Written Answers Nos. 72 - 81
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining eligibility for a dietary allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27993/15]
View answerThe client has been in continuous receipt of a Diet Supplement payment on a monthly basis since September 2012. Her payments are made by cheque at end of each month, the last being issued on 29th June 2015. Her case has been reviewed recently, there is no change to her entitlement and the next payment is due to issue on 27th July 2015.
73. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure new mothers who do not qualify for maternity benefit, due to not working for long enough, are not forced to return to work before their baby is six months old as a result of financial difficulty. [27999/15]
View answerMaternity benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded to eligible women for a 26-week period on foot of a confinement. In 2015 the Department will spend €254 million on Maternity Benefit, in respect of an average of 23,600 recipients per week.
Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory maternity leave. As with all social insurance payments entitlement to Maternity Benefit is predicated on a minimum number of contributions being paid. In order for an employee to qualify for Maternity Benefit a woman must:
have at least 39 weeks PRSI paid in the 12 months before the first day of her maternity leave; or
have at least 39 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the Relevant Tax Year or in the year following the Relevant Tax Year; or
have at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the Relevant Tax Year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the Tax Year prior to the Relevant Tax Year.
Where an individual has insufficient social insurance contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit, they may be eligible for another social welfare payment provided they meet the relevant contingency conditions. For instance, new mothers who do not qualify for Maternity Benefit may be eligible for a payment under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme. This scheme is considered a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system for eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a full jobseeker's allowance of €188 will be reinstated to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28014/15]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned is currently entitled to a jobseeker's allowance (JA) payment of €153.00 per week, being the maximum rate payable given his partner is now in receipt of an invalidity pension (IP) and given his current pattern of casual employment. An incorrect calculation resulted in his JA payment of the 26/06/2015 being paid at the rate of €138.10. This oversight has been corrected and the arrears of €14.90 due to the person concerned will be included with his next payment, which will issue once the outstanding documentation to be submitted from the person concerned has been received.
75. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive back money under the disability allowance; and if she will expedite a reply. [28015/15]
View answerDisability allowance arrears will issue to the person concerned in the next few days.
76. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 received no social welfare payment for three weeks from 26 March 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28016/15]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for state pension (non-contributory) which was awarded with effect from 26 March 2014, with weekly payments commencing from 18 April 2014.
At the time of notification of the pension award, the person concerned was informed that the Department proposed to withhold the due pension arrears, for the three week period up to 18 April 2014, under the applicable legislation to offset against an outstanding unemployment assistance overpayment which the person had incurred, and which had been partially repaid. The person was given the opportunity to respond to this debt recovery proposal. The Recovery Officer decided that, having considered the documentation submitted relating to the person’s financial situation at that time, withholding of the arrears for the three week period was appropriate in this case.
Documentation recently submitted by the Deputy to the Department’s Debt Management Unit on behalf of the person concerned, seeking a reduction in the weekly rate of deductions being applied in this case, is being considered by a Recovery Officer. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining a review in respect of eligibility for an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28033/15]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 25 September 2014. Payment issued to his nominated bank account on the 21 May 2015. Arrears due from 25 September 2014 to 20 May 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) issued on the 28 May 2015. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 14 May 2015.
78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when an application for an invalidity pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28034/15]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of disability allowance at a reduced weekly rate because of means assessed.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 05 December 2014. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. He was notified on 28 January 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal. No appeal or request for a review was made.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an application for an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28036/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 20 May 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied and the person concerned is engaged in employment. She was notified on the 07 July 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
80. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the fact that the respite care grant ceases to be paid in its entirety when the person being cared for passes away; if she will consider adjusting the grant so that the carer will receive a portion of the grant to cover the period in which the deceased was alive and in receipt of constant care and attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28050/15]
View answerIn order to qualify for a respite care grant (RCG) – a non means-tested payment made to all full-time carers who provide full time care and attention to others - a person must, in addition to other criteria, be caring for at least six months. This must include the first Thursday in June when the payment is made automatically to recipients of carer’s allowance/benefit, domiciliary care allowance, or prescribed relative allowance.
The grant covers 52 weeks from this date. It is not paid on a proportional basis and I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
81. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite payment of a disability allowance recently approved for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28052/15]
View answerI confirm that the department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 29 June 2015 that the appeal for the person in question was upheld and was deemed to be medically suitable for the scheme.
Her file has been passed to a deciding officer to implement the appeals officers’ decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing once full entitlement has been established.
