Written Answers Nos. 127 - 139
127. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1394/16]
View answerI can confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 12 November 2015.
On 11 January 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
128. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1395/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 18 November 2015. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 27 January 2016.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection notwithstanding the response to previous enquiries including parliamentary questions, the basis on which it was determined that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare did not qualify for an exceptional needs payment following a recent bereavement which was preceded by a long family illness and given that the person subsequently borrowed from relatives to meet funeral costs; if the decision in this case is in common with other decisions of a similar nature; if she will review the circumstances surrounding this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1398/16]
View answerAs outlined in reply to the Deputy’s questions Nos. 33251-15 of 29 September 2015, 35119-15 of 8 October 2015 and 38803-15 of 5 November 2015, the person concerned undertook to provide written confirmation of the loan she received to meet the funeral costs. As this documentation was not received, a decision was taken on 13 November 2015 to disallow the application. If the person concerned provides the required documentation, a decision can be made as to whether the case could then be reviewed.
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an exceptional needs payment arising from funeral costs in each of the past 12 months; the number granted; the number refused; the number pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1399/16]
View answer166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for exceptional needs payments and the number approved in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1531/16]
View answer171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments made to families in each of the past six years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1536/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 166 and 171 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand-led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. Relevant circumstances of the applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. are considered in determining an application for support towards funerals and burials. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union. Approximately 2,700 payments were made in 2015 in respect of funeral and burial costs at a cost of some €4.4 million.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications received or the outcome of those applications, or on the number of payments made to families. The number of ENP payments made in each of the past six years is contained in the tabular statement. Details of the number of ENP payments made in each of the past 12 months in relation to funeral and burial expenses is also contained in the tabular statement.
Number of ENP Payments for funeral and burial expenses from January to December 2015
|
Month |
Number of Payments |
|
January |
239 |
|
February |
288 |
|
March |
305 |
|
April |
240 |
|
May |
269 |
|
June |
230 |
|
July |
229 |
|
August |
186 |
|
September |
200 |
|
October |
168 |
|
November |
176 |
|
December |
168 |
|
Total |
2,698 |
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments for 2010 to 2015
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2010 |
218,000 |
|
2011 |
226,200 |
|
2012 |
197,000 |
|
2013 |
133,000 |
|
2014 |
107,000 |
|
2015 |
96,000 |
131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1411/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 December 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 6 January 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
133. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1414/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 26 November 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.
134. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding a carer's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [1415/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 8 October 2015. The application is currently being processed and, once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
135. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how an application for jobseeker's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1421/16]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Allowance on 15 July 2015. This application was disallowed on 23 July 2015, due to means being in excess of the weekly maximum payment for the person’s household circumstances, which would have included increases for three qualified children. The assessment of this person’s spousal self-employment was calculated by dividing the total drawings, as specified in his 2014 Financial Statement, of €27,265 by 52, which equals €524.32 per week. This is €121.80 in excess of the weekly rate of payment for a household of that size. Accumulated Depreciation of €36,180 was taken into account.
The person concerned met with officials within days of the decision letter of 23 July 2015 being issued. The decision was appealed initially but subsequently withdrawn on 1 September 2015. However the person was granted further leave to appeal following representations on 29 October 2015 and 26 November 2015 but did not avail of this option. The option to appeal has now expired. It is open to the person concerned to make a new application if there has been any change in their circumstances.
136. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo including when it will be concluded and when the original documents will be returned to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1422/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
From the information available, it appears that the original marriage certificate and other documents were seen and copied at the Social Welfare Local Office in Castlebar on 20 November 2014.
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.
137. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm receipt of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork and indicate its current status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1424/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 11 December 2015.
Upon examination by a deciding officer, it transpired that large parts of the application form had not been completed so that the application could not be processed. The Department contacted the applicant on 8 January 2016 to request the information that was omitted.
Once the outstanding documentation is provided, the application will be further processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when an oral hearing will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of a pending appeal under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1436/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 October 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 8 December 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
139. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average weekly payment under the jobseeker's benefit scheme and jobseeker's allowance scheme in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1437/16]
View answerThe average weekly payment for recipients receiving a payment on Jobseeker’s Allowance in 2015 was €196.95. The corresponding average weekly payment value on Jobseeker’s Benefit was €185.19.
