Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1346 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that most lone parents on community employment schemes do not qualify for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, despite the fact that they are entitled to retain their secondary benefits, due to the fact the back to school clothing and footwear allowance is considered a discretionary secondary benefit and their incomes generally exceed the threshold; if she will take measures to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19979/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance provides assistance towards the cost of school clothing and footwear for children attending primary and post-primary schools. The health boards administer the scheme on behalf of my Department. Neither I nor my Department has any function in deciding cases.

A person may qualify for payment of this allowance in the following ways: if he or she is in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment; is participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course; and where a child dependent allowance is being paid in respect of the child and the person has household income at or below a specified maximum level.

Under the scheme allowances of €80 are payable in respect of qualified children aged from two to 11 years and allowances of €150 are payable in respect of qualified children from 12 to 22 years.

The community employment scheme is an approved employment scheme for the purposes of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. Accordingly, participants must have the same entitlement to the allowance as those participating in other schemes, subject to the same weekly income limit.

A lone parent on a community employment scheme may qualify under the standard means test that applies to all lone parents. Alternatively, a lone parent may qualify under the special arrangements for retention of secondary benefits which are available to lone parents and other participants in employment schemes, including community employment. These special arrangements are subject to a weekly income limit of €317.43 which applies equally to lone parents and all other participants in community employment and other employment schemes.

Lone parents who do not qualify to retain the back to school clothing and footwear allowance on means grounds have incomes over the limit of €317.43 per week. This income limit is necessary to ensure that the available funds are targeted on those with the lowest incomes. Any changes to the current arrangements would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

1347 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused unemployment assistance. [20020/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The household budget scheme is operated by An Post on behalf of my Department. It gives easy pay options for household bills to certain categories of social welfare recipients who are paid electronically. It is available to those who are in receipt of unemployment assistance, one parent family payment, disability allowance, invalidity pension and widow's or widower's contributory pension.

For technical reasons it is not possible to extend this facility to old age pensioners. A new computer system for all long-term payments, including pensions is being developed. When it is implemented it will allow household budgeting to be extended to pensioners.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

1348 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the old age non-contributory pensions of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo can be reinstated prior to recent reductions. [20024/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The couple concerned each receive an old age non-contributory pension of €124 per week. A recent review indicated that the British retirement pensions payment to them had increased significantly. The means deriving from these pensions have been assessed at €67.59. Under the relevant legislation they are entitled to pensions at the rate of €84 per week. Payment at this rate will be made in their new pension books which commence on 3 October. The deciding officer's decision to this effect will be issued to them shortly. If they are dissatisfied with this decision they can lodge an appeal against it in the social welfare appeals office.

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.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

1349 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for and receive payment of the carer's allowance. [20025/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

At present the person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance. She has been awarded carer's allowance at the maximum weekly personal rate of €194.40 with effect from 1 May. Her first payment will be credited to her bank account on 16 October. Arrears of the difference between the unemployment assistance she has received since 1 May and the carer's allowance to which she is entitled since that date will issue at the end of October.

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.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

1350 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded unemployment benefit or credits retrospectively for the period 1 June to 21 November 2001. [20027/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

A deciding officer disallowed the retrospective unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned for the period 1 June 2001 to 21 November 2001, on the grounds that the period of her claim was outside the statutory limit of six months for which a person is permitted to make a retrospective claim. She may appeal and an appeal form may be obtained from the social welfare office in Castlebar.

At present a deciding officer is reviewing her entitlement to credited contributions for the per iod in question. When a decision is made she will be notified of the outcome.

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.