Written Answers Nos. 762-781
762. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on invalidity pension will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38270/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th March 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
763. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38301/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
An appeal was registered on 3rd September 2012 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been completed.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
764. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38341/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is in receipt of his full entitlement to rent supplement based on his household circumstances.
765. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social protection appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38347/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19th June 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
766. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is carrying out a review of all existing rent supplement recipients; the number of cases in which rent supplement has been cancelled or suspended as a result of any such review; if any review being undertaken is nationwide or simply localised; if she has given consideration to the plight of any long-term rent supplement recipients who have had their payments cancelled or suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38379/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently over 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012.
The housing policy framework published by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Housing & Planning in June 2011 contains the announcement for the transfer of responsibility in providing housing needs for long term rent supplement recipients to housing authorities. A multi-agency steering group has been established to develop proposals to give effect to this transfer. The group is chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and consists of representatives from the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of the Revenue Commissioners; the County and City Managers Association, and the Housing Agency.
Revised maximum rent limits under the rent supplement scheme came into force on 1 January 2012. The revised rent limits are applicable to new rent supplement tenancies from January 2012 and existing tenancies on review. Most claims are reviewed every six months, or when an existing lease expires.
Where a claim is under review and the rent is above the maximum limit the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates department officials will discuss the options open to the tenant up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met; there will be no incidence of homelessness due to these changes.
Statistics are not available as to the number of rent supplement claims cancelled or suspended following review.
Approximately 33,500 rent supplement claims have been awarded in 2012, representing over 37% of total claims in payment, indicating that accommodation can be secured within the existing rent limits.
767. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38380/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed and the application is awaiting examination by a deciding officer for a means assessment and a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
768. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been reached on a jobseeker's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38386/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
769. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been reached on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38387/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th March 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th May 2012 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
770. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the entitlement of a person genuinely employed by their spouse to pay Class A PRSI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38391/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder social welfare legislation, the social insurance status of spouses working in a family business can vary. Spouses and relatives who are engaged in a business partnership are treated as individual self-employed contributors who are liable to social insurance contributions. These contributions enable them to build up an insurance record in their own right and receive accruing benefits.
Alternatively, where a family business is incorporated as a limited company, spouses and assisting relatives involved in the business pay PRSI contributions either as employees or as self-employed contributors depending on whether a contract of service exists.
Exceptions to this general rule apply in the case of certain 'Family Employment'. This term is used to describe a situation in which a self-employed sole trader/businessperson either employs, or is assisted in the running of the business, by a spouse or by other family member(s). The exceptions apply to both men and women in family employments and recognise the practical difficulties in establishing the existence of a genuine employment relationship in such circumstances.
Where formal employment relationships are intended between spouses or assisting relatives, the legislation provides the scope necessary to allow parties enter into formal arrangements for a contract of employment or self-employment whereby PRSI contributions will be payable.
771. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38393/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed and the application is awaiting examination by a deciding officer for a means assessment and a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Question No. 772 withdrawn.
773. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38437/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 17th July 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
774. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is eligible for jobseeker's allowance in view of their availability to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38438/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently in receipt of one parent family payment. To establish her entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance she should submit an application at her local social welfare office in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
775. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on progress made so far in integrating the social welfare system with the availability of employment services to ensure that persons are given the opportunity to be active in their job search; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38446/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Department is currently establishing the new National Employment and Entitlements Service (NEES) which integrates employment and benefit payment services. Considerable progress has been made in establishing this new service. However, full implementation across all locations will take a number of years to complete.
The first step in establishing the NEES was integrating staff from FÁS, the Community Welfare Service into the Department. This was followed by a number of developments including one-stop shop trials in four locations, the development of new service processes, the development of an employer engagement strategy, training to support the changes and the development of a number of important supports and IT projects to help streamline services to customers. In addition the roll-out of the Public Service Card which is currently underway will greatly facilitate the development of the new integrated service.
The first four locations for the one stop shop trials are King’s Inns/Parnell St.(Dublin city centre), Tallaght, Arklow and Sligo, with a further number of locations due to provide the NEES service by the end of the year. As part of the new service, clients receive a single decision on their welfare entitlements, are assessed to determine their employment services requirements and, following assessment, attend a group interview with subsequent one-to-one interviews. The number and frequency of one to one interviews is designed to meet the jobseeker’s particular requirements. Clients who do not engage with the process are placed on a penalty rate of payment.
While the new service is currently been trialled and implemented in four locations, it is envisaged that following these trials a considerable number of offices will begin to deliver the new service. In addition, where practicable, elements of the new integrated service will be implemented more widely in offices throughout the country.
776. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if the possibility of introducing a youth guarantee scheme in relation to employment and training, as undertaken in the UK and the Netherlands, is being explored by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38450/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathways to Work sets out the Government’s policy responses to labour market activation. The objective is to ensure that Ireland’s greatest resource, its people, will no longer remain on the Live Register for lengthy periods without an appropriate offer of assistance from the State. To achieve this objective the Government has committed itself to a range of ambitious targets. Two of the most important commitments are: My Department will engage with each person who becomes unemployed in the future with a view to reducing the average time spent on the Live Register from 21 months today to less than 12 months by the end of 2015. In addition working with the Department of Education and Skills we will provide in excess of 542,000 places on job placement/work experience and training and education in 2012.
These are significant commitments at a time of reduced resources and reflect the importance placed by this Government on labour market activation measures. However, I am conscious of the particular problems relating to youth unemployment and the need to secure cross departmental involvement in the development of appropriate policy responses. Pathways facilitates such cross departmental co-operation and the effectiveness of the measures announced is being monitored on a quarterly basis.
With particular reference to the suggestion of a youth guarantee, there is considerable variation among Member States with regards to the possible implementation of any such guarantee, in terms of the target groups covered and the extent and nature of the policy commitments made. My Department is reviewing arrangements here in the light of these various approaches. The European Commission is also reviewing guarantee policies across the Member States with a view to making proposals for a European-wide approach. These proposals are expected to be published in December.
Question No. 777 withdrawn.
778. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection he number of those individual persons with unique PPS numbers in receipt of €1,000 or more per week or €52,000 per annum from her Department under one or more different payment headings. [38456/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to extract the data requested in respect of the number of individual persons with unique PPS numbers in receipt of €1,000 or more per week or €52,000 per annum from the Department under one or more different payment headings. This is because the Department delivers a wide range of payments at weekly, monthly, annual and other intervals across a range of claim processing systems which support the delivery of entitlements to people under individual social welfare schemes. However, the number of people whose circumstances entitle them to €1,000 per week or more in social welfare payments is very small.
While the average payment varies across the various schemes operated by the Department, the most typical rate paid to people of working age is €188 per week, while the most typical rate paid to people aged 66 years or more is €230.30 per week.
In addition to their primary weekly payment, some people may also receive secondary benefits, such as Rent Supplement or Fuel Allowance if they also satisfy the conditions for receipt of those payments. For example, 12% of people on the Live Register also receive Rent Supplement and 16% receive Fuel Allowance. The most typical rate of Rent Supplement is €100 per week, while Fuel Allowance is €20 per week from October to April.
The majority of people receive a payment for themselves alone. For example, 75% of people on the Live Register receive a personal rate only, the maximum rate of which is €188 per week, and 52% of these receive less than €188 per week. In general, the highest aggregate payments arise in cases where there is a large number of children and rent or mortgage interest supplement is in payment. These are relatively few in number. For example, there are currently 1,063 people in receipt of increases in their Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit in respect of 6 or more children. These represent less than one quarter of 1% of the Live Register.
The following tabular statement sets out the average weekly value of the most common social welfare payments.
Table: Average values for weekly social welfare payments, January – August 2012.
|
Scheme |
Average value (€weekly) |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
247.45 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
242.14 |
|
Widow(er)s Contributory Pension |
231.34 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
227.16 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
224.23 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
213.18 |
|
Illness Benefit |
208.26 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
201.05 |
|
Disability Allowance |
202.50 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
187.60 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
176.32 |
Note: The data presented above is scheme specific and does not take into account the fact that some individual recipients may be in receipt of more than one personal rate of a primary payment e.g. State Pension Contributory and a Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance (over 40% of all Carer’s Allowance recipients receive more than one primary personal payment per week). The weekly averages include arrears and increases/allowances other than fuel allowance.
779. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38461/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe age limit for receipt of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is 16 years. As the child in question is now over 16 years of age, DCA is no longer payable. However persons over the age of 16 years can apply for disability allowance in their own right.
780. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38464/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20th July 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer for consideration.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
781. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum rent allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38466/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maximum rent supplement payable in the case of the person concerned is €434.63 per month based on the circumstances as presented to the Department. The rent supplement claim is currently under review.
