to include a portion of benefits payable to pensioners. It essentially provides for the sharing of the risk of scheme underfunding across all scheme members. However, the legislation restricts the extent to which pensioner benefits can be restructured as it is considered that this category of beneficiary has less potential to respond to a restructure of scheme benefits.
The issue of how these changes might be applied will be a matter for the trustees of the scheme who are required under trust law of act in the best interest of all scheme beneficiaries.
Any consideration of a restructure of pension scheme benefits must comply with the provisions in the Pensions Act and with guidance issued by the Pensions Board. The Pensions Board must be satisfied that these provisions have been complied with before the Board will consider issuing a notice to restructure scheme benefits.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Questions (137)
Michael Ring
Question:137. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the papers regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo that was lodged on the 17 of October 2012 have yet to be forwarded to the social welfare appeals office in Dublin; when this matter will be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54723/13]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) 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 IP for the person concerned on 25 September 2012.
His application for IP was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) on the ground that the person concerned was deemed to be engaged in employment (farming). The person concerned was notified of the decision to refuse their invalidity pension application on 27 September 2012 and he appealed the decision.
As is normal procedure in the case of appeals, the file was reviewed by a DO in order to confirm or revise the decision. The deciding officer sent the file to a social welfare inspector (SWI) for investigation. Following receipt of the completed report from the SWI, the deciding officer was satisfied that the person concerned was not in employment. The next step should have been to establish whether the person in question was medically eligible for IP. However due to an unfortunate oversight the papers were filed away in error and not referred for a medical assessment. The Department wishes to apologise to the person in question for this error which led to the claim not being assessed in a timely and correct way.
In order to establish medical suitability a diagnostic report has now issued to the customer concerned to be completed by his general practitioner or other treating physician. On receipt of the completed report (and supporting evidence, if applicable) medical suitability will be determined as a matter of urgency and the person concerned will be notified of the decision by a deciding officer.