Written Answers Nos. 245 - 260
245. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the number of social protection recipients who are between 18 and 25 years of age and who have been subject to a penalty-rated payment in 2014, 2015 and in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23156/16]
View answerLegislation provides that sanctions in the form of reduced payments may be imposed where recipients of jobseeker payments fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.
The numbers of Jobseeker payment recipients under 25 years of age who have been subject to a penalty rated payment in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are set out in the following table.
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 (to end June) |
|
18yrs – 24yrs |
2,409 |
3,211 |
2,253 |
246. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the reason a person (details supplied) has been taken off the invalidity pension scheme, is receiving a reduced payment and has lost the household benefit package. [23168/16]
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 person concerned was in receipt of IP up to the 13 June 2012. The person in question applied for partial capacity benefit (PCB) in order to return to employment and was awarded PCB from 9 March 2012. As the person concerned remains in employment she continues to receive PCB at the maximum rate applicable to a person who has a profound incapacity for work which is 100% of the personal rate IP payment. She also receives a living alone allowance and retains her entitlement to a free travel pass. Fuel allowance is not payable with PCB.
Customers in receipt of PCB may retain their household benefits package (HHB) for a period of 2 years after award of PCB, following which a means test is applied to determine continued eligibility for HHB. Following a review of her entitlement to HHB it was determined that her means were in excess of the statutory limit to receive that package and her entitlement ceased from the 14 October 2014.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out 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. [23172/16]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 15 July 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/16]
View answerFollowing a review by a deciding officer (DO) of additional evidence supplied by the person concerned in support of her claim, the person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 17 December 2015. Payment will issue to her nominated post office on 4 August 2016. Any arrears due from 17 December 2015 to 3 August 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 19 July 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
249. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/16]
View answerFollowing a review by a deciding officer of supplementary information submitted by the person concerned in support of her claim, invalidity pension has been awarded to her with effect from the 28 January 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated post office on the 28 July 2016. Any arrears due from 28 January 2016 to 27 July 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 11 July 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
250. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will continue to pay an enhanced rate of supplementary welfare allowance to a person (details supplied) to prevent the person from becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23182/16]
View answerThe person concerned was formerly in receipt of a rent allowance of €500 per calendar month in respect of a property in Artane, Dublin 5. This amount was in excess of the specified limit for a single man in his circumstances but the increased amount was approved under the terms of Article 38.
Unfortunately this property went on fire and he re-housed in Clontarf, Dublin 3. The rent at the new premises was €1,200 per calendar month, which is significantly in excess of the specified limit for a single man. However, a rent allowance of €1,070 per calendar month was awarded to him, within the terms of Article 38, having regard to his circumstances. He was advised of this decision by letter and he subsequently made an appeal to the independent appeals office. The original decision was upheld and the outcome was posted to him on the 4th July 2016.
Given the scale of the increase above the specified limit he was advised that the matter would be reviewed at the end of August and that he should, in the meantime, make efforts to secure appropriate accommodation at, or nearer, the specified limit for a man in his circumstances.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 January 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10 May 2016. The case was assigned to an Appeals Officer who referred the case back to the Department on 15 July 2016 as further information from the Department is required. This information has now been received, a decision on the case will be further considered by the Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented within the next two days.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance payment will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23251/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (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.
An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 19 February 2016.
The matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
In the meantime, both the person concerned and her partner are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
253. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the way people born outside of Ireland can obtain a public services card given that they require a passport for identification purposes but are unable to obtain a passport because, as of 29 March 2016, they require a public service card in support of a passport application; if he is aware of the difficulties this is causing persons; the steps he is taking to immediately rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23289/16]
View answerThe Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to replace other cards within the public service such as the social services card and free travel pass and to make it easy for providers of public services to verify the identity of customers. Since March of this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade requires all passport applicants who are resident in Ireland, have never held a passport and are over eighteen years of age to hold a valid PSC.
A PSC is issued following a registration process called SAFE, which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of identity data. Details of the registration process and information on the documents which a person should provide are available on the Department’s website at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Public-Services-Card_holder.aspx. The process is designed to ensure that the registration of a person’s identity is as robust as possible to give all public service providers substantial assurance of a person’s identity on production of a PSC.
Some exceptional cases that otherwise do not satisfy the requirements set out on the website are considered, on a case-by-case basis, by the Department’s Client Identity Services Division, and where it is considered appropriate, they are permitted to proceed through the SAFE registration process. If the Deputy has such a case in mind, this person can be so considered if the Deputy is willing to provide their details.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the correct rate of disability allowance now payable in the case of a person (details supplied) whose appeal was allowed last month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 11 November 2015. The first payment will issue by her selected payment method on 27 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 11 November 2015 to 26 July 2016 were issued to the person in question on 18 July 2016.
255. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out 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. [23332/16]
View answerI confirm that the 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23333/16]
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 was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been completed.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
257. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23335/16]
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 11 July 2016. The claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
258. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23337/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (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 Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement and a recipient on a reduced rate may request a review if s/he believes they are entitled to a higher rate of payment.
CA is in payment to the person concerned at the maximum rate. It is in payment to him since 30 July 2010.
At present, my department has no record of a request for a review having been received from the person concerned and no department-initiated review is currently under way in this case.
If there has been a change in the person’s circumstances which may affect his entitlement to CA, he should notify my department without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
259. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out 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. [23338/16]
View answerAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 4 May 2016.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 4 July 2016 and the first payment issued to their nominated post office on 7 July 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 5 May 2016 to 6 July 2016 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 4 July 2016 of this decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
260. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out 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. [23340/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 23 March 2016. Further information, necessary to decide the application but omitted from the original application, was sought from the person concerned on 30 June 2016.
Once this information is received, the application will be further processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
