Written Answers Nos. 82-93
82. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be expedited relative to a claim for disability allowance; and if arrears will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [19787/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 7th April 2014 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
83. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the requirements for eligibility for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19789/14]
View answerThe client should apply for a housing needs assessment from the Local Authority within the area of Dublin he wishes to reside. Once a housing need is verified and the client is placed on the housing list, he can seek private rented accommodation within this local authority area and be assisted with a rent supplement allowance.
84. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance application will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19796/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 31st March 2014 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when jobseeker's allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19833/14]
View answerThe person concerned does not have a current pending application for jobseeker’s allowance registered with this Department. A previous application dated 18 December 2013 was disallowed on the basis that the person concerned did not demonstrate that her means were not in excess of the prescribed limit. She did not appeal the decision. It is open to the person concerned to submit a fresh application if she feels she meets the criteria for receipt of this income support.
88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19834/14]
View answerNo application has been received by the relevant rent Unit of the Department. Should the client wish to make application they may contact the Unit directly (contact details supplied) to discuss the eligibility criteria for rent supplement.
Email: midleinsterrentsunit@welfare.ie
Fax: 01 4131018
Lo-call:1890 800 698
89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total weekly entitlement-payment in respect of invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19835/14]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. The person concerned was awarded IP with effect from 18 April 2013 at a weekly rate of €193.50 and an additional €20.00 per week during the fuel allowance season. The person concerned has an outstanding balance of €12,755.79 on an overpayment accrued as a result of jobseeker’s allowance paid to him from 16 May 1996 to 20 January 1999. The original overpayment amount was €14,399.40 and arose from his failure to disclose means/income/earnings. Also an overpayment of €258.06 accrued as a result of a jobseeker’s benefit paid to him from 07 January 2004 to 14 January 2004 while he was on an employment/training scheme. Weekly deductions of €10 .00 deducted from subsequent jobseeker’s benefit/allowance and illness benefit payments have reduced the amount of the overpayment to the current balance.
As you will be aware, my Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are refunded in full. When determining a recovery plan, the general approach is that the recovery amount proposed will be the maximum repayment that the person can afford in order to recover the overpayment as quickly as possible. Due consideration is given to any case made by the person regarding the method of recovery. Currently, the Department does not apply interest or penalties on the amounts owing.
Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 17 January 2014 proposing recovery of the outstanding balance by withholding IP arrears of €4,401.99 due to him and by implementing weekly deductions of €29.00 from his IP payment - this is equivalent to 15% of his weekly personal rate. As part of this standard letter, the person concerned was offered the opportunity to comment on the proposal and to provide relevant facts and circumstances that he wished to be taken into consideration prior to a recovery plan being implemented. No communication has been received from the person in question in relation to this proposed repayment plan. A letter issued to the person concerned 29 April 2014 to advise that the recovery plan proposed by the Department will be implemented if no details of relevant facts or circumstances are received within 7 days.
90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection notwithstanding the refusal on appeal of child benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, if guardianship payment is payable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19836/14]
View answerThe Department has no record of having received an application for Guardian’s payment from the person concerned. In order to examine their possible entitlement, the person concerned should complete and submit an application form for Guardian’s payment. An application form can be requested by telephoning LoCall 1890 66 22 44 or can be downloaded from the Department’s website www.welfare.ie. On receipt of a completed application form, a Deciding Officer will consider all of the evidence and make a decision on whether the person concerned is entitled to Guardian’s payment. It is important to note that legal guardianship does not confer automatic entitlement to Guardian’s payment from the Department.
91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when the payment of disability allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, notwithstanding a previous decision to refuse payment and having particular regard to the confirmation from their consultant that their various surgical procedures will take up to two years to complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19837/14]
View answerAn application from the person concerned for disability allowance, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 1 April 2014. In the letter notifying the person concerned of the decision, the available options of seeking a review by a deciding officer or of appealing the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days were set out. To date, neither option has been exercised.
92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a new appointment in respect of accessing training courses will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19838/14]
View answerThe person concerned met with a case officer from the Employment Services, Maynooth on Tuesday 29 April 2014. A further appointment has been arranged for Thursday 8 May 2014.
93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the one-parent family allowance or equivalent will be made payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19839/14]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for a one parent family allowance. She is currently in receipt of a basic supplementary welfare allowance. If she feels she meets the criteria for receipt of the one parent family payment she can submit an application and her entitlement will be assessed.
