Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2015

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Questions (76)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which payment of jobseeker's allowance or basic social welfare has been made available in each of the past five years to date in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose payments were suspended during a long period of illness, resulting in that person's local authority rent remaining unpaid, further resulting in a serious danger of loss of the family home; whether an exceptional needs payment can be granted in this case, given that the courts are likely to grant repossession, which will leave the family homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33638/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned did not receive a jobseeker's allowance payment within the last five years. The client made a claim for jobseeker’s allowance on 14 February 2013, but the person concerned did not provide the required documentation and this application lapsed.

The person concerned was paid supplementary welfare allowance for the following dates:

25 November, 2010 - 9 December, 2010

5 July, 2012 - 31 October, 2012

15 January, 2013 - 16 April, 2014

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a basic supplementary welfare allowance payment since 18 June, 2015, pending the outcome of a disability allowance decision. The person concerned left Ireland in May, 2014 to return to Nigeria for medical and spiritual treatment, returning to Ireland in May, 2015. The person concerned was not entitled to supplementary welfare allowance while out of the country. It is open to the person concerned to make an application for an exceptional needs payment to his local community welfare service.