Written Answers Nos. 57-64
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for delay in payment of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45697/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal was registered by the person concerned on 10 November 2014 and was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 November 2014.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for exceptional needs or other payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45699/14]
View answerAccording to this Department’s records the person concerned has not made a recent application for an exceptional needs payment. It is open to the person concerned to make an application to her local Community Welfare Service.
59. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the schemes that are currently in place to support persons in difficulty paying their mortgage; if new schemes are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45703/14]
View answerThe Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas:
- Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower;
- A social housing response sponsored by local authorities;
- Comprehensive advice to borrowers; and
- Personal Insolvency Reform.
In line with the introduction of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) provision was made for the discontinuation of entitlement to the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. The original intention of the MIS scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assisted with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. In the context of the overall strategy, the continued payment of MIS did little to assist recipients or lenders in improving the long term difficulty in addressing the mortgage problem.
Customers availing of this support prior to 1 January 2014 have been able retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1 January 2018. There are currently approximately 6,400 people in receipt of the supplement for which the Government has provided €17.9 million in 2014.
It is expected that during the four year period, existing customers will no longer require this support through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders, securing employment or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am satisfied that the most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through engagement with their lender.
60. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45704/14]
View answerI confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 8 November 2014. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the quantity and quality of the information they provide in support of their claim.
Any person who is awaiting a decision on their disability allowance application may apply for means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from their local community welfare officer.
61. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is expedited; that the associated application for carer's allowance by the person's partner is likewise expedited, in view of the significant ongoing and permanent medical condition that the person applying for disability allowance has; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45707/14]
View answerI confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the first-named person concerned on 1 October 2014. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the second-named person concerned on the 28 October 2014. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
These applications will be processed as soon as possible. In the meantime, jobseeker’s allowance is in payment in respect of both persons.
62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment may be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45717/14]
View answerThere is no record of an application from the person concerned. If he wishes to make application he should contact his local Community Welfare Service at 045 887830.
63. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an increase in rent support will be offered in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45718/14]
View answerAn up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement was requested by the Department. On receipt of same the client's continued entitlement can be assessed.
