Michael Creed
Ceist:285 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to mortgage supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26185/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 September 2011
Ceisteanna (254, 255, 256, 257)
Freagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has been in receipt of mortgage interest supplement since 2007. The HSE has further advised that her entitlement to mortgage interest supplement will be reviewed when her appeal against a decision to refuse carer's allowance is decided.
John Lyons
Ceist:286 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on an application for back to school clothing and footwear allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [26188/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year.
The administrative arrangements for the 2011 BSCFA scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of BSCFA entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. 127,000 households in respect of over 250,000 children received their payment automatically in June.
Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete and return an application form to the Department. The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors including: the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements and other relevant information regarding an individual's application.
In addition, some aspects of the applications are inevitably time consuming and delays can occur where further investigations or third party evidence is required. Delays can also arise if the applicant is slow to respond to requests for additional information. Staff are working as quickly as possible on clearing the large volume of manual application claims received. Based on the current volume of applications it could take up to 7 weeks from date of receipt to process claims. Departmental records show that an application form was received from the person concerned on 13th September 2011 and she will be notified of the outcome of her claim when an assessment of her entitlements are made.
Joe Carey
Ceist:287 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for persons from outside the EU to enter Ireland for the period October to April and draw special welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26190/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no special arrangements in place with regard to eligibility for social welfare benefits for persons coming to Ireland from countries which are outside the EEA. Such persons will have their eligibility for benefits assessed under our domestic legislation. A decision to award or reject any claim for benefits depends on the circumstances of the individual concerned and the qualifying conditions for the scheme under which the benefit is claimed.
Jerry Buttimer
Ceist:288 Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated waiting time to transfer from carer’s benefit to carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [26221/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that that an application for carer's allowance was received from the above named person on 9 August 2011. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The average time to award a claim for carer's allowance is currently 17 weeks. Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if people applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim.