Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2009
311 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34626/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.
Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a means test, has registered for employment and can prove unemployment, may qualify for a weekly payment of supplementary welfare allowance. However, since 1 May 2004, all applicants regardless of nationality are required to be habitually resident in the State in order to qualify for supplementary welfare allowance. The effect of this condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere is not qualified for a weekly supplementary welfare allowance payment.
The person concerned was refused supplementary welfare allowance by the Community Welfare Officer as she was deemed to be not habitually resident in the state.
The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned appealed against this decision to an Appeals Officer of the Executive, who has upheld the decision of the community welfare officer. She has been advised of her right to appeal further to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned has also made an application for Jobseeker's Allowance at King's Inns Street Local Office. This claim is currently under consideration.
312 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the waiting times for decisions on appeals for disability benefit; the waiting times for appointment for an oral hearing from the date of being referred for an oral hearing; the position regarding a person (details supplied). [34664/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified when the necessary arrangements have been made.
In relation to waiting times, I am informed that the average time taken to process illness related appeals (illness benefit and disability allowance) during 2008 was just under 25 weeks. However, when allowance is made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time fell to 14 weeks in the case of illness benefit and 17.5 weeks in the case of disability allowance.
Oral hearings are granted at the discretion of the Appeals Officer usually in circumstances where there is a conflict in the evidence presented by the parties involved or where an oral hearing is requested by the appellant in order to present his or her case. In general, the decision to grant an oral hearing can add 8 weeks on average to the total processing time. Given the logistics involved in organising oral hearings in some 60 venues around the country, the average period from the date of referral for an oral hearing to the oral hearing appointment is of the order of 17 weeks.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
313 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded their jobseeker’s allowance. [34698/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 29 September 2009. His file has been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for examination. On completion of enquiries a decision will be made and he will be notified of the outcome.
Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
