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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2009

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Ceisteanna (185, 186, 187)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

185 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or benefit at any point during 2009 who stopped receiving their allowance due to the fact that they took up a new employment or a change in their means or they left the labour force or for other reasons; if she will provide comparative numbers for 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45111/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Burton

Ceist:

186 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for either jobseeker’s benefit or allowance which were refused to date in 2009; if she will provide comparative numbers for 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45112/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Burton

Ceist:

187 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who moved from jobseeker’s benefit to jobseeker’s allowance to date in 2009; if she will provide the comparative numbers for 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45113/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together.

I set out below two tabular statements containing the information requested by the deputy. Table 1 shows the outflows from the Live Register for each of the years from 2006 to date. The second table contains data relating to the number of jobseeker claim applications that were disallowed in each of those years.

Statistics for those who moved from jobseekers benefit to jobseekers allowance are not maintained. There are two scenarios where claimants can move from jobseekers benefit to jobseekers allowance. All claimants whose benefit claim is about to expire are offered the opportunity to be means tested and to claim jobseekers allowance. Those found to have no entitlement are advised to sign for jobseekers credits. The second scenario is where it is more beneficial for claimants to opt to be paid jobseekers allowance instead of jobseekers benefit. This occurs where the claimant may only have an entitlement to a graduated rate of JB which is based on their average earnings in the governing year.

Table 1: Outflows from the Live Register

Year

Number

2006

274,420

2007

281,230

2008

328,908

2009

461,326

27/11/2009

Table 2: Applications for Jobseeker's Allowance & Jobseeker's Benefit received and refused in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 to October 31st.

2006

JA

JB

Total

Claims Registered

114,437

166,068

280,505

Total Disallowances

10,024

4,401

14,425

2007

JA

JB

Total

Claims Registered

119,886

184,096

303,982

Total Disallowances

10,711

4,803

15,514

2008

JA

JB

Total

Claims Registered

169,879

294,880

464,759

Total Disallowances

12,996

5,789

18,785

2009 to 31st October

JA

JB

Total

Claims Registered

229,882

317,763

547,645

Total Disallowances

17,288

5,217

22,505

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