Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
289. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for all social welfare payments; the number of applications received for each payment; the number of applications processed to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18650/23]
View answerMy Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average for all the main scheme areas.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
The table below gives the number of claims registered and the decisions made on them from January - March 2023, as well as the current average processing time for each scheme.
|
Social Welfare Scheme |
Registered |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
Average number of weeks to process |
|
Carer's Allowance |
5,554 |
4,132 |
2,969 |
145 |
7 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
1,120 |
1,148 |
425 |
56 |
5 |
|
Child Benefit |
9,024 |
10,483 |
321 |
0 |
1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
6,827 |
3,910 |
4,438 |
414 |
10 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
2,678 |
1,602 |
1,239 |
5 |
6 |
|
Free Travel |
N/A |
2,064 |
303 |
17 |
4 |
|
Household Benefits |
19,296 |
15,244 |
4,335 |
1,049 |
1 |
|
Illness Benefit |
104,367 |
84,820 |
3,629 |
15,465 |
1 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
2,495 |
1,856 |
1,777 |
360 |
7 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
29,164 |
17,427 |
3,448 |
7,749 |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
34,132 |
25,278 |
1,673 |
8,441 |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
10,846 |
10,357 |
375 |
225 |
6 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
2,263 |
1,077 |
443 |
824 |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
3,308 |
1,933 |
264 |
448 |
3 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
22,055 |
21,948 |
195 |
509 |
1 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
7,326 |
6,816 |
175 |
191 |
6 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - EU/International |
1,247 |
167 |
321 |
197 |
7 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
12,580 |
4,684 |
3,332 |
2,431 |
7 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
3,474 |
2,982 |
736 |
283 |
6 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
15,718 |
11,572 |
1,300 |
3,120 |
1 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
2,584 |
2,043 |
400 |
160 |
2 |
|
Working Family Payment |
8,115 |
3,823 |
3,635 |
99 |
7 |
My Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
