Written Answers Nos. 132-139
132. 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. [19944/16]
View answerThe application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 4 July 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 21 July 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 14 January 2016 to 20 July 2016, less jobseeker’s allowance paid during that period, will issue in due course.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 4 July 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
133. 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. [19945/16]
View answerThe application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 22 June 2016 and the first payment was issued to the person’s nominated post office on 30 June 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 18 February 2016 have also issued to the nominated post office for payment on 7 July 2016. The person concerned was notified of these details on 22 June 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
134. 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. [19946/16]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 3 October 2013 in respect of one care recipient.
I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 February 2016 in respect of second care recipient. 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 20 June 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 on 1 July 2016. 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.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection his progress in determining an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; if the payment of supplementary welfare has now commenced, with particular reference to the hardship now being experienced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19949/16]
View answerI can confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 11 May 2016.
On 30 June 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
The person in question applied for supplementary welfare allowance and was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the designated officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
136. 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. [19965/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 June 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.
137. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of offices (details supplied) which he funds through the JobPath scheme including the amount he has allocated, the outfitting he has provided, the number of clients he has utilised and the companies he has hired to promote the centre. [19969/16]
View answerJobPath is an employment activation service designed to support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The JobPath service in Mallow is provided under contract by Turas Nua Limited. The office was completely refurbished and fitted out by Turas Nua and is in line with the company’s normal accommodation standards. Referrals to the Mallow office began in early May 2016 and to date over one hundred jobseekers have been referred.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all costs, including the establishment, fit-out and staffing of offices are borne by the companies delivering the service. JobPath is so structured that the companies will not be able to fully recover their costs until they successfully place sufficient numbers of jobseekers into sustained paid employment. It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts now in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19972/16]
View answerThe person in question appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a deciding officer to disallow his application for disability allowance (DA).
Following due consideration and taking all available evidence into account, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 16 February 2016. He was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date.
An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
If the person in question believes that he may qualify for DA, it is open to him to reapply and his eligibility will be determined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the illness benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19977/16]
View answerPayment of illness benefit to the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
An appeal was registered on 4 July 2016 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department has been asked to provide the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.
