Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2010
70 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for the processing of applications across each social welfare payment; the way this compares with 2010 targets; and the action he is taking to reduce waiting times. [21607/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra85 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time required to process an application for jobseeker’s allowance, back to education allowance, disability allowance, disability benefit, child benefit, contributory old age pension, non-contributory old age pension, invalidity, disablement, household package, rent or mortgage support or other social welfare payments; the number of such applications on appeal; the length of time taken to process appeals; the reason for the delays; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused by such delays in the current economic climate; if he has taken or intends to take any action to address these issues and reduce to a specific time within which all applications must be processed in line with current needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21706/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 85 together.
I have made available to the House two tables showing details of performance targets and average processing times for all schemes. Table 1 sets out the target performance standard and the performance achieved for each scheme in the month of April 2010 and the average number of weeks taken to process each claim type. Details of cases currently on appeal and average appeals processing times are detailed in Table 2. Table 2 sets out the number of appeal cases pending in each of the schemes at end April 2010 and the average number of weeks taken to process appeals in each scheme in 2009. In relation to the cases under appeal it should be noted that the back to education scheme and the household benefits schemes are non statutory and therefore are not appealable.
The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. To this end, operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are reviewed in all areas of the Department. These reviews are supported by modern technology, the potential of which is continuously harnessed. Claims are processed in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme. Processing times vary across schemes because of both the volume of applications and the differing qualification criteria. For example, means assessments are required for all of the social assistance schemes; medical examinations are required for some of the illness related schemes and customers must also satisfy the habitual residence conditions. In the case of the insurance-based schemes, it may be necessary to ascertain details of foreign insurance records. It should also be noted that many factors outside the Department's control can impact upon claim processing times e.g. the supply of relevant information by the customer, employers, other EU countries or other third parties.
While every effort is made to decide on entitlement for any individual person as close to their eligibility date as possible, there are cases where delays will necessarily be experienced. In situations where customers find themselves suffering financial hardship while awaiting such a decision, the facility to receive supplementary welfare allowance funded by the Department and administered by the Health Service Executive is available. In April 2010 more than 96% of basic SWA applications were decided on and paid within a week.
|
Activity |
Performance Standard |
Performance Achieved in April 2010 |
Average Processing times in Weeks |
|
State Pension (Contributory) — Domestic and EU |
90% by Date of Entitlement |
89% |
6 |
|
State Pension (Transitional) — Domestic and EU |
90% in 6 Wks |
78% |
4 |
|
Widow(er)’s Contributory Pension |
90% in 6 Wks |
77% |
3 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
90% in 10 Wks |
66% |
9 |
|
Widow(er)’s (Non-Contributory) Pension & One Parent Family Payment (Widow) |
90% in 10 Wks |
74% |
10 |
|
One-Parent Family — (Local Office based) |
90% in 10 Wks |
43% |
16 |
|
Household Benefits |
90% in 4 Wks |
70% |
3 |
|
Bereavement Grant (Social Welfare Services Office Sligo) |
90% in 4 Wks |
91% |
1 |
|
Bereavement Grant (Social Welfare Services Office Longford) |
90% in 4 Wks |
10% |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension Domestic and EU |
90% in 6 Wks |
13% |
12 |
|
Family Income Supplement — New Claims |
90% in 6 Wks |
20% |
10 |
|
Disability Allowance |
90% in 12 Wks |
60% |
12 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
90% in 12 Wks |
84% |
8 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
90% in 3 Wks |
79% |
2 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
90% in 6 Wks |
68% |
7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
90% in 1 Wks |
47% |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit — Interim Illness Benefit |
90% in 1 Wk |
70% |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
90% by Due Date |
97% |
N/A |
|
Carers Benefit |
80% in 2 Wks |
Not available |
9 |
|
Child Benefit Domestic |
90% in 2 Wks |
Not available |
2 |
|
EU |
N/A |
26 |
|
|
Domiciliary Care |
90% in 7 Wks |
87% |
7 |
|
Back to Education |
Applicants for back to education are already in receipt of another social welfare payment before a decision is made on their entitlement to back to education consequently delays, if any, should not cause hardship. Statistics are not maintained centrally as to the processing times of claims. |
||
|
Treatment Benefit |
Treatment Benefit operates differently than other schemes. As payment is made to contractors after treatment has been given, there is no delay for the customer. The scheme is on target. |
||
|
Disablement Benefit |
As this scheme is not a primary income support scheme there is no performance standard. Many of the claimants are already in receipt of a payment. |
|
& Average Time Taken To Process Appeals in 2009 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Appeals Pending At 30/4/2010 |
Average Time Taken to Process appeals (2009) (Weeks) |
|
|
Adoptive Benefit |
1 |
66.3 |
|
Blind Pension |
10 |
27.9 |
|
Carers Allowance |
1,490 |
26.6 |
|
Carers Benefit |
94 |
19.9 |
|
Child Benefit |
1,507 |
36.1 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
935 |
15.6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
3,499 |
26.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
3,086 |
27.3 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
3 |
32.1 |
|
Farm Assist |
141 |
24.7 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
26 |
14.8 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
85 |
20.0 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
690 |
30.2 |
|
Liable Relatives |
13 |
25.6 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
647 |
24.4 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
14 |
10.5 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
78 |
32.3 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
216 |
27.6 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
8 |
36.7 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
21 |
33.1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit (Medical) |
46 |
35.3 |
|
Disablement Pension |
207 |
34.8 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
1 |
45.3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
9 |
37.0 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) |
17 |
23.3 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) |
10 |
16.5 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
0 |
19.1 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance (Means) |
2,450 |
22.7 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
3,072 |
18.8 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
692 |
18.2 |
|
JA/JB Fraud Control |
4 |
53.1 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
148 |
24.7 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
98 |
37.8 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
251 |
9.5 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
8 |
12.9 |
|
Survivor’s Pension (Contributory) |
14 |
26.4 |
|
Survivor’s Pension (Non-Contributory) |
11 |
21.6 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
1 |
20.0 |
