Written Answers Nos. 60-69
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for non-contributory old age pension received in her Department in each of the years from 2010 to 2014, and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9768/15]
View answerThe total amount of State pension non-contributory (SPNC) applications received for each year is as follows:
|
YEAR |
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPNC APPLICATIONS RECEIVED |
|
2010 |
9,835 |
|
2011 |
7,344* |
|
2012 |
9,035 |
|
2013 |
9,429 |
|
2014 |
8,998 |
|
2015 (to end of January) |
1,094 |
*The data for 2011 is incomplete for new claims registered during the period April – July 2011 due to issues encountered in transitioning to a new IT system.
61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current average time for the processing of carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9769/15]
View answerThe average time taken to award a new claim is currently 12 weeks. Where a request is made for a review of a decision on a new claim or where a decision to disallow is appealed, this will take longer.
The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible and that backlogs in claims are kept to a minimum. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. The staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. Additional resources have been applied to help to deal with the significant increase in the number of carer’s allowance applications being received and to minimise processing times.
63. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the extent of hardship and suffering caused in respect of a family (details supplied) in County Kildare who cannot qualify for child benefit due to the fact that their child’s special educational needs have been disrupted, through no fault of their own; if it is recognised that, for a period of almost a year, the family received no support whatsoever, and that their current situation continues to be precarious due to a lack of adequate support, based on the status of their accommodation situation and the residency status of their adult daughter; if immediate steps will be taken to address their particular situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9771/15]
View answerIn the response to the previous question submitted by the Deputy on behalf of the person concerned (PQ 2069-15), it was stated that an appointment had been arranged for 29 January 2015 for her to apply for a jobseeker’s allowance transition payment, as it had been established that this was the most appropriate path for her to pursue given her personal circumstances. She did not attend this appointment and has not explained to the Department the reasons for her non-attendance. However, she has continued to be paid supplementary welfare allowance to date on the basis that her entitlement to jobseekers transition payment is being examined. She should, in these circumstances, honour agreed appointments, with a view to qualifying for a more appropriate payment. In this regard a further appointment has been arranged for her to attend her Intreo Centre on 11 March 2015. Her recent application for one parent family payment has also been received in the Department and this will be also be discussed at this meeting. It should be noted that the person concerned is obliged to pursue an appropriate statutory payment, as supplementary welfare allowance is intended only to be a short-term payment in these circumstances.
With regard to the matter of child benefit for the person concerned, the circumstances were confirmed in the reply to your recent question (PQ 7934-15) and that this has been reinstated since November 2014. Payments had been suspended in June 2014 as she had failed to provide relevant information that was requested in March 2014 in relation to her residency in the State. Three letters have been sent to her since November 2014 in relation to her residency in Ireland for the period from April 2014 to October 2014; to date no response has been received. If she is unable to provide the documentation requested she must provide some form of evidence to confirm her residence for the period in question. On receipt of her response her claim for child benefit will be reviewed.
65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if adult dependant allowance is payable in respect of a jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1, or if that person's partner qualifies for a payment in the partner's own right; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9779/15]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance from this Department as a single person since 17 May 2012. Despite being in regular contact with his Intreo Centre he has not advised the office of any changes in his circumstances, nor has he submitted a claim for an adult dependant. The person concerned and his partner should furnish full details of their present circumstances to the Intreo Centre as soon as possible in order that their correct entitlement to a jobseeker’s payment can be assessed.
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if dental benefit is available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9785/15]
View answerQualification for treatment benefit is based solely on satisfying certain PRSI conditions which vary depending on the age of the person. In order to qualify the person concerned in this case would need to have paid at least 39 PRSI contributions at Class A/E/H or P since first starting work. The person concerned does not have the required number of contributions paid and as a result he does not qualify for the treatment benefit.
However, as he has a medical card he should contact his local HSE office who will be able to advise him of the treatments available to him under their dental scheme.
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she has monitored the position regarding an application for rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if it is intended, or expected, that the person must first have spent all of the proceeds of the sale of the former family home before qualifying for rent support, having particular regard to the fact that details of the court proceedings have been made available to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9786/15]
View answerAs part of the assessment of means for Rent Supplement, capital (savings and investments) over €5000 is assessed as means, on an increasing scale.
The client concerned was requested to provide the Department with details of any savings accrued through the sale of the family home on 10th December 2014 and again on 24th February 2015. On receipt of this information the client's entitlement can be fully assessed.
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full entitlement and current payment of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has no income from any source, including self-employment, but who has a liability for mortgage arrears of almost €50,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9789/15]
View answerThe current entitlement of jobseeker’s allowance and fuel allowance in the case of the person concerned is:
|
Personal Rate |
€188.00 |
|
Increase for Qualified Adult |
€124.80 |
|
Increase for Fuel Allowance |
€20.00 |
|
Sub Total |
€332.80 |
|
Less means |
€16.00 |
|
Weekly Rate of Payment |
€316.80 |
In addition arrears totalling €158.30 due to the person concerned are included in the payment to issue on 05/03/2015.
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which an application for an exceptional needs payment will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9801/15]
View answerThe Department has no record of the person concerned seeking a review of a decision on an application for an exceptional needs payment. If he wishes to seek a review he should contact the Community Welfare Service of the Department.
