Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2010
324 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time currently taken to process an application for unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national average processing times for jobseeker claims decided during April were 2.33 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 6.92 weeks for jobseeker's allowance.
325 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time taken to process an application for contributory and or non-contributory old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22098/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme. Over the past number of years a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in the pension scheme area in Sligo. Significant improvements have been achieved in claim processing times and backlogs have been eliminated. Operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
From January 2009, new processing targets, based on processing 90% of claims, were introduced for all schemes. The processing targets and average performance achieved for the period May 2009 to April 2010 in respect of State Pension Contributory (SPC) and State Pension Non Contributory (SPNC) and State Pension Transition (SPT) are outlined below.
|
Scheme |
Processing Target |
Performance (May 2009 to April 2010) |
|
State Pension Contributory |
90% by entitlement date |
94% achieved |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
90% within 10 weeks |
70% achieved |
|
State Pension Transition |
90% within 6 weeks |
88% achieved |
326 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for one parent family allowance received in the past 12 months; the number approved and refused; the number referred to appeal; the number of such appeals in respect of which the original decision was overturned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22099/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statistics in respect of One-Parent Family claims requested by the deputy are contained in the accompanying tables:
|
Month |
Registered |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
Closed (Withdrawn) |
|
April 2010 |
1,597 |
1,053 |
167 |
360 |
|
Mar 2010 |
1,720 |
1,202 |
196 |
362 |
|
Feb 2010 |
1,974 |
1,071 |
191 |
390 |
|
Jan 2010 |
2,522 |
788 |
128 |
307 |
|
Dec 2009 |
1,867 |
949 |
115 |
259 |
|
Nov 2009 |
2,452 |
1,242 |
167 |
371 |
|
Oct 2009 |
3,034 |
1,198 |
195 |
407 |
|
Sep 2009 |
3,253 |
952 |
144 |
315 |
|
Aug 2009 |
2,629 |
816 |
132 |
296 |
|
Jul 2009 |
3,493 |
1,046 |
207 |
366 |
|
Jun 2009 |
3,215 |
1,045 |
176 |
320 |
|
May 2009 |
3,367 |
1,237 |
146 |
270 |
|
Number |
|
|
Total Registered |
803 |
|
Appeal allowed |
120 |
|
Appeal disallowed |
319 |
|
Decision revised by DO |
201 |
|
Appeal withdrawn by appellant |
78 |
|
Total appeal finalised |
718 |
|
Number |
|
|
Total Registered |
385 |
|
Appeal allowed |
25 |
|
Appeal disallowed |
81 |
|
Decision revised by DO |
74 |
|
Appeal withdrawn by appellant |
30 |
|
Total appeal finalised |
210 |
The statistics in respect of appeals are not kept in the same format as the One-Parent Family claims and therefore a breakdown by month is not available.
327 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for child benefit received in each of the past two years to date in 2010; the number granted and refused; the number referred to appeal; the number of appeals in respect of which the original decision was overturned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22100/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the accompanying table.
|
2008 |
2009 |
|
|
Claims Received |
93,996 |
81,451 |
|
Claims Awarded |
102,062 |
88,533 |
|
Claims Disallowed |
1,547 |
2,393 |
|
Appeals Received |
688 |
1,294 |
|
Appeals allowed |
54 |
12 |
The number of claims cleared exceeds the number of claims received in each year, due to a carry forward of claims outstanding from the previous year. Statistics relating to 2010 are not currently available due to ongoing industrial action.
328 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of refusals of jobseeker’s allowance in each of the past five years to date in 2010; the most common grounds for refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22101/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accompanying table shows the number of disallowances of jobseekers allowance in each of the years from 2006 to date:
|
Total Decisions |
Total Disallowances |
|
|
2006 |
80,313 |
10,024 |
|
2007 |
82,072 |
10,711 |
|
2008 |
110,967 |
12,996 |
|
2009 |
194,932 |
21,375 |
|
16/5/2010 |
80,640 |
10,484 |
There are a number of reasons why a claim may be disallowed. The most common grounds for refusal are:
Means in Excess
The customer does not satisfy the means test. Their income is greater than the appropriate rate for the jobseekers allowance scheme, taken into account their family composition.
Not Habitually Resident in this country
This is where a customer's centre of interest is deemed not to be in Ireland. There are a number of other factors involved in determining if a customer is Habitually Resident in the State.
Other grounds for refusal relate to the conditions of being available for work or being genuinely seeking work.
All decisions relating to the claim are made by deciding officers and where a person is dissatisfied with a deciding officer's decision, they have a right to appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
329 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance refused in each of the past five years to date in 2010; the number of such refusals based on medical grounds or means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to carer's allowance is based on the applicant satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. The information requested by the Deputy is presented in tabular format.
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010* |
|
|
Total carer’s allowance claims refused |
1,032 |
1,453 |
2,528 |
4,081 |
2,047 |
|
Claims refused — medical or means grounds |
724 |
980 |
1,637 |
2,975 |
1,535 |
*To 30 April 2010.
