Written Answers Nos. 68-79
68. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Chief Medical Assessor in her Department has reviewed the additional documentation provided by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 in respect of their carer's allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39669/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for Carer’s Allowance from the person named above. The additional medical documentation received has been reviewed by one of the Department’s Medical Assessors and the Caree has been medically approved for Carer’s Allowance. The application is now awaiting examination by a Deciding Officer for a means assessment and a full decision. Carers Allowance section are in correspondence with the customer to ensure that they have all necessary information to facilitate the claim.
69. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39670/12]
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.
70. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure involved in closing a rent allowance claim either by the tenant or the landlord; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39677/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the budgetary constraints facing her Department, the action being taken to clamp down on tenants receiving rent allowance several weeks and in some cases months after they have left the rental property after notification has been given to the welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39678/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection in cases where rent allowance claimants are found to have either failed to pay the rent allowance to their landlord or who are claiming money for property they no longer reside in, if they are made to repay the Department the money received and if any consequences are placed on future rent allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39679/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 72, inclusive, together.
The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term 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. There are currently over 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant. Rent supplement is specifically for the benefit of tenants to assist them with their accommodation needs. There is no direct relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme.
Where a recipient’s circumstances change, they must inform the officer dealing with their rent supplement claim who will determine if the change affects their on-going entitlement to the payment. In the case where a recipient changes address the rent supplement claim is closed and a new application must be made in respect of a new tenancy arrangement.
Control is an integral part of the day-to-day administration of the rent supplement scheme. There are a number of operational controls in place to ensure that payment of rent supplement does not continue to those who no longer have an entitlement such as regular review of claims and warning reports issuing to officers where there is a change in the recipients circumstances which would prompt a review of entitlement.
It is open to the landlord to bring to the attention of the Department any instance where they suspect that a tenant is receiving rent supplement and is not paying their rent or is receiving payment in respect of accommodation where they no longer reside. Where the Department becomes aware that a person is not using rent supplement to meet the accommodation costs at the address provided, payment of the supplement is suspended and the matter investigated. I have recently introduced powers of enquiry for appropriate staff to formally request landlords to provide information in respect of their rent supplement tenants, principally to verify the agreed rent and existence of the tenancy. This measure will improve both the governance and oversight arrangements in place.
Where a landlord has a grievance in relation to the non payment of rent by a tenant, s/he may apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board to have the dispute resolved through the Board’s dispute resolution process. Overpayments of rent supplement are recoverable from the recipient. A departmental debt will remain on the customers’ records until fully recovered and may result in a reduction of all future entitlements, up to and including state pension and the disbursement of any likely estate upon death. My Department actively pursues the recovery of all overpayments, including the initiation of civil proceedings, where appropriate.
73. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is being assessed for rent allowance; and the amount they qualify for. [39685/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is living alone and is renting a one bedroom property for which the rent is €529.00 monthly. He is in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance of €188.00 weekly. He has no other assessable means for the purposes of Rent Supplement which has been in payment at a rate of €390.00 monthly since September 2011. Arising from the Budget, the appropriate maximum amount of rent in respect of which a supplement is payable to a single person living alone in the Dublin City Council catchment area was changed from €529.00 to €475.00 per month, with effect from 1st January 2012. As the person’s monthly rent now exceeds this maximum, he has been afforded an additional 12 weeks, during which Rent Supplement will continue to be paid at €390.00 per month, to allow him time to seek a renegotiated rent or alternative accommodation within the statutory limits.
75. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision in relation to their application for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39695/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. 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.
76. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39700/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. 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.
77. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39703/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. 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.
78. 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. [39704/12]
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 were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 31st July 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision is expected to be made in relation to an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if additional information that was submitted in May 2012 was received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39714/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was 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.
