Written Answers Nos. 122-129
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has eligible self-employed contributions for State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54517/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA claim form for State pension (contributory) has been sent to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed claim form, his entitlement to pension will be fully examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay. Periods of self-employed insurance will be taken into account in the assessment of his pension entitlement.
123. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that certain local Department offices are trying to actively encourage persons to avail of the service of banks instead of continuing to use their local post office (details supplied); if these offices have the authority to do this; if not, the steps she will take to have the practice discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54543/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is standard Departmental practice to make jobseeker payments at the customers designated post office. The vast majority of jobseeker customers receive their payments in this manner on a weekly basis. Exceptions are made in certain circumstances, for instance while a person is undertaking a course of study under the back to education allowance, partaking of an internship under the Work Placement Program or National Internship Program and where there would be difficulty in accessing the post office during normal working hours. In addition, as announced in Budget 2014, new provisions are being introduced for many older jobseekers who have not yet reached the State pension age of 66. These provisions include the option to have payments made electronically into a bank or building society account. I would stress, however, this is optional and an individual may choose to continue to receive the jobseeker payment in a post office if they wish to do so.
124. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Cork city and county who have availed of the services of the Money Advice and Budgetary Service for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [54567/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides a high quality personal service to assist people who are over indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. The table provides details of the number of people in Cork City and County who have availed of the MABS services for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and up to the end of September 2013.
|
- |
- |
2010 |
- |
2011 |
- |
2012 |
- |
2013 (end Sept) |
|
MABS Service |
New Clients |
Other Info Requests |
New Clients |
Other Info Requests |
New Clients |
Other Info Requests |
New Clients |
Other Info Requests |
|
Cork MABS |
1,456 |
17 |
1,440 |
15 |
1,294 |
34 |
940 |
144 |
|
Cork MABS North |
490 |
53 |
384 |
116 |
419 |
84 |
298 |
64 |
|
Cork MABS West |
356 |
17 |
331 |
26 |
329 |
18 |
273 |
14 |
|
Charleville MABS |
209 |
84 |
164 |
89 |
192 |
46 |
133 |
41 |
125. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [54585/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7 October 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question 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 appeal 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
126. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the reviewing of rent allowance applications, in particular, for change of address in the Carlow area, is taking much longer to process, which is putting at risk the person holding on to their house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54587/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of rent supplement applications for County Carlow was transferred some months ago to a centralised rents unit for the Mid Leinster area. There was an initial accumulation of applications following the transfer of rents that resulted in unavoidable delays in awarding. All claims are now being processed within a two week period from application where all relevant information is included with the claim.
127. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department did not respond to a query regarding jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54594/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is sincerely regretted that a reply regarding the jobseeker’s allowance enquiry in relation to the person concerned did not issue to the Minister’s office in a timely manner. The file was with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office and the correspondence should have been forwarded promptly from the Western Divisional Office to that office. I can confirm that the correspondence has since been forwarded to the Appeals Office. An Appeals Officer will make a decision as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
129. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision to withdraw rent supplement will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [54617/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was disallowed a rent supplement on the grounds that their means exceed the amount payable to a person in their circumstances. New information provided by the Minister’s office has been forwarded to a Designated Officer who is currently reviewing the rent allowance payable. A decision will be made on their entitlement and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
