Thursday, 26 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 131-140

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Questions (131)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, and when, rent support will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12364/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Questions (132)

Gerry Adams

Question:

132. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for each social welfare claim and the number of claims pending for each payment in counties Louth and Meath in tabular form. [12396/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report on the number of claims pending for each payment in counties Louth and Meath.

The average processing time for Social Welfare claims at the end of April is detailed in the following table.

Social Welfare claims by average waiting times and number of claims pending

30 April 2016

Scheme	Average Waiting time (weeks)
Jobseeker's Benefit	1
Jobseeker's Allowance	2
One-Parent Family Payment	6
State Pension Contributory (Dom)	7
Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension	3
Widowed Parent Grant	1
Living Alone/Island Allowances	N/a
State Pension Non-Contributory	14
Household Benefits	3
Free Travel	2
Domiciliary Care Allowance	13
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	1
Child Benefit (Domestic & FRA)	3
Child Benefit (EU Regulation)	39
Treatment Benefit	N/a
Maternity Benefit	N/a
Family Income Supplement (New)	3
Family Income Supplement (Renew)	N/a
Carer's Allowance	21
Disability Allowance	10
Invalidity Pension	12
Illness Benefit	1
Occupational Injury Benefit	N/a

Carer's Allowance Delays

Questions (133)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

133. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding delays under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department is committed to ensuring that claims and reviews are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness, disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process.

The details attached to your question raise the question of reviews of ongoing carer’s allowance payments when a child who is receiving domiciliary care allowance reaches the age of 16. All social welfare claims are routinely reviewed to ensure continued entitlement. These reviews are essential to ensure value for money and that payments are targeted only to those who are entitled to them. CA payments may be reviewed at any time to confirm that the means test is still satisfied and that full-time care and attention is still required and is being provided. It is important to note that payment of CA continues while a review is underway which ensures that any delays in the department do not unduly inconvenience the customer.

Reviews of CA are not directly linked to when a care recipient reaches the age of 16 but, in certain cases, the Department considers this to be an opportune time as some child care recipients becomes more independent as they grow older. If it is found that a person no longer satisfies the conditions for continued entitlement to CA, they are notified of the decision in writing along with the reasons for it and they are offered the right of review and appeal.

Applicants for carer’s allowance, which is a means-tested scheme, are experiencing some delays currently. This primarily is due to an ongoing increase in new claim intake over the past few years to this scheme and the complexity attached to processing of these applications. In addition, there is sometimes a reluctance on the part of applicants to give full information at application stage thereby slowing down the processing of their application and in some cases necessitating a visit by an Departmental investigative officer.

Reducing these waiting times is a priority for my Department. As part of its programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented by my Department in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.

In addition, staffing needs are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 134 withdrawn.

State Pension (Contributory)

Questions (135)

Willie Penrose

Question:

135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the assets and income an adult dependant must have before being disqualified from receiving the adult dependant allowance where a spouse is entitled to the state pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12435/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Entitlement to increase for qualified adult (IQA) on a person’s state pension (contributory) is subject to a means test, which assesses weekly income from any source. The increase is only payable where the spouse/civil partner/co-habitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by the claimant.

Currently IQA at the maximum rate is payable where the qualified adult’s weekly means are assessed at €100 or less. Where the weekly means assessed exceed €100, but do not exceed €310, a tapered, reducing IQA scale applies. No IQA is payable where the weekly means is in excess of €310.

The weekly income received by the qualified adult is assessable in full, such as income from employment, rental of property, private or occupational pension. Capital income held by the qualified adult such as property, savings and investments is also assessed. Where capital or assets are held jointly by a couple, half the value is taken into account for assessment purposes. Further details about the IQA means assessment are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 136 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Questions (137)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the waiting times for processing applications for social welfare payments; how he will reduce these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12439/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I wish to assure the Deputy that prompt processing of claims remains a priority for me. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department has had major success in clearing backlogs especially over the last year in the disability related schemes.

Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. As can be seen from the data in the table provided below, schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Illness related claims also require an assessment of medical conditionality and this can prolong the process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process. Delays can also arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding. Work on clearing backlogs in some scheme areas, such as carers allowance and invalidity pension has temporarily distorted the time taken to clear claims due to the high level of reviews and appeals following backlog clearances, but the progress made will be reflected in processing times in the coming months. Both schemes are up to date with the processing of new applications, as is family income supplement for both new and renewal applications.

As part of the Department’s programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.

In addition, the staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.

The new Intreo service integrates employment and income supports and provides for a streamlined and personalised service to clients in accessing job opportunities and availing of supports to enable them to get back to work at the earliest possible opportunity. The Intreo centres also include a single integrated decision-making team that integrate and streamline the processes formerly undertaken by the different agencies now amalgamated into the Department. The benefits of the integrated decisions process are already visible in terms of shorter decision times and in the reduced recourse to supplementary payments in offices where integrated decisions are in operation.

The average processing time for Social Welfare claims at the end of April is detailed in the following table.

Social Welfare claims by average waiting times and number of claims pending

30 April 2016

Scheme	Average Waiting time (weeks)
Jobseeker's Benefit	1
Jobseeker's Allowance	2
One-Parent Family Payment	6
State Pension Contributory (Dom)	7
Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension	3
Widowed Parent Grant	1
Living Alone/Island Allowances	N/a
State Pension Non-Contributory	14
Household Benefits	3
Free Travel	2
Domiciliary Care Allowance	13
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	1
Child Benefit (Domestic & FRA)	3
Child Benefit (EU Regulation)	39
Treatment Benefit	N/a
Maternity Benefit	N/a
Family Income Supplement (New)	3
Family Income Supplement (Renew)	N/a
Carer's Allowance	21
Disability Allowance	10
Invalidity Pension	12
Illness Benefit	1
Occupational Injury Benefit	N/a

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (138)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

138. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12458/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 26/01/2016. Some additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by the deciding officer on 25/05/2016. Once the information is received the application will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Questions (139)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments made; the most quoted reason for seeking a payment; and the extent to which applications were favourably considered by month in each of the years 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department 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.

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. The largest numbers of payments are made in the categories of housing kit-outs, and clothing (27,100 and 19,100 in 2015 respectively) and also in relation to travel costs (15,200 in 2015).

Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. The number of ENPs made on a monthly basis in each of the past two years to date is contained in the following table. For reporting purposes this data includes numbers of urgent needs payments (UNP). A UNP is a once-off payment made to persons who would not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.

Number of Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments in each month for the past two years to date:

Month	Number of Payments
May 2014	8,995
June 2014	7,907
July 2014	8,819
August 2014	7,965
September 2014	8,882
October 2014	9,664
November 2014	9,578
December 2014	10,506
January 2015	8,258
February 2015	8,463
March 2015	8,662
April 2015	7,928
May 2015	8,098
June 2015	8,203
July 2015	7,921
August 2015	6,421
September 2015	7,616
October 2015	7,634
November 2015	8,167
December 2015	8,841
January 2016	7,178
February 2016	7,453
March 2016	7,918
April 2016	7,484

Exceptional Needs Payments

Questions (140)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, and when, he will arrange a special needs payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12464/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned applied for assistance towards payment for a central heating installation on 27/04/2016. Upon assessment of the application and supporting documentation the deciding officer deemed that the person concerned was in a position to provide for the cost of this installation from her own resources and the application was refused.

This decision is currently being reviewed by a review officer who will advise the person concerned of the outcome when this review is completed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.