Guardian's Payment Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Questions (130)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, notwithstanding her replies to previous parliamentary questions in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose application for guardianship payment has been refused, if their case might be reviewed in view of the extreme hardship caused and due to the fact that they continued to support and raise a child whose mother has not made contact for several years and offers no support; if it is recognised that the original decision made by the deciding offer and upheld on appeal was arrived at notwithstanding the existence of clearly compelling evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12712/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Having considered all of the evidence available, the Guardian’s payment (contributory) claim of the person concerned was disallowed by the Deciding Officer on 30 May 2012 because the care arrangements in place for the child were the result of a private mutual agreement between the child’s mother and the applicant. The child was not deemed to be abandoned as defined in social welfare legislation. The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer on 15 March 2013.

Under social welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final. If the person concerned has new facts or evidence that was not previously available to the Deciding Officer or the Appeals Officer, they should forward it to the Guardian’s payments section and request a review. If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship it is open to them to contact their local Community Welfare Service to examine their possible entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance or if they are in employment they may have be eligible for Family income supplement. Both of these payments provide extra income support to qualified people who are experiencing financial difficulties.