Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009
918 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the termination of one-parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34573/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned claimed one parent family payment from 3 July 2008. She has been paid in respect of herself and 3 children. Means of E77.50 per week have been assessed on her claim.
In June 2009 she requested a review of her means as her ex husband became unemployed. She was requested to submit evidence of maintenance payments being made to her.
A form was sent to her on 5 August as a final notice indicating that she had 21 days to send in the required information. A deciding officer was in contact with her and explained to her that she should be aware that the details requested were required urgently.
To date the person concerned has not supplied the information requested. However, the deciding officer has given her additional time to submit the details and her one parent family payment will continue at the current rate in the meantime.
919 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she proposes to reform the back to education allowance in order that all jobseekers can avail of the scheme within three months of the start of their claim. [34420/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its introduction, the underlying objective of the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme has been to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. It is a second chance educational opportunities scheme for people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise be able to do so.
Improvements to the scheme were announced in the supplementary budget and came into effect from 1st May 2009. In order to qualify for participation, an applicant must now be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 3 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. The qualifying period for access to third level courses is reduced to 9 months for those who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process or engaging with the Department's facilitator programme. People who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.
In general, an applicant must be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study. However, lone parents and recipients of jobseekers' payments who are out of formal education for at least 2 years can qualify at 18 years of age.
The requirement to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the scheme. A waiting period is considered essential to confer entitlement to income support for an indefinite period and is considered necessary in the context of targeting scarce resources at those who need it most.
The back to education allowance has an important role to play in enhancing the employability skills of jobseekers. The conditionality of the scheme will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the scheme and changes in the economic climate.
920 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she proposes to reform the back to work enterprise allowance in order that all jobseekers can avail of this scheme within three months of starting their claim. [34421/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. These changes significantly strengthen the supports for jobseekers wishing to move to self employment.
Claimants who qualify for jobseeker's benefit are being afforded immediate access to a new short term enterprise allowance, provided they have 104 contributions paid or have established entitlement to statutory redundancy from their latest period of employment. It is payable at the same rate and for the same duration as jobseeker's benefit.
For jobseekers on the live register, the qualifying period required for access to the back to work enterprise allowance scheme has been reduced from 2 years to 12 months provided an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance is established. Those who do not have an underlying entitlement to jobseeker's allowance can access the scheme, as before, subject to the 2 year qualifying period.
These changes to improve access to the scheme were made in conjunction with a reduction in the period for which the allowance is payable from 4 years to 2 years at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement in the first year and 75% in the second year. Furthermore, people who previously participated in the back to work enterprise allowance scheme may apply a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed.
The qualifying conditions will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the scheme and changing economic circumstances.
921 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she has taken to ensure that her Department is notified when a person in receipt of a payment from her Department enters full-time permanent nursing home care. [34422/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is an obligation, under Social Welfare legislation, on customers to notify the Department of any change in their circumstances which may affect their entitlement to payment. Customers are informed of this requirement when notified of the decision on their claim and at subsequent reviews.
When a person in receipt of a social welfare payment enters full-time permanent nursing home care they continue to be entitled to their payment, and if aged 70 years and over also remain eligible for the telephone allowance.
The only area where a change in entitlements can arise is where the person is in receipt of Household Benefits — electricity or gas and free television licence. Where a person fails to notify the Department of their change of address, there is a range of control measures in place to address such circumstances. For example:
The various utility companies notify the Department where there is a change of address on a customer's account or where supply is terminated. Payment is immediately suspended in all such cases.
When notification of a change of address is received on any payment scheme where household benefit is also in payment, the household benefit claim is automatically stopped.
Only one household benefits claim is payable per household and controls are in place to prevent payment of more than one entitlement at the same address.
Special projects are undertaken to review customer's ongoing entitlement having regard to specific review criteria.
In addition, regular reviews are undertaken to determine a person's ongoing entitlement to household benefits. Customers are issued with continuing eligibility certificates for completion and return within a specified time.
The Department is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them and to ensuring that abuse of the system is prevented and dealt with effectively when detected.
