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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

338 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make amendments to the Social Welfare Act to respond to a situation (details supplied); the reasons that long-term disability benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) that has been in receipt of a payment for over a year is not considered a qualifying payment in respect of the household benefit package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21468/03]

Under the rules for entitlement to the household benefits package of allowances, an applicant must either be residing alone or only with certain categories of excepted persons. The person concerned is residing with his sister, who is in receipt of disability benefit and does not qualify as an excepted person. She would only do so in the event that she was medically certified as being so incapacitated as to require constant care and attention in her own right on an ongoing basis.

On foot of the Deputy's question my Department has issued a medical assessment form to the person concerned in respect of his sister. On receipt of the completed form his entitlement will be reviewed and he will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

To make long-term disability benefit a qualifying entitlement for the household benefits package generally would have significant cost implications for the scheme and could only be considered in a budgetary context. There are no plans at present for such an extension to this scheme.

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