Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 6 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 94-106

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Questions (95, 122, 126, 127, 128)

John O'Mahony

Question:

95. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently under appeal for jobseeker's allowance; the average waiting time to have an appeal heard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11217/14]

View answer

John O'Mahony

Question:

122. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently waiting to have their appeals dealt with by her Department's appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11371/14]

View answer

John O'Mahony

Question:

126. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently under appeal for carer's allowance; the average waiting time to have an appeal heard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11375/14]

View answer

John O'Mahony

Question:

127. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently under appeal for disability allowance; the average waiting time to have an appeal heard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11376/14]

View answer

John O'Mahony

Question:

128. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently under appeal for jobseeker's allowance; the average waiting time to have an appeal heard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11377/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 122 and 126 to 128, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that 13,444 appeals are currently registered with that office, of which 2,751 are disability allowance appeals, 1,645 are carer’s allowance appeals, 1,422 are jobseeker’s allowance (means) appeals and 1,101 are jobseeker’s allowance (payments) appeals.

Details of average processing times for these schemes for 2010 to 2013 which are provided in the following tables point to significant improvements in appeal processing times, particularly in cases where an oral hearing was required.

In the case of disability allowance appeals, the average processing time for an oral hearing reduced from 51.1 weeks in 2010 to 36.2 weeks in 2013. Carer’s allowance appeals which required an oral hearing took an average of 47.3 weeks in 2010 reducing to 33.5 weeks in 2013. A similar trend was reflected in the area of jobseeker’s allowance with jobseeker’s allowance (means) appeals down from 46.9 weeks in 2010 to 29.7 weeks in 2013 and jobseeker’s allowance (payments) appeals down from 43.0 weeks to 26.7 weeks in 2013.

Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer and further investigation or medical examination, if deemed necessary. A major programme of process redesign and modernisation is underway in the Department in relation to many of its scheme areas aimed at reducing backlogs and reducing the time taken by the Department to respond to requests from the appeals office for submissions in relation to appeals. It is anticipated that with these improvements, the processing times for appeals will continue to improve throughout 2014.

Processing times for Disability Allowance Appeals 2010-2013

-

Average processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions

Average processing

times (weeks)

Oral Hearings

2010

30.8

51.1

2011

27.4

55.6

2012

34.2

40.6

2013

29.0

36.2

Processing times for Carers Allowance Appeals 2010-2013

Average processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions

Average processing

times (weeks)

Oral Hearings

2010

26.9

47.3

2011

31.3

57.9

2012

33.5

42.5

2013

27.9

33.5

Processing times for Jobseeker’s Allowance (Means) Appeals 2010-2013

-

Average processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions

Average processing

times (weeks)

Oral Hearings

2010

22.2

46.9

2011

18.00

54.8

2012

22.8

38.2

2013

21.2

29.7

Processing times for Jobseeker’s Allowance (Payments) Appeals 2010-2013

-

Average processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions

Average processing

times (weeks)

Oral Hearings

2010

23.6

43.0

2011

23.8

47.9

2012

24.4

34.4

2013

20.5

26.7

Suicide Prevention

Questions (96)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

96. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make suicide awareness-prevention training available to frontline staff in social welfare offices who deal with very distressed members of the public on a daily basis. [11223/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Department recognises the need for training in the area of suicide awareness for frontline staff and has put a number of supports in place to assist them in supporting customers who identify themselves as having thoughts of suicide.

In 2013, with assistance from the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), the Department provided ‘Safetalk’ training to 282 frontline staff. This programme helps prepare participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. The Safetalk programme will continue to be rolled out throughout the Department during 2014.

NOSP has also provided Departmental staff who have completed Safetalk training with access to the more advanced ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills) training workshop. This two-day workshop equips participants to reduce the immediate risk of a suicide and increase the support for a person at risk.

Since 2010, Mental Health Ireland has assisted in the delivery of a one-day training course to staff in the Department to raise awareness of mental health issues. To date, 490 staff have received this training. Local mental health support organisations, such as AWARE, have also been invited to talk to staff where a need is identified.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (97)

Paudie Coffey

Question:

97. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford was not awarded domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11225/14]

View answer

Written answers

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 21st November 2012. This application was considered by a deciding officer with the benefit of the opinion of one of the Department’s Medical Assessors, who considered that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance as the medical reports furnished did not indicate that the level of care required met the DCA medical criteria. A letter issued on the 12th February 2013 outlining the decision to refuse the allowance.

The person concerned subsequently provided additional information and lodged an appeal against this decision. The application, together with all the information furnished, was considered by another of the Department’s Medical Assessors who did not consider that the medical criteria for the scheme were satisfied. In the circumstances a revised decision was not considered to be warranted and the application was forwarded for further consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The person concerned was informed by the Appeals Office on the 8th October 2013 that the appeal had not been allowed. Further correspondence issued from the Appeals Office on 14th January 2014 indicating that the requested revision of the Appeals Officer’s decision was not considered to be warranted.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (98)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason carer's allowance ceased in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry on the basis of incorrect information; the way her Department made such an error; if she will apologise to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11226/14]

View answer

Written answers

Carer’s allowance is a means-tested payment for carers on low incomes who are habitually resident in the State and who look after certain people in need of full time care and attention. Reviews of customer income, capital, investments and other relevant circumstances are undertaken on an ongoing basis. Customers are required to co-operate with such reviews.

The person concerned was awarded half-rate carer’s allowance in addition to their State pension with effect from 1 December 2012.

Ensuring that a customer receives the correct payment in line with their entitlements is an integral part of the day-to-day work of my Department. In 2013 over 5,000 carer’s allowance customers were reviewed. These reviews are undertaken based on a number of criteria including length of time since last review, a change in the circumstances which has come to the attention of the Department and information received from other government departments and agencies. A customer may also request a review to be undertaken when their circumstances have changed and they want to avoid an overpayment occurring. While information from external sources is used to indicate which claims may be targeted for review, action is not taken solely on basis of such information.

The Department is currently undertaking a number of reviews of customers, including carer’s allowance recipients, who may have significant amounts of capital and investments which could affect their means following information received from the Revenue Commissioners. A review of the carer’s allowance entitlement of the person concerned was initiated on this basis in February 2013.

In order to establish the position regarding her means, the Department wrote to the person concerned on 12 February 2013 requesting recent bank statements and details of private pension payments. The person concerned subsequently contacted the Department by telephone on 18 February to explain that there would be a delay in obtaining the statements requested.

However the information requested had not been submitted by September 2013. The carer’s allowance payment of the person concerned was suspended with effect from 11 September 2013 pending receipt of the information requested.

A further request for bank statements was made on 17 October 2013 and the person concerned telephoned the Department on 29 October explaining the she needed more time to obtain the required statements. Her case was subsequently referred to a social welfare inspector on 21 November 2013 for completion of a report on her current means.

The inspector interviewed the person concerned regarding her means on 5 December 2013. Following this interview and following submission by the person concerned of the bank statements required to establish her means, a review of her means was completed. The person concerned demonstrated that her income and capital is below the thresholds allowed and payment of their carer’s allowance was fully re-instated on 10 December 2013 with effect from 12 September and all arrears due for the intervening period were paid.

The Department apologises unreservedly for the upset caused to the person concerned in this case.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (99)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11227/14]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no record of any disability allowance appeal having been received in that office from the person concerned. However, I understand that the person concerned did appeal the disallowance of his application for invalidity pension and that his appeal has been examined by an Appeals Officer, who decided to disallow the appeal on a summary basis, having fully considered all of the available evidence. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

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.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (100)

Jack Wall

Question:

100. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11228/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7th November 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 4th March 2014 and the case 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Code Reform

Questions (101)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

101. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reforms that have taken place in the social welfare system under the current Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11246/14]

View answer

Written answers

Since the Government took office in March 2011, I have implemented an unprecedented programme of policy reform in the social welfare system and organisational change in the Department of Social Protection.

The Department successfully completed the most significant merger in the history of the Irish public service, while at the same time reducing expenditure and meeting increased demand for services. More than 1,700 posts from the Community Welfare Services and FAS were transferred to the Department. In parallel, I have radically overhauled labour-market activation policies and overseen the transformation of the Department from the passive benefits provider of old to a public employment service that is actively assisting people back to work, training or education.

Some of the significant reforms to the social welfare and labour market activation systems since I took up office in March 2011 are set out below.

From welfare to work: Major “activation” reforms have been introduced to help people back to work. Pathways to Work is the strategy driving these reforms. The centrepiece of Pathways to Work is Intreo (launched October 2012), the Department’s employment service which is replacing old-style social welfare offices. Intreo offices provide jobseekers with both income supports and employment services - like individually tailored personal progression plans and job-search assistance - in the one place. The Department’s staff have been given powers to reduce payments for jobseekers who refuse to engage with Intreo services. Jobseekers who refuse an appropriate offer of training, or do not attend meetings, can have their payment reduced by up to €44 a week (introduced April 2011). In the first half of 2013, almost 1,500 jobseekers had penalty rates imposed. Jobseekers who continue to refuse engagement, even after a penalty rate has been imposed, can have their payment suspended for up to nine weeks (introduced July 2013).

Ensuring access to work and that work pays: activation is just one element of the radically new approach to social welfare in Ireland, the purpose of which is to ensure that people are better off in work than on welfare. A progressive new scheme called Jobseeker’s Transition was introduced in July 2013 to assist Lone Parents back to work and towards financial independence. The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme was launched in February 2012 to allow people with disabilities avail of employment opportunities while still receiving income support from the Department. The Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), to replace Rent Supplement. HAP will subsidise rent for people on welfare and in low-income employment so that they will not lose housing assistance when they move from welfare to work.

New schemes, more places: this year, the Department will spend more than €1 billion on work, training and education places to benefit 85,000 people – and the number of such places has steadily increased. JobBridge, the national internship scheme, launched June 2011, has proved a major success. An independent evaluation of the scheme by Indecon Economic Consultants found JobBridge had a progression rate of 61% - meaning three in five participants secure employment after completing their internship. This is one of the best outcomes for such a scheme anywhere in Europe. Almost 20,000 people have participated on JobBridge so far. Through the Springboard and Momentum programmes, overseen by the Department of Education and the Department of Social Protection, more than 23,000 unemployed people have been able to re-skill for emerging employment opportunities.

An agreement was secured on an EU-wide Youth Guarantee to provide young people with a good quality offer of employment, education / training within four months of becoming unemployed. It will be introduced on a phased basis from 2014. Internal deployment within the Department will see the number of caseworkers on activation duties doubled by the end of this year.

Working with employers: the Department now has a dedicated Employer Relations Division, which works with employers to assist them with their recruitment needs and find employees from the Live Register. The Department works hand-in-hand with State agencies such as the IDA to attract overseas investment to Ireland by demonstrating to international companies that their recruitment needs can be met in Ireland. This is done through “job-matching” profiles – matching potential positions with appropriate candidates. JobsPlus is the new employer incentive scheme, launched July 2013, which provides cash grants to businesses which hire persons who have been long-term unemployed. Under the scheme, the State covers approximately €1 in €4 of the typical cost of hiring someone who has been on the Live Register for 12 months or more.

Combating welfare fraud: the Programme for Government commits to maintaining core welfare rates while taking a zero-tolerance approach towards welfare fraud. The Department’s Fraud Initiative 2011-2013 significantly strengthened what is known as “control activity” – i.e. rooting out fraud and eliminating overpayments. In 2013, more than 1 million reviews of individual social welfare claims were carried out, and savings of €632 million were achieved through control activity. Departmental officials have been given a range of additional powers to combat fraud. Social welfare inspectors now have the powers (introduced in June 2012) to question people at ports and airports whom they believe may be entering the country to claim social welfare payments fraudulently. Data exchange with Revenue has been considerably enhanced allowing for focused control activity – particularly in relation to customers who receive means-tested welfare payments but may not have declared all their means to the Department. The Public Service Card, which involves face-to-face registration and the capture of biometric data to prevent identity abuse, has moved into full production, with well over half a million cards issued to date. It is now an integral part of claim processing and control activity.

Legislation was introduced in December 2012 to increase the amount that the Department can recover from an individual’s personal weekly payment in cases of overpayment. The Department can now recover up to 15% of a person’s payment whereas previously it had been as little as €2 a week. The Department has conducted a major project to assess the potential of predictive risk analytics to further root out welfare fraud.

Reforming Existing Schemes: the Department is currently undertaking comprehensive reform of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP). These reforms are designed to tackle long term welfare dependency and the high rates of lone parents who are at risk of consistent poverty. The reforms see a reduction in the age threshold of the youngest child at which a lone parent is still eligible for the OFP. The age is being reduced to seven years of age on a phased basis to 7 years by 2015

Changes to the Electricity/Gas Allowance under the Household Benefits Scheme: recipients of the electricity and gas allowances are now in a more beneficial position as they are currently entitled to €35 per month whether or not they use the energy and any unused portion can either be drawn down and cashed out by the customer or accumulated as a credit on their account.

Free Travel variant of the Public Services Card (PSC): the introduction of the new free travel variant of the PSC in December 2013 will help eliminate the fraudulent use of the Free Travel Pass. The new card includes customer photo identification and a number of additional security features.

The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare: I established the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare in 2011. This group harnesses expert opinion and experience to address specific issues around the interaction of the tax and social protection systems, and make cost effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes. Three reports have been completed and published: Child and Family Income Supplement payments (February 2013); Disability Allowance budget changes (April 2013); and PRSI for self-employed (September 2013). The Advisory Group is now working on its final report, on working age payments (including in work benefits) and is expected to complete this work by mid-year.

Youth Guarantee

Questions (102)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

102. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the youth guarantee scheme implementation plan, the groups that his Department will be engaging with in the areas (details supplied) for its rollout and implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11249/14]

View answer

Written answers

Implementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. It is envisaged that the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015. The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis.

Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2014, processes and programmes will be progressively rolled out to ensure that all of those young unemployed people who need most support (i.e. are assessed as having a low probability of securing employment in the absence of support from the Public Employment Services) will receive a Youth Guarantee offer within four months.

During 2014 – 2015 all long-term unemployed young people under 25 will be engaged by the Public Employment Service and will receive a Youth Guarantee offer if still unemployed after four months of this engagement process commencing.

The operation and coverage of the Youth Guarantee offer described above will be reviewed before the end of 2015, in the light of developments in the economy and in the labour market. Should the labour market situation of young people improve during this period the review will examine opportunities to broaden and deepen the level of supports offered in respect of those young people who continue to be unemployed.

The groups that the Department of Social Protection will be engaging with in any specific area of the country will be determined primarily by the level and trend of youth unemployment and the resulting demand for places, and the programme mix of such places, in each area. Given the number of factors involved, it will not be possible to make detailed advance projections of the groups that the Department will be engaging with for its rollout and implementation on an area-by-area basis.

Estimates of expected take-up of places on a national basis have already been made. It is not yet possible to outline the profile of the participants expected to avail of the Youth Guarantee provision at local level. Local implementation of the Youth Guarantee will be a matter for the respective Department of Social Protection Divisions in each respective divisional area.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (103)

Barry Cowen

Question:

103. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on appeal for disability allowance. [11254/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2nd December 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th February 2014 and the case 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (104)

Barry Cowen

Question:

104. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on their appeal for disability allowance. [11262/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 January 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10 February 2014 and the case 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Question No. 105 withdrawn.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (106)

Barry Cowen

Question:

106. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on their review of invalidity pension. [11270/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on the 26th November 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 24 February 2014 and the case 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Top
Share