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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

372 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24, who was in receipt of long-term unemployment assistance, was not informed on signing off of his right to claim the back to work allowance and, as a result of this failure, he has suffered a considerable loss of benefits, including medical card and mortgage supplement; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this is the cause of ongoing hardship to the family; the steps, if any, which will be taken to redress this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12143/98]

The objective of the back to work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to return to work. The scheme has a limited number of places and is targeted at people who need an additional financial incentive to return to the workforce. Information on the scheme is provided at all the Department's local offices and at community information centres and the Department's job facilitators are actively involved in promoting the scheme.

It is a requirement of the scheme that an applicant must apply prior to taking up employment and this is clearly indicated on the relevant application form and information leaflet. The person concerned signed off the Live Register on 8 October 1996 and there is no trace of an application for the back to work allowance having been lodged with the Department.

In relation to medical card entitlement any person who has been unemployed for over a year and who takes up employment is entitled to retain his or her medical card for a further three year period.
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