Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 March 2022
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which waiting times for payments in respect of means-tested applications compare with contribution related payments; the extent of progress in reducing waiting times for means-tested payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15380/22]
View answerThe following means test based schemes are assessed in terms of operational performance:
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance Total
- Carer's Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Household Benefits
The following schemes which are based on PRSI contributions are also assessed:
- State Pension (Contributory)
- Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension
- Jobseeker's Benefit
- Maternity Benefit
- Paternity Benefit
- Invalidity Pension
- Illness Benefit
- Occupational Injury Benefit
The attached tabular statement below outlines the agreed target and metric for each scheme, along with the average targets achieved in February 2022. The performance from February 2021 is also included in the table to show the extent of progress in reducing waiting times for means-tested payments.
|
Scheme |
Target |
Metric |
Target performance February 2022 Target performance February 2021 |
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
75% |
In 12 Weeks |
88% |
88% |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
90% |
In 6 Weeks |
97% |
96% |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
90% |
In 10 Weeks |
98% |
96% |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
90% |
In 1 Week |
93% |
93% |
|
Carer's Allowance |
75% |
In 12 Weeks |
93% |
95% |
|
Disability Allowance |
75% |
In 12 Weeks |
95% |
93% |
|
Household Benefits |
90% |
In 4 Weeks |
100% |
100% |
The performances of contribution related payments, as of February 2022 are included in the tabular statement below:
|
Scheme |
Target |
Metric Target performance February 2022 |
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
90% |
By date of entitlement |
94% |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
90% |
In 6 Weeks |
95% |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
90% |
In 3 Weeks |
93% |
|
Maternity Benefit |
90% |
By due date |
83% |
|
Paternity Benefit |
90% |
By Commencement of leave |
80% |
|
Invalidity Pension |
90% |
In 10 Weeks |
91% |
|
Illness Benefit |
90% |
In 1 week |
77% |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
90% |
In 1 week |
60% |
