Written Answers Nos. 70-78
70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the current position whereby weekly deductions in respect of her back-to-education allowance are being made on foot of a previous alleged overpayment over which she had no control in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10903/15]
View answerFollowing correspondence submitted from the person concerned, this case has been reviewed and the overpayment deductions have been reduced to €10.00 weekly with effect from 19/03/2015.
71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that rent support has ceased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10911/15]
View answerOn foot of recent contact with the client by the relevant Rents Unit, payment is reinstated subject to the provision of medical information.
Payment, including arrears, will issue to the client on 24 March 2015.
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship caused by the cessation of a one-parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has two dependent children and works on average three to four hours per week, and who does not qualify for family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10912/15]
View answerThe entitlement to one parent family payment (OPF) of the person concerned is currently under review and has been suspended.
The person concerned has been requested to provide certain documentation in order to progress this review, however this documentation is currently outstanding. On receipt of the requested documentation, her entitlement OPF will be examined and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome
It is open to her to submit an application to her local Community Welfare Service in the interim if she is experiencing undue financial hardship.
73. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10931/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25 February 2015, 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.
78. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person who is eligible to receive rent supplement will obtain same in respect of accommodation which that person can rent from a sibling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10991/15]
View answerThe rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.
There are approximately 70,200 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.
Under the legislation governing entitlement to rent supplement, the Department must establish that the applicant is a bona fide tenant. There is no specific restriction on landlords renting to family members provided all of the qualifying criteria for the scheme have been met.
In determining whether the applicant is a bona fide tenant the Department will generally require documentary evidence including:
- Details of the lease agreement,
- Proof of ownership of the property,
- Documentation that the tenancy has been registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board,
- Documentation detailing payments made to the landlord.
If the Deputy is referring to a particular case they should refer them to the community welfare service for advice on this matter.
