Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits. – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

John Perry

Ceist:

68 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if all those living alone in receipt of invalidity pension or disability allowance were directly informed of their entitlement to claim this allowance when it came into effect in April 2001; and the number of persons who availed of it. [29061/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The living alone allowance scheme was extended from 4 April 2001 to persons who were receiving disability allowance, invalidity pension, blind person's pension or unemployability supplement. A number of measures were undertaken by my Department at that time to ensure that recipients of these payments were made aware of their potential entitlement to this allowance. The extension of the allowance to these recipients was advertised in all provincial, national, daily and Sunday newspapers. A freefone number was also provided, whereby customers could obtain further information concerning the allowance.

All disability allowance recipients who were paid through the post office were notified of their potential entitlement to the allowance in their payable order books which issued to them on 4 April 2001. All invalidity pension recipients who were paid through the post office were notified of their potential entitlement to the allowance in their payable order books which issued to them on 2 August 2001. Recipients of disability allowance and invalidity pension who were paid by electronic fund transfer received a direct mailshot. This included details on the qualifying conditions for the allowance and advice on how to apply. Details of all social welfare budget changes, including those relating to the living alone allowance, were advertised on Aertel.

From 4 April 2001 all new applications for disability allowance and invalidity pension are examined to have their entitlement to living alone allowance assessed in conjunction with their primary claim entitlement. All application forms for these payments currently include an application for living alone allowance. There are 7,843 recipients of invalidity pension who are in receipt of living alone allowance and 9,900 recipients of disability allowance.

I am satisfied that the measures put in place when the scheme was extended to recipients of long-term disability payments were adequate to ensure that eligible persons were made aware of their possible entitlement to living alone allowance.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

69 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who have been diagnosed as coeliacs here; the number of these people who had been getting the diet supplementary allowance; and the effect the phasing out of this allowance will have on low income families. [29055/03]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

79 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the Coeliac Association of Ireland at the implications for coeliacs of her decision to terminate the diet supplement; if she will review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28936/03]

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 79, 105 and 337 to 345, inclusive, together.

Recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet their food needs may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Entitlement to a diet supplement is determined by the health boards in accordance with the legislative provisions that specify the type of diets which qualify for a supplement and the means test which must be applied. My Department does not hold information on the medical condition or the special dietary needs of individuals. The amount of supplement payable depends on which of two categories of diet has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser as well as the age of the person and the income of the individual and his or her dependants.

The current basis for calculating the amount of supplement payable was put in place in 1996. In general, the amount of supplement is either €34.28 for lower cost diets or €44.44 for higher cost diets less one third of the applicant's income at 1996 rates or one sixth in the case of couples. In the case of children under the age of 18 there is a standard rate of €10.20 per week for a higher cost diet and €6.40 per week for a lower cost diet.

In 1996, the need for a diet supplement was based on the premise that the cost of special diets exceeded one third of the value of social welfare payments. It was considered that it would not be reasonable to expect people dependent on social welfare to meet those extra costs from their social welfare payments. Since 1996, means assessments for diet supplement have not taken into account the annual increases in social welfare rates or changes in the cost of special diets and neither have the rates of diet supplement payment changed. During this period, increases in social welfare payments have ranged from 57% to 71% for the majority of persons in receipt of diet supplement while the cost of food, according to the consumer price index, has risen by 28%. Consequently, the gap that the diet supplement was intended to address has narrowed over time.

I propose to amend the regulations governing diet supplements to take account of both food inflation since 1996 and increases in social welfare rates of payment. In the case of applicants for diet supplement from 1 January 2004, the amount of supplement payable will be based on the revised diet costs less one third of the applicant's income or one sixth in the case of a couple. Future budgetary increases will be assessable with the consequence that over a number of years, the amount of diet supplement payable will be adjusted as social welfare rates increase. A person in receipt of a diet supplement prior to the introduction of the revised regulations will continue to receive the current rate of supplement until such time as there is a change in his or her circumstances that would warrant a review of the supplement.

I hope it is now clear that I have not decided to terminate diet supplement payments. I have simply re-established the means test as it was envisaged in 1996 for new applicants for diet supplements from 1 January 2004. The amount of supplement payable to these new applicants will in future reflect the changes in social welfare rates and as such will be reduced over a number of years. The 13,542 people currently in receipt of a diet supplement, whose average payment is €10.22 per week, will retain their existing rate of payment until such time as there is a change in their circumstances that warrants a review of the supplement.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003