Written Answers Nos. 120-132
120. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the meaning of the term systematic in terms of jobseeker's allowance claims; if persons involved in casual working hours are classed as systematic; if casually employed persons should avail of tax-free social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11351/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSystematic short-time employment means employment in which, on a temporary basis, the number of days is systematically worked in a working week is less than the number of days normally worked by the person in a working week in the employment concerned.
Short-time working must also be systematic, i.e. there must be a clear repetitive pattern of employment with the employer each week, e.g. 1, 2 or 3 days per week every week or 2 days in the first week and 3 days in the second week, with this pattern repeated every two weeks.
Persons in part-time or casual work are not classified as systematic short-time workers.
Jobseeker’s benefit received as a systematic short-time worker is disregarded for tax purposes. Any further proposal in relation to taxation policy is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.
121. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the pension deficit issue facing 5,000 members of the Irish airlines superannuation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11365/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraYou will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on issues arising in a particular pension scheme.
I am aware of the significant challenges encountered by many defined benefits schemes at this time. I also recognise the significant efforts being made by the employers and the trustees of pension schemes to secure the sustainability of pension provision.
In response to these challenges, I have made a number of changes to pension legislation in recent years to assist employers and the trustees of defined benefit pension schemes respond to the funding difficulties. In the recent Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 I introduced measures to provide additional options to trustees of a pension scheme to restructure scheme benefits and to provide for a more equitable distribution of scheme assets in the event of the wind-up of a pension scheme. These changes essentially provide for the sharing of the risk of scheme underfunding across all scheme beneficiaries. The issue of how these changes might be applied will be a matter for the trustees of the scheme who are required under trust law to act in the best interest of all scheme beneficiaries
The Pensions Board is actively engaged with pension schemes to help them secure a sustainable funding position.
123. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of reviews currently under way for carer’s allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11372/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of reviews currently under way for disability allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11373/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of reviews currently under way for invalidity pension applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11374/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 to 125, inclusive, together.
Where a person has received a decision to disallow a new claim or application, it is open to them to ask for a review by a deciding officer. Generally these cases arise where a person submits additional information, not already considered, in support of their claim. In order to avoid delays, the Department recommends that applicants furnish all relevant evidence in support of their application or claim at the outset rather than waiting until a decision to disallow is made.
The number of such reviews currently being processed for the schemes in question is approximately:
Carer’s allowance 260
Invalidity pension 300
Disability allowance 500.
129. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for carer’s allowance in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the total number for the same period that were granted; the total number in the same period that were refused in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11378/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of applications made for carer’s allowance in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and a breakdown of the decisions made this period is detailed in the tabular statement.
Carer’s Allowance Claims Registered and breakdown by decision
|
Year |
Number Registered |
Number Decided |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
Number Withdrawn |
|
2011 |
17,758* |
13,886 |
7,467 |
5,227 |
1,192 |
|
2012 |
15,493* |
18,483 |
9,880(**) |
6,828 |
1,775 |
|
2013 |
12,060 |
28,421** |
16,011(**) |
9,881 |
2,529 |
*A major programme of service delivery modernisation was carried out in the carer’s allowance section during the above period, as applications first began to be processed on a new system in August 2011. Therefore the number registered in 2011 and 2012 includes claims opened on the new system after successful review or appeal.
**The number of cases awarded includes some claims also recorded as disallowed or withdrawn which were subsequently allowed following review or appeal.
130. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for disability allowance in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the total number for the same period that were granted; the total number in the same period that were refused in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11379/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of applications made for disability allowance in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and a breakdown of the decisions made in these years is shown in the tabular statement below.
Disability Allowance Claims Registered and Decided
|
Year |
Number Registered |
Number Decided |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
Number Withdrawn |
|
2011 |
24,264 |
24,145 |
9,246 |
14,116 |
783 |
|
2012 |
*25,887 |
26,159 |
10,400** |
14,519 |
1,240 |
|
2013 |
*20,538 |
28,616 |
12,497** |
14,691 |
1,428 |
*A major programme of service delivery modernisation was carried out in the disability allowance section during 2011/2012 processing of applications on a new computer system commenced in February 2012. Therefore, the numbers registered in 2012 and to a lesser extent in 2013 include some claims opened on the new system after successful review or appeal on claims which had been initially decided and refused on the old system.
**The number of cases awarded includes some claims also recorded as disallowed or withdrawn which were subsequently allowed following review or appeal.
132. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who has been accepted by Dublin City Council as a 23 year old single homeless person is not being paid the full adult rate of supplementary welfare allowance by her Department. [11413/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made a recent claim for supplementary welfare allowance on 18th February 2014. In line with the measures introduced in Budget 2014, she is receiving the correct entitlement for a person aged 18-24 years of €100 per week.
