Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2006
241 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 18 October 2006, the overall targets set for claim processing, for each of the payments administered by his Department; the factors included in these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34890/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current claim processing targets for each scheme are set out in the following table. Performance is measured on a monthly basis by selecting all of the claims awarded during the month and calculating the percentage of claims which were awarded within the performance target for the month.
The factors which are taken into account when setting the performance target for a scheme are determined by the processes which must be followed in arriving at a decision as well as the number of claims that the relevant business areas can reasonably be expected to handle. Processes vary from scheme to scheme and may involve, among other things, the need to establish the customer's social insurance record, verify medical incapacity for work, establish the customer's identity or their place of habitual residence and to assess means where appropriate.
My Department sets its claim processing targets with a view to providing an efficient and effective level of customer service.
|
Scheme |
Target(1) |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
55% in 6 weeks |
|
State Pension (Transitional) |
80% in 5 weeks |
|
Widow(er)’s Contributory Pension |
80% in 5 weeks |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
65% in 8 weeks |
|
Widow(er)’s (Non-Contributory) Pension & One Parent Family Payment (Widow) |
75% in 8 weeks |
|
One-Parent Family — (Unmarried Parent) |
55% in 8 weeks |
|
One-Parent Family — (Separated Spouse) |
65% in 13 weeks |
|
One-Parent Family — (Local Office based) |
85% in 9 weeks |
|
Free Electricity/Gas Allowance |
70% in 7 weeks |
|
Free Telephone Allowance |
70% in 7 weeks |
|
Bereavement (Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo) |
80% in 3 weeks |
|
Bereavement (Social Welfare Services Office, Longford) |
80% in 3 weeks |
|
Invalidity Pension |
70% in 9 weeks |
|
Family Income Supplement |
70% in 3 weeks |
|
Disability Allowance |
70% in 9 weeks |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
70% in 9 weeks |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
85% in 2 weeks |
|
Jobseeker’s Assistance |
70% in 2 weeks |
|
Illness Benefit |
90% in 1 week |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit– Interim Illness Benefit |
85% in 1 week |
|
Maternity Benefit |
80% before commencement of benefit |
|
Treatment Benefit |
90% in 2 weeks |
|
Child Benefit |
90% in 1 week |
Note for Information
(1)Target time to process new claims from date of receipt to date of award.
