Vol. 547 No. 1
825 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures he has taken since 1997 to improve the position of widows; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1339/02]
In Budget 2002, for the second year in a row I brought in a special increase of 15.87 per week for those in receipt of a widow or widower's contributory pension. This was a further step in the process of bringing the rate of the widow/er's contributory pension up to the level of the old age contributory pension. Cumulative increases since 1997 amount to about 60%. Also in Budget 2002, I increased the maximum rate of payment of widow and widower's contributory pension for those aged under 66 by 10.16 to 123.30 per week. I also increased the rates of widow and widower's non-contributory pension by the same amount. The maximum rate is now 118.80 per week for those aged under 66 and 134 per week for those aged over 66. Increases in these payments since 1997 amount between 36% and 56%. Increases in weekly payments came into effect in January of this year, a full 23 weeks earlier than normal.
Widows and widowers are also benefiting from the changes in the free schemes which I announced in Budget 2001 and which provide for all persons aged over 70 years of age to have an entitlement to the full range of schemes regardless of their means or household composition. In Budget 2002, I announced further improvements to these schemes which will ensure that all recipients will now receive the full range of benefits available. Improvements have also been made in the payments available in the very difficult period immediately after a bereavement. In 1999, a bereavement grant of 635 was introduced. Where the deceased person was a social welfare recipient, arrangements are also in place to continue the payments to the widow/er for six weeks after the bereavement.
826 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the independent living allowance is means tested; if so, his plans to change this; and if the title of payments made to those with a disability can be changed to take the emphasis away from the disability. [1369/02]
Payments to people with disabilities in sheltered work services is not linked to the minimum wage and national agreement increases. People with disabilities attending sheltered work services currently retain their primary and secondary state disability benefits. Many service users also receive an additional weekly payment from service providers. If persons availing of these services were to receive the minimum wage they would lose their entitlement to state disability benefits.
A working group established by my Department in August 2000 to draw up a code of practice for sheltered work is currently in the final stages of its assignment. The Working Group has been asked to specifically address the issues of the status and remuneration of people with disabilities in sheltered work services. These issues will be considered in depth when the working group makes its recommendations.
Question No. 827 answered with Question No. 822.
828 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for unemployment assistance will be heard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1449/02]
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 15 October 2001. The deciding officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he was not available for or genuinely seeking work and that he had not fully disclosed his means. The person concerned has appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office. An appeals officer has examined his case and is of the opinion that an oral hearing is necessary. The person has been asked to furnish certain documents in advance of the hearing. As soon as these are received a date will be set for the hearing and the person will be notified accordingly.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
829 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason no phone calls are being accepted by the child benefit section in Letterkenny; the reason people are being left without child benefit for up to six months, with no way of following their query up by phone; and the measures he will take to have this situation resolved as a matter of urgency. [1477/02]
he dispute in the Department's office in Letterkenny, which administers child benefit and treatment benefit, arose initially out of the filling of three additional temporary posts in the office by the recruitment of staff on short term contracts. Having commenced their industrial action in relation to the recruitment of temporary staff, the Civil and Public Service Union, CPSU then stated that its actions also covered its dissatisfaction with the implementation of a new computer system for the delivery of child benefit services. Following a series of discussions between the Department and the CPSU, the industrial action was suspended on 21 December 2001, pending the outcome of further negotiations. A draft agreement was finalised at a meeting on 3 January 2002 and was subsequently endorsed by a ballot of CPSU members. As a consequence, the full range of child benefit and treatment benefit services normally available has now been restored. The Department regrets the inconvenience experienced by the public during the course of the industrial action.
Question No. 830 answered with Question No. 821.
