Written Answers Nos. 218-237
218. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36007/15]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 10 July 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
219. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36008/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 7th September 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.
220. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who was refused a jobseeker's allowance and a back to work support. [36021/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the jobseeker’s allowance appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 22nd September 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.
221. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is only in receipt of a part-carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36025/15]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a payment made to people who satisfy means and habitual residency conditions and are providing full-time care and attention to a person or persons who requires such care. When an applicant is getting certain social welfare payments and also satisfies the conditions for CA, they can keep their main social welfare payment and get a half-rate CA as well.
The person concerned is in receipt of an Invalidity Pension from 8 November 2012 and is also in receipt of a half-rate CA.
222. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans, in the assessment of a person's entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance or to a jobseeker's benefit, to extend eligibility to persons who, for very genuine reasons, are only seeking part-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36029/15]
View answerIn order to qualify for either a jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance payment an individual must be available for and be genuinely seeking full time employment. This is a key criterion of the jobseekers schemes.
Any change to the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment could fundamentally undermine the integrity of the jobseekers schemes. This in turn could lead to a substantial increase in the number of individuals claiming a jobseeker’s payment thereby resulting in a significant increase in Exchequer expenditure.
There are therefore no plans to change such key eligibility condition of either of these payments.
223. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 7 October 2015, regarding the number of occasions over the past five years that a medical practitioner has been engaged to meet with and assess a child's need, if the statutory criteria are met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36032/15]
View answerThe Department does not engage medical practitioner’s to meet children for whom an application for domiciliary care allowance has been made. As outlined in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 7 October 2015, medical assessments for DCA are conducted by the Department’s medical assessors who, having examined the medical evidence and other supporting information provided by the applicant, provide an opinion on medical eligibility for the benefit of a deciding officer.
Medical assessors do not carry out a physical examination of the child. The diagnosis of the child’s disability/illness is not disputed, the GP/specialist’s diagnosis is accepted, what is under assessment is whether the additional care needed as a result of that disability/illness is substantially in excess of that required by a child of the same age without that disability/illness.
As outlined in the medical guidelines relating to the scheme, it is considered that this is best done by desk assessment using the information provided by the Parent/Guardian, the child’s GP and any other professionals working with the child on a regular basis. A physical examination, is by its nature of limited value and would not paint an accurate picture of the child’s care needs on an average day in their normal home environment.
225. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway, given that the refusal was based on the carer working more than 15 hours a week, and that this decision appears to be based on a misreading of the hours on the payslips, which were fortnightly hours rather than weekly hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36047/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 June 2015. The application was refused by a deciding officer (DO) on the grounds that person concerned was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week contrary to the conditions for receipt of CA.
She was notified on 6 July 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and submitted additional information in support of her appeal. As is practice in such cases, the additional information has been forwarded by the SWAO to the DO to see if it serves to revise the DO’s original decision. The decision is currently under review by a deciding officer in light of the new information.
If the decision is revised the applicant will be notified of the outcome. However in the event of the decision being confirmed by the DO, a submission will be prepared and the file and papers will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination.
226. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is in receipt of invalidity pension is entitled to all benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36048/15]
View answerThe National Fuel Scheme applies to persons in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
The person concerned applied for fuel allowance when applying for invalidity pension. Her application for fuel allowance was disallowed as the weekly household means at that time were assessed as being in excess of the allowable weekly income limit. It is open to the person concerned to reapply for the allowance for the 2015/16 season.
An application for the Household Benefits (HHB) package was also refused on the grounds that she was not living alone or only with certain exempted persons. If there has been any change in circumstances it is open to the person concerned to reapply for HHB.
Claim forms for fuel allowance and HHB have been issued to the person in question. Should she wish to reapply, she should complete and return them to the Department as soon as possible.
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the provision and increase of rent support will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36059/15]
View answerAny changes in a client’s circumstances that may affect their entitlements should be immediately notified to the Department. The client concerned should submit to the Department current payslips, an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation, the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be re-assessed.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family allowance is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36060/15]
View answerThe person concerned made a claim for one parent family allowance in her local office on 2nd October, 2015 and has been notified of an appointment with a deciding officer on 19th October, 2015 to process the claim. Following this meeting she will receive written confirmation of the decision from her local office. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local office to discuss this further.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a back to education allowance, or equivalent, is available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36064/15]
View answerThe person concerned applied for Back to Education Allowance for a Level 5 course in Disability Healthcare Support. The person concerned already holds a FETAC level 5 qualification. Under the Back to Education guidelines a person cannot reapply for the same level course within a 3 year period unless they hold 156 Class ‘A’ stamps for that period. The record of the person concerned shows no class ‘A’ stamps since 2010.
The Department will review the claim if the person concerned provides documentary evidence from the awarding body that they did not successfully complete their initial FETAC level 5 course.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for a disability allowance will be reviewed or appealed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36067/15]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from the person in question was disallowed on 22 August 2015 by a deciding officer (DO). The grounds for the disallowance were, based upon the evidence provided, that he does not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme.
The person in question was notified of this decision, the reason(s) for it and was advised of his rights to have the decision reviewed by a DO, with or without the submission of additional evidence, or to lodge an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. To date neither option has been exercised by the applicant. The Department informs me that the application will be reviewed based upon the existing evidence and that the person in question will be informed of the outcome once the review is completed.
232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which rent support will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36068/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 8 October 2015.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a back to education allowance, or any assistance, is available for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36070/15]
View answerThe person concerned is 19 years of age and currently attending a third level PLC course. He currently does not have any live claim with this department. In order to qualify for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) third level option a claimant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for 9 months (234 paid or credited days of unemployment) unless they have been made redundant immediately prior to applying for a jobseeker’s claim. Claimants under 21 must also have completed formal education for 2 years in order to qualify for BTEA. Claimants do not qualify for a jobseeker’s payment if they are in full-time education except if it is under a Department of Social Protection Scheme and the claimant qualifies for that scheme. It is open to the person concerned to contact his local office to discuss this further.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if rent support will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36073/15]
View answerThe Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.
235. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied). [36097/15]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded disability allowance with effect from 20 May 2015. The first payment was made by his selected payment method on 5 August 2015.
Following a successful appeal in relation to the backdating of his claim, disability allowance has been awarded with effect from 8 October 2014. Arrears due to the person in question will issue shortly once any necessary adjustment has been made in respect of an overlapping social welfare payment and/or any outstanding debt (where relevant).
236. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for a State pension (contributory) in each of the past four complete years whose application was unsuccessful; who received the full rate; and who received the reduced rate. [36110/15]
View answerThe following table shows the number of applications for state pension contributory (SPC) received during each of the four years period 2011-2014, and the outcomes of SPC applications decided during that period.
|
SPC new applications received 2011-2014 |
SPC new applications received 2011-2014 |
SPC decisions issued 2011-2014 |
SPC decisions issued 2011-2014 |
SPC decisions issued 2011-2014 |
|
Period |
Applications received |
Awarded maximum rate |
Awarded reduced rate |
Disallowed |
|
Jan – Dec 2014 |
40,212 |
16,073 |
13,992 |
8,205 |
|
Jan – Dec 2013 |
39,215 |
16,204 |
13,481 |
7,877 |
|
Jan – Dec 2012 |
35,198 |
15,168 |
13,379 |
7,049 |
|
Jan – Dec 2011 |
36,281 |
14,325 |
12,486 |
7,778 |
*It is open to those disallowed SPC, or awarded at a reduced rate, to apply for state pension (non-contributory).
To be eligible for a state pension (contributory) at age 66, an applicant must:
- have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years.
- have at least 520 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance, from employment or self-employment.
- (for a maximum rate pension) have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from 1979, or from their date of entry into insurable employment, to the end of the last complete tax year preceding their 66th birthday, or
- (for a reduced rate pension) have a yearly average of at least 10 paid and/or credited contributions recorded from 1953, or from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment (whichever is the later), to the end of the tax year preceding their 66th birthday.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent support for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36121/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to identical Question No. 12 answered last week on 13 October 2015.
