Written Answers Nos. 178-187
178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17451/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th May 2016. 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 applicant. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17452/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 20 April 2016. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 29 June 2016.
Arrears of payment due have also issued to the person in question.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17453/16]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 25 April 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 21 June 2016 and of his rights of review and appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17454/16]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance to my Department on 13 April 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 21 June 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
182. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17455/16]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 31 March 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 21 June 2016 and of his rights of review and appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
183. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17456/16]
View answerAn application for disability allowance (DA) by the person concerned, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and he was notified in writing of this decision on 28 September 2015.
The person in question requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional evidence for consideration. The review has now been concluded by a DO and the outcome is that the decision to refuse on medical grounds has been confirmed.
The person in question has been notified of the outcome of this review and been advised of their right to appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office.
In the meantime, if the person’s means are insufficient to meet their needs, they should apply for means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from their local community welfare service.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17457/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 13th June 2016, 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
185. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17459/16]
View answerI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 28 January 2016.
On 19 May 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation, omitted from her original application, and required by the deciding officer (DO) in order to make a decision on her eligibility. However, this information has not yet been received by the DO. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17460/16]
View answerI confirm that, on 21 October 2015, the department received an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA). This application for DA, based upon the evidence submitted, was disallowed and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 14 January 2016.
The person in question subsequently requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional evidence for consideration. The DO referred the application to a local social welfare investigative officer (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.
Following this review, a DO disallowed the application on the grounds that the person in question had failed to demonstrate that his means were within the statutory limit applicable to his circumstances. The main reason for this decision was that the person in question failed to supply relevant information requested by the SWI and therefore means could not be established. Notification of this decision issued to the person in question on 21 June 2016. The person concerned has also been advised of his right to request review and/or appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will meet with the 200 plus staff at a company (details supplied) which went into receivership on 13 June 2016 to brief them of their entitlements and make sure they get the best possible package available to them; and his proposed plans to ensure that these persons get the upskilling they need to help them obtain future employment. [17462/16]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. This is a very difficult time for the former employees of the company concerned and my thoughts are with the workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the company going into receivership.
The priority of the Department of Social Protection is to ensure that former employees receive their statutory entitlements. Employees who lose their jobs due company receivership are entitled to a statutory redundancy payment and to other wage-related payments due at the time of the receivership under the insolvency payments scheme.
In the first instance, the former employees of the company concerned should contact the receiver to ensure that they apply for their statutory redundancy and wage related payments. My Department will deal expeditiously with applications to the redundancy and insolvency payments schemes when received from the receiver and will work with the receiver to ensure prompt payments.
In addition, the former employees should contact their local Intreo centre where they will receive advice on jobseekers payments and other income supports. I understand that former employees have already made contact with their Intreo centre to schedule appointments and I would urge the remaining former employees to make contact as soon as possible. Advice and support will also be provided on returning to work or on appropriate education and training options. Intreo centres are located in Sligo town, Carrick on Shannon and Manorhamilton.
The key message for the former employees is that the Department of Social Protection is well aware of their situation, will provide their statutory redundancy, wage-related and jobseeker payments in a timely manner, and will proactively help them to access the many opportunities for employment in our growing economy.
