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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 September 2009

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Ceisteanna (767, 768, 769)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

922 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if increased rent supplement will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Laois. [31338/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible persons living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The person concerned was in receipt of rent supplement of €52 a week. The Supplementary Budget earlier this year provided that the weekly minimum contribution which a rent supplement recipient must pay towards his/her rent be increased from €18 to €24, with effect from 1 June 2009.

Payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants were also reduced by 8% from the same date. These measures account for the reduction in the rent supplement payment of the person concerned to €42 a week. Existing recipients of rent supplement were advised by letter in advance of the change being made to their rent supplement payment from 1 June 2009. The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of his full entitlement to rent supplement, based on his personal circumstances.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

923 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the illness benefit claim in respect of a person (details supplied) was refused; the options available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31422/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was discontinued following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out on 30 September 2009. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Question No. 924 answered with Question No. 866.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

925 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a jobseeker’s allowance application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick without further delay. [31543/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit from 6 November 2008 to 5 August 2009 when her entitlement to this payment expired. She has now applied for Jobseeker's Allowance. Since 1 May 2004 applicants for a range of social assistance payments must satisfy the condition of being habitually resident in Ireland. The person concerned has completed the habitual residency condition form and her application is currently under consideration. She will be advised of the outcome immediately after a decision is made.

Question No. 926 answered with Question No. 866.
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