Written Answers Nos. 624-646
624. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will remove or alter the qualifying period for the back to education allowance to enable greater access to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16817/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme. It is designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third-level education by enabling eligible people on certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.
In general, the qualifying period for the second-level option is 3 months (78 days) on a social welfare payment while the qualifying period for third-level courses is 9 months (234 days), having been reduced from 12 months in 2010. A person awarded statutory redundancy may access BTEA immediately (or within 12 months), provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.
A waiting period prior to entitlement is considered essential to enable people to engage in job search and consider options available to them. The imposition of a waiting period serves to minimise the “deadweight” element which is the extent to which people would have moved into employment or training and education without access to the scheme. It is also considered necessary in the context of targeting scarce resources at those who need it most.
The Department has recently published a review of employment support schemes, including BTEA, and held a stakeholders’ forum where review recommendations were discussed. All recommendations, including those on eligibility and qualification conditions of BTEA, will be considered as part of the implementation phase of the review.
625. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the appropriate official from her Department did not attend invitations to discuss a serious issue (details supplied) at the behest of the Labour Relations Commission; her views on the matter; and if she will instruct the appropriate official to indicate they will attend. [16827/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was originally a participant on the Job Initiative scheme sponsored by KWCD Partnership and, in 2004, she became directly employed by the Partnership where she provided administrative support to the scheme. This Job Initiative scheme is now sponsored by Dublin 12 Congress Centre and it is funded by this Department. The Department agreed to grant to the person concerned from the scheme’s Administration and Training Grant until the completion of the then current contract which ended on June 1st 2012. The sponsors of the scheme were advised that the grant aid would cease on this date. All contracts for schemes are appraised on an annual basis and any contract and the terms contained within only have a maximum duration of one annual year.
Upon renewal, the current scheme contract was given approval for 49 workers who would be supported by funding for two full-time team leaders. The current ratios are in keeping with the recommended ratio of team leaders to workers which also includes the provision of administration. It is not possible to provide funding for additional administrative support.
While the Department provides funding to the Job Initiative scheme, sponsors for each scheme are required to have a Management Committee which is the registered employer for any staff pertaining to that scheme. Any matters relating to contracts of employment for those employed through the funding of the Department are within the remit of the registered employer. The Department can only offer guidance in relation to the operating guidelines of the scheme and it would not be appropriate for the Department to engage with the Labour Relations Commission in this matter.
627. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently awaiting processing for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the maximum time an applicant is currently waiting to have the assessment process concluded for each of the schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16833/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of applications currently awaiting a decision for carer's allowance is just over 4,000. A significant number of these have already been processed and are awaiting additional information in order to make a decision. Substantial backlogs of Carers application have been cleared and we are currently in the process of finalising cases that still need additional information.. The information required to finalise these cases may be from the claimant themselves, a medical assessment opinion from one of the Department’s medical assessors or a report from a social welfare inspector. Once this outstanding information is received a decision will be made without delay.
The average time taken to award a carer’s allowance application received this year, 2013 is just under 10 weeks.
There are currently 363 carer’s benefit applications awaiting decision. The average time taken to award a carer’s benefit application received this year is currently just over 10 weeks.
628. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for invalidity pension and disability allowance that were refused during the years 2011 and 2012; the number of those referrals that had face to face medical assessments carried out by medical officers operating on behalf of her Department; the number that were refused on the basis of a desk top assessment; of those carried out by desk top assessment, the number that were conducted by a trained and qualified medical practitioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16834/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Medical Review and Assessment system is the principal control mechanism for illness and disability schemes administered by the Department of Social Protection.
All medical assessments for invalidity pension and disability allowance are carried out by the Department’s Medical Assessors who present their medical opinions from the assessment for the guidance of the Deciding Officers in the scheme areas. Medical Assessors carry out desk assessments of medical evidence/reports supplied by doctors/patients and where required, conduct in person assessments in order to provide a second medical opinion for the guidance of Deciding and Appeals Officers. All assessments are carried out in accordance with the accepted guidelines of the Irish Medical Council. Medical Assessors are fully qualified and experienced practitioners and must have at least 6 years satisfactory experience in the practice of medicine since registration with the Medical Council. Many of the Medical Assessors have specialist post-graduate qualifications and all have received special training in Human Disability Evaluation. The Medical Assessors have an on-going commitment to continuing medical education to ensure that standards are maintained and enhanced.
In addition to satisfying the medical criteria for eligibility, applicants for both Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance must also satisfy other non-medical criteria. In the case of Invalidity Pension claimants must have the required PRSI contributions and for Disability Allowance they must satisfy a means test and must also be habitually resident in the State.
The following table details the number who were assessed in years 2011 and 2012 at in-person and at desk by a Medical Assessor and the number deemed not medically suitable (not eligible) at desk assessment by a Medical Assessor.
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
||
|
Scheme |
Invalidity Pension |
Disability Allowance |
Invalidity Pension |
Disability Allowance |
|
In-person Assessment by Medical Assessor |
130 |
2 |
155 |
5 |
|
Desk Assessment by Medical Assessor |
6,707 |
15,220 |
11,546 |
23,012 |
|
*Not Eligible at Desk Assessment by Medical Assessor |
4,880 |
10,043 |
8,057 |
15,941 |
*These statistics refer to initial decision only and do not reflect cases which were subsequently allowed following a deciding officer’s review of additional information/evidence supplied, or following a determination by an appeals officer of the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
629. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance currently awaiting processing; the maximum time an applicant is currently waiting to have the assessment process concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16835/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are approximately 6,600 applications for disability allowance awaiting decision of which some 5,500 are new applications. A recent analysis of the applications pending decision indicated that approximately 60% of them had been waiting for a decision for 12 weeks or fewer.
Following the completion of a major service delivery modernisation programme, disability allowance has recently undertaken a business process improvement initiative aimed at eliminating backlog and improving customer service. The number awaiting decision has reduced from 7,775 to 6,600 since the beginning of this year and it is anticipated that the full backlog will be actioned by the end of the second quarter of this year.
It should be noted that the processing time for individual disability allowance claims can vary depending on the complexity of the claimant’s circumstances and the information they provide. In addition, a request for a review or an appeal by a person adds to length of time taken to deal with the claim.
630. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications currently awaiting processing for invalidity pension; the maximum time an applicant is currently waiting to have the assessment process concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16836/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no backlog of Invalidity claims at present. As at the end of March 2013 there were 2,627 Invalidity Pension (IP) claims registered, actioned and awaiting information to finalise a decision. This includes approximately 660 cases which are being investigated under EU regulations or bi-lateral agreements. These cases are more complex and take longer to decide.
Approximately 220 new invalidity pension claims are received in the Department each week. These are examined on receipt and a decision is completed where all information is available. If a medical assessment and/or further information is required, it is requested without delay.
Once all the necessary information is received, the claim is processed.
Almost 60% of our current claims are awaiting a decision for 2 months or less. Delays may occur while waiting for a medical assessment or if a person has not returned documentation requested. Where a claim is disallowed and the customer requests a review of the decision or appeals the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, this requires an additional amount of time to finalise
631. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is the case that a review of all cases of mortgage interest supplement payments took place earlier this year; if she will confirm that new thresholds have been introduced; the details of the review including the number of previously eligible recipients who became ineligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16881/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMortgage interest supplement (MIS) provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. There are currently approximately 13,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided some €42 million for in 2013. Following the Department’s review of the administrative, policy and legal aspects of the mortgage interest supplement scheme and the review of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Review Group, changes were made to the scheme in 2012. To ensure that those who are in mortgage difficulty engage with their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) and avail of its forbearance arrangements, from June 2012 the mortgage interest supplement is not payable until applicants have agreed with their lender and complied with an alternative payment arrangement for a cumulative period of not less than 12 months. This process acknowledges that it is in the interest of both the lender and the borrower to address financial difficulties as speedily and effectively as circumstances allow.
In December 2012, to facilitate people who wish to trade down or downsize, the condition which provided that entitlement to mortgage interest supplement should be discontinued where the property is offered for sale was removed. The removal of this condition will allow persons to engage in selling their residence and remain eligible for mortgage interest supplement, subject to the other conditions of the scheme.
The Department has not carried out a review of all mortgage interest supplement cases earlier this year, however claims are reviewed on an on-going basis as part of the control of the scheme.
632. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal of a decision on a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16889/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 3rd August 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who considered that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on the 26th September 2012 outlining the decision to refuse the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision.
As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and allowed or forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office.
633. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection if an extension on a community employment scheme will be permitted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16895/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently employed on a Community Employment (CE) Scheme under the Part Time Integration Option and is due to finish on 26 June 2013. He does not have the required three year history in order to be eligible for participation for a further year.
Under the current guidelines, to be considered for re-entry to CE once you have exited, a period of 12 months need to have elapsed since any previous participation and the person must have been in receipt of a qualifying payment for that 12 month period.
634. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension appeal will be decided upon in respect of a person (details supplied). [16896/13]
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.
635. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment review will be answered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [16897/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned will be contacted this week regarding the Exceptional Needs Payment review.
636. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for a disability allowance payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16913/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20th March 2013, 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.
637. 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. [16932/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20th March 2013, 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.
638. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons who have fled their private home due to domestic violence are entitled to rent allowance; if it is correct that they are refused rent allowance because they are not on a local authority housing list and the local authority will not accept them in view of the fact that they are still legally part owner of the original family home; the assistance that can be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16934/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra646. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions and supports there are in place to deal with women who have been forced to leave their homes and seek rented accommodation due to domestic violence; if community welfare officers still have discretionary powers to award rent allowance or rent supplement when dealing with cases of this nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17006/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 638 and 646 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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. The overall 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 approximately 86,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €403 million for 2013. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and the person is deemed by a local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.
In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by a housing authority. Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement.
However, where a claimant’s safety and wellbeing are at risk due to domestic violence Department officials operating the rent supplement scheme have discretionary powers to expedite the award of a payment to the person in question.
Policy in relation to the assessment of housing need is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
639. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the situation where carers who are not living with the person they are caring for are ineligible for telephone allowance, in view of the fact that there is an increased need to contact the person they are caring for in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16943/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant; and €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. My Department provides a number of supports to carers. The two main weekly income support payments are the means tested carer’s allowance (including half-rate carer’s allowance) paid to almost 54,000 people and the PRSI based carer’s benefit paid to almost 1,700 people.
In addition to these payments, non-resident carers continue to be entitled to the annual respite care grant and free travel. The income disregard and means test for carers is the most generous within the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for maximum payment carer’s allowance which such a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate.
I have no plans to review the provision of household benefits, including the telephone allowance, for carers who are not living with the person for whom they provide care. For those who do reside with the person being cared for, the person being cared for is likely to already have an entitlement of their own to household benefits. Approximately 31,000 carers receive a household benefits package.
640. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal against a decision to refuse carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16951/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 03rd April 2013. 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.
642. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of two respite care grants; the number in receipt of three or more grants; the total value of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16967/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made automatically to people in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit or domiciliary care allowance from my Department. Other persons who are not in receipt of one of these payments, but who are providing full time care and attention can also apply for the grant via separate application. A further 197 carers had been awarded three or more grants. The total value of these grants amounts to just under €17.4m (12.5% app of the overall cost of the scheme), based on the annual rate of €1,700, payable in 2012. Total provisional expenditure on the respite care grant scheme in 2012 was €136m.
643. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will open up retraining facilities provided by her Department to persons who are unemployed but not eligible for jobseeker's allowance due to their partner or spouse earning a low to middle income salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16968/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no retraining facilities under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. Training programmes for unemployed people are generally provided by FÁS or through further education providers and come under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills.
Persons who are unemployed but not eligible for a jobseeker’s payment are generally eligible to take part in training courses. However, only those participants who were receiving a jobseeker’s payment prior to commencing training may be eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking a course.
Questions Nos. 644 and 645 withdrawn.
