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Gnáthamharc

Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (189)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

246 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who have been refused unemployment assistance or benefit in the past three years on the grounds that they are not genuinely seeking work, despite producing letters from employers to the contrary; and the reason these letters are not accepted as proof that they are genuinely seeking work. [28186/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

To be entitled to unemployment benefit, UB, or unemployment assistance, UA, social welfare legislation provides that, among other conditions, a person must satisfy the condition of being genuinely seeking work.

The number of customers disallowed as not genuinely seeking work in each of the past three years is as follows:

Year

2001

5,320

2002

3,567

2003

4,024

Up to August of this year 2,435 customers have been disallowed under this provision. The figures given above cover all disallowances for not genuinely seeking work, including any disallowances where the customers had produced letters from employers.

A deciding officer will take a number of factors into account in deciding whether a customer is genuinely seeking work. The production of letters from prospective employers is only one such factor and, of itself, may not be a sufficient indicator that a person is genuinely seeking work.

Regard may be had to any other steps which a person has taken — provided the person offers a reasonable chance of getting employment. The steps which are expected to be taken to seek work will vary from person to person and from one period to another. In determining what are reasonable steps, the deciding officer considers the nature and conditions of the employment sought and the individual circumstances of the persons concerned, including their level of skills and-or qualifications for the employment in question having regard to the state of the labour market and existing labour market opportunities.

Any person who fails to satisfy the deciding officer that he or she is genuinely seeking work is not entitled to an unemployment payment. Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision made by a deciding officer he or she may appeal this decision to the social welfare appeals office.

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