Written Answers Nos. 289-313
289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19105/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 November 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 18 April 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
290. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance can receive up to €20 per week for helping to feed their dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19183/16]
View answerThere are no payments made by the Department of Social Protection towards the cost of caring for a dog.
I hope the answer assures the Deputy and that it clarifies it for him.
291. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons resident here in receipt of a United Kingdom pension; the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom, by area in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in receipt of an Irish State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/16]
View answerAccording to the United Kingdom’s Department for Work and Pensions, there were 135,070 recipients of UK state pension residing in Ireland at the end of November 2015.
The following table shows the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom, who are currently in receipt of Irish state pension (contributory) or Widow(er)’s and surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, broken down by address as provided by the claimant. State pension (contributory) is payable from age 66. Widow (er)’s and surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension is payable at any age.
|
- |
England |
Scotland |
Wales |
Northern Ireland |
United Kingdom |
Total |
|
State pension contributory (SPC) |
14,603 |
480 |
350 |
1,574 |
12,409 |
29,416 |
|
Widow(er)’s and surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension (WSCPCP) |
3,666 |
140 |
77 |
376 |
848 |
5,107 |
|
Total |
18,269 |
620 |
427 |
1,950 |
13,257 |
34,523 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for the minimum wage support fund by a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19198/16]
View answerThe community services programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. The contribution from the CSP is towards the wage costs of the companies and is on the basis that the services are not fully self-financing or the cost of provision would be prohibitive on users.
The Department of Social Protection does not set the wage rate but requires the payment of appropriate wage rates, consistent with local norms. In 2015, 398 companies received a contribution towards the wage costs of just over 1,700 employees. The funding is managed and administered on behalf of the Department by Pobal.
Due to the increase in the national minimum wage from 1st January 2016, the issue of the sustainability of some CSP funded companies has come into sharper focus. In response, the Department has established a CSP Support Fund for a fixed period of time (2016-2018) to assist existing services funded under the programme in enhancing their sustainability as social enterprises so that they might be more able to pay the new minimum wage.
Appraisals of submissions from companies under the fund have now been completed and the recommendations have been approved by the Department. Pobal will be communicating the outcomes to each company over the next week and arranging for the payments to issue.
293. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19209/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 8th April 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 13 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
294. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 26th April 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 13 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
295. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application for a person (details supplied) under the invalidity allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19211/16]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 6 May 2016. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 04 July 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
296. 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. [19255/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 March 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible 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 his needs he should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from his local community welfare service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
297. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims under the redundancy payments scheme in tabular form in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date. [19259/16]
View answerDetails of the Redundancy Payments Scheme for the period 2011 – 2015 were provided to the Deputy in reply to Question No. 293, Ref No: 18418/16 on 28 June, 2016.
The following is a table with details of claims processed and expenditure for 2016 to date included (January to May).
Redundancy Payments Scheme Claims and Expenditure 2011 – 2015
|
Year |
Claims processed |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
49,762 |
€311.96m |
|
2012 |
33,072 |
€301.76m |
|
2013 |
14,088 |
€126.10m |
|
2014 |
6,883 |
€ 64.6m |
|
2015 |
4,333 |
€ 34.9m* |
|
2016 to-date (Jan-May) |
2,247 |
€ 11.8m* |
*Draft expenditure figure for 2015 & to end May 2016, pending completion of the Social Insurance Fund Accounts
298. 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. [19260/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 May 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 23 June 2016, if it was the fraud section of his Department that investigated this matter; if payment of contributions continued after 2008, as to date this person has not been issued with a P45; the action that was taken by the fraud section following the discussion by phone with this person; if this person's future pension entitlements will be adversely affected by not having contributions credited to them while they were in employment after 2008; and if he will provide the contribution records. [19339/16]
View answerThe person concerned requested an investigation into her PRSI record in a letter dated 24 July 2014. The matter was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation on 1 August 2014. The Inspector submitted his report on 11 September 2014 and, as outlined in the answer to PQ 17904-16, he found no discrepancies. He also confirmed that, as the person concerned was on Illness Benefit for the period August 2007 to July 2011, no PRSI contributions were due on her behalf for those years. The client’s future pension entitlements will not be adversely affected. The person concerned was advised of this outcome by telephone on 15 September 2014. The matter was not referred to the Special Investigations Unit.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
300. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection why spinal injuries are excluded from the list of long-term illnesses in the awarding of benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/16]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability (see below). Entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. In all cases a deciding officer of my Department makes a decision based on all the available evidence including supporting medical evidence supplied by the applicant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.
- Illness Benefit (IB) is an insurance based payment for those who are certified by a registered medical practitioner as being is unable to work due to illness. In legislation this day is defined as a "day of incapacity for work". In order to qualify a person must also satisfy the social insurance contribution conditions for the scheme.
- Invalidity Pension is an insurance based payment for those who are permanently incapable of work. In addition to satisfying the PRSI contribution conditions, a person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months, or be permanently incapable of work.
- Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment. In order to satisfy the conditions for receipt of disability allowance (DA) a person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of at least a year and as a result of the condition the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. There are additional conditions that must be satisfied in relation to habitual residence.
- There are a number of other illness support payments associated with the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, including; Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance and the Medical Care Scheme.
I trust that this answers the Deputy’s question.
301. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has been approved for funding for an educational course by their local Intreo office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19373/16]
View answerThe Training Support Grant Scheme (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short term training or related interventions for individual jobseekers who have identified work opportunities. In addition Case Officers who have identified an immediate skills gap that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer, or accessing other activation interventions may also engage the use of this scheme for the benefit of the client.
The procedures provide that when a Case Officer approves a grant under this scheme, the grant will only be paid after the applicant completes the programme, and achieves certification, or does not achieve certification but the trainer confirms the applicant completed the training. The person concerned and the course provider are aware of these procedures.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy
302. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the range of reforms of community employment eligibility recently proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19439/16]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an employment programme with the aim of helping the long-term unemployed to re-enter the workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine. CE also provides training and development to participants. The current eligibility criteria for the programme have been expanded over the years. The criteria have been set to specifically target certain groups for the programme. The basic eligibility requirement is that a person is currently in receipt of a CE-qualifying payment from the Department of Social Protection for the requisite period of time, for example jobseeker’s allowance for a minimum period of twelve months.
Recent changes to the eligibility criteria for CE include the reduction in the entry age for CE participants working directly with service users in the childcare sector and social/healthcare sector to 21 years of age. The standard minimum entry age for CE is 25 years of age. The eligibility criteria for participants aged 62 and over have been eased in terms of the maximum duration they can remain on the programme, subject to certain conditions. Customers who are not eligible for the CE programme may be eligible for other interventions from the Department.
The eligibility criteria for CE are kept under review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and that there is the maximum utilisation of CE places.
However, with the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, I believe that a review of work schemes, including CE, is necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes and the conditions governing participation continue to be appropriate. The Deputy did raise this issue in the House recently and I have asked for your suggested changes to be looked into. I will be considering the various reforms of CE eligibility proposed by the Deputy in this context over the coming months.
303. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the community employment programme for participants over the age of 60 by increasing the number of places allocated within each individual scheme from 7% to include all participants over that age category to remain on the scheme until they reach retirement age. [19506/16]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. It is designed to be a temporary fixed-term activation intervention. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace. The overall number of places on CE is limited to 25,300 in 2016.
CE is open to participants aged up to 65 years of age who meet the current eligibility criteria. A pilot initiative was introduced in December 2015 to enable those aged 62 and over to extend their participation beyond the standard maximum participation limits (currently set at 6 years cumulative lifetime participation) providing the eligibility conditions are met. Participants aged 62 and over, are allowed to participate on a continuous basis up to the state pension age, subject to satisfactory performance on the scheme and to annual approval by the Department. The places allocated for participants over 62 years within each individual CE scheme are limited to 7% of each scheme’s overall budgeted places. This limit allows for the maximum utilisation of the remaining places on the scheme for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups in line with the scheme aims. An adjustment to enable all CE participants over 60 years of age to remain until retirement age would cause the percentage of such places to increase continuously which has the consequence of reducing the number of places available to all other target cohorts. As this initiative was only introduced at the end of December 2015, I am satisfied that the limit of 7% should remain.
However, with the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, I believe that a review of work schemes, including CE, will be necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes and the conditions governing participation continue to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
304. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which investments in shares, annuities, AVCs and insurance policies, including mortgage protection policies on a person's primary dwelling, are assessed for various means tested payments, including carer's allowance, disability allowance, dependent adult allowances, non-contributory pension, jobseeker's allowance and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19517/16]
View answerMy Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance schemes, where account is taken of the income and the value of capital, including shares, of the claimant and his or her spouse/ partner.
When assessing a claimant’s (or the claimant’s spouse/partner’s) income from earnings, social welfare legislation provides for various payments to be deducted from gross earnings for means assessment purposes including: PRSI contributions, payments to a trade union, and superannuation contributions, such as additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) and personal retirement savings accounts (PRSAs). Payments made in respect of life assurance policies, including mortgage protection policies, are not deducted from earnings for means assessment purposes.
With regards to property and capital, social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes. Such property includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. However, it does not include property such as the family home a person is personally using or enjoying i.e. residing in or, for example, a premises used by the claimant in carrying out a business.
The current assessment method, involving a disregard of an initial amount of capital and an increasing notional weekly value for amounts in excess of the disregarded amount, came into effect in October 2000 for most welfare schemes. The assessment formula is not designed to mirror potential interest or annuity rates available to investors or potential rental income from a property and no account is taken of any such income in the overall means assessment. The formula introduced in 2000 continued and enhanced the policy of ensuring that those with property and capital of modest amounts of capital receive the greater share of available support while those with larger amounts of capital are in a position to avail of it to contribute, at least partially, towards meeting their needs.
This property/capital formula applies regardless of the type of capital (including monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares or property). Insurance policies, such as mortgage protection policies, are not assessable as capital.
The assessment formula for most schemes, including jobseeker’s allowance for entitlement to increases for qualified adults for social insurance schemes, was last updated in 2005 – see following table - and included an increase in the initial amount disregarded from €12,697 to €20,000.
|
AMOUNT OF CAPITAL |
WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED |
|
Up to €20,000 |
Nil |
|
€20,000 - €30,000 |
€1 per each €1,000 |
|
€30,000 - €40,000 |
€2 per each €1,000 |
|
Over €40,000 |
€4 per each €1,000 |
For the purposes of the State pension non-contributory and carer’s allowance the amounts above are doubled in the case of a couple. From 2007, the amount disregarded in the case of disability allowance is €50,000, up from €20,000, and in the case of supplementary welfare allowance is €5,000, up from €520.
The general rule for assessment of pension funds or annuities is:
- Regular pension payments are treated as income for means purposes;
- The value of any cash otherwise available from a pension fund is assessed on the basis of the capital valuation of that fund; and
- Money invested in a pension fund is not assessable if it is not accessible to the claimant.
Any change to the means assessment of social assistance schemes would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
305. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused disability allowance. [19532/16]
View answerFollowing a successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 15 April 2015. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 30 December 2015.
Arrears of payment due issued on 18 February 2016.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
306. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will intervene to prevent cuts to funding at a location (details supplied); the reason such cuts are being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19590/16]
View answerThe Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community businesses to deliver local services to their communities and to create employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged groups. The Programme is managed on behalf of the Department by Pobal.
The CSP is designed on a social enterprise model and a core requirement of the programme is that contract holders generate non-public revenue from their operations e.g. by charging fees for services delivered or fundraising. The grant from the Department is not intended to represent full-funding. Companies in contract under the CSP are responsible for their own budgets, income, financial and other liabilities and must be not-for-profit, social enterprise or community business in nature.
The activities of the company was examined earlier this year and it was concluded that the funding under the CSP should be reduced. This was communicated to the company who have requested a review of the decision; a final outcome is expected in August.
307. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for family income support allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19592/16]
View answerA Family Income Supplement (FIS) application was received from the person concerned on the 24 June 2016.
FIS has now been awarded commencing 28 April 2016 to 26 April 2017.
308. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection why he has increased the maximum rent limits at a lower rate in Fingal than in other areas in County Dublin under the rent supplement scheme, given the acute housing crisis in the Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19594/16]
View answer320. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the figures on increases under the housing assistance programme taking effect from 1 July 2016 by county, in tabular form; the guidance he will issue to community welfare officers; and the criteria that will need to be satisfied, in view of his plans to regularise informal top-up payments to landlords. [19790/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 320 together.
These new rent limits reflect the fact that rents are rising and are back to their peak levels in some cases. Through a combination of increased rent limits, and the ongoing flexibility and discretionary increases provided by my Department’s Community Welfare Service staff, we will provide more stability for tenants and reduce the danger of families becoming homeless when their rent is increased.
This Government wants to ensure that our recovering economy works for everyone. We aim to achieve that by promoting an enterprise economy, making work pay, investing in public services, ensuring opportunity and a fair go for everyone. We must ensure that we have a strong safety net so that everyone has a roof over their head. In many cases, Rent Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment is that safety net.
The revised increased rent limits under the rent supplement scheme, as announced last week, were introduced with effect from Friday, 1 July 2016. Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 54,000 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority as evidenced by the early implementation of this Government commitment.
The review sets the rent limits in line with market rents which have generally been benchmarked at the 35th percentile of agreed rents as registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. A weighted average increase of some 30% has been applied across both the rent limits previously in place in the Fingal and Non-Fingal areas of Dublin.
The most recent rent supplement review showed that there remained a price differential between Fingal and Non-Fingal Dublin areas though both experienced a uniform increase in their overall rental pricing.
I have also advised that people who have entered an informal top-up arrangement with their landlord to contact their Community Welfare Service for assistance, as the Department will regularise these top-ups in most cases. The primary concern will be to ensure the tenant’s accommodation needs are met and that they have sufficient social welfare income after their accommodation needs have been paid. Guidance has issued to officers regarding the implementation of the increased rent limits including top up arrangements. The new limits, combined with the continued flexible approach provided by the Community Welfare Service and the Tenancy Protection Service, operated by Threshold, will provide for increased security for persons seeking support under this scheme.
Policy responsibility for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
309. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archives Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19622/16]
View answerThe number of staff working in my Department’s Archives Unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 is set out in the following table.
Table of Staff in Archive Unit Department of Social Protection
|
Year |
Number of staff |
|
2010 |
1 |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
1 |
|
2014 |
1 |
|
2015 |
1 |
|
2016 |
1 |
Under Regulation 3(1), of the National Archives Act, 1986, Regulations, 1988, the Secretary General of each Department must appoint one or more Certifying Officers to be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Act and Regulations in the Department. The Secretary General in my Department has appointed a number of Certifying Officers across the business areas of the Department of Social Protection.
As with all areas of the Department, the Secretary General constantly reviews staffing and resources and will continue to do so in the light of changed circumstances in any areas of the Department’s remit, including any future changes to the application of the National Archives Act, 1986 or the relevant protocols.
310. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will allow an increase in the self-referral percentage for Tús work placement initiative participants in Cork from the current 20% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19635/16]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. Initially all participants were randomly selected by the Department.
In 2015, the Tús initiative was further developed to allow for an assisted referral process for up to 20% of participants. This allows jobseekers to apply to be considered for recruitment to the initiative. In such cases the application from eligible jobseekers will be mediated through a case officer in my Department.
Currently, I am satisfied that random selection should remain the main referral process and that 80% of referrals in all locations will continue to be selected in this way. However, with the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, I believe that a review of work schemes, including Tús, will be necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes and the conditions governing participation continue to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19643/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 17 September 2015. CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person concerned was notified on 1 April 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. Following this review the decision remained unchanged and the person concerned was notified of the outcome on 28 April 2016.
The person concerned has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and submitted additional evidence in support of her application which is being reviewed by a deciding officer. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19644/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 May 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
