Vol. 509 No. 6
472 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of applicants for farm assist; and the number of applicants who were formerly in receipt of unemployment assistance and received a reduced amount and an increased amount having applied and qualified for farm assist. [21634/99]
The farm assist scheme, which introduced the special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999, and is effective from 7 April 1999.
To date there have been 9,136 applications received for farm assist, comprising 2,431 new applications and 6,705 claimants formerly in receipt of smallholders unemployment assistance, widows non-contributory pensions, pre-retirement and disability allowances.
On the application form completed by former smallholders, many of them indicated that their circumstances had changed since their last assessment. Reviews of these cases are ongoing. At present 3,322 claimants, who have had their means reviewed, have received an increased level of payment, while 910 have had a reduction in payment.
It is open to any person who is dissatisfied with a decision of a deciding officer in relation to the assessment of means in his/her case to appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Out of the total number of applications received, there are currently 6,833 farm assist claims in payment. The balance is made up of cases which are currently under investigation – most of whom are in receipt of payment under another scheme – cases which have been disallowed, cases under appeal and cases where the applicants ceased to claim a payment.
