Written Answers No. 23 - 40
23. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an urgent application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; provide a timeline for that application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35475/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 14 September 2015.
The Department makes every effort to ensure that claims are processed as quickly as possible. The average time taken to process new applications for Carer’s Allowance is approximately 17 weeks at present. Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the cases. Should it be necessary to refer an application to a local Social Welfare Inspector for a report on means or confirmation of the provision of full-time care, this can add to the length of time taken to process an application.
Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
24. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how the proposed increase in the national minimum wage from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 per hour will affect family income supplement; if the income thresholds for the supplement will be raised as a result of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35479/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for payment of FIS a person must be engaged in full time paid employment as an employee which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is part of a family supported by them.
It is estimated that only a minority of FIS recipients is paid the minimum wage. The proposed increase in the national minimum wage from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 per hour would therefore benefit this grouping.
FIS is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the weekly family income of the person(s) raising the children. Weekly family income for FIS purposes is net assessable earnings from employment, income from self-employment or any other source.
Consideration of an increase in the FIS income thresholds is a budgetary matter. Budget 2016 will be announced today.
25. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford is not entitled to the over 80 allowance as the person is a qualified adult on a spouse's State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35483/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe state pension contributory claimant is in receipt of an Increase for Qualified Adult (IQA) in respect of the person concerned. An over 80 increase is only payable on a primary state pension payment.
It is open to the person concerned to make an application for state pension contributory in their own right where they have been in insurable employment during their working life or, state pension non-contributory, which is a means tested scheme. If the person concerned qualifies for either such pension in their own right, an over 80 increase would be payable.
It may however be more beneficial for the household that the state pension contributory claimant continues to receive an Increase in Qualified Adult (IQA) in respect of their spouse as currently in payment.
26. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 cannot sign on for credits; a reduced jobseeker's allowance; or a partial disability capacity, which would allow the person to access job activation measures such as community employment in the future. [35485/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for credits the person concerned must have paid or credited contributions made for two full tax years prior to the year of the application for credits. According to the records of this Department the person concerned has no such contributions made for 2013 or 2014.
In addition there is no current application for jobseeker’s allowance (JA) from the person concerned, however it is open to her to contact her local Intreo Centre in order to make a JA application.
In order to qualify for a partial capacity benefit, an applicant needs to be currently in receipt of either an illness benefit payment for a minimum of six months or an invalidity pension.
According to the records of this Department the person concerned is not currently in receipt of either of these payments. It is open to the person to contact her local Intreo Centre to discuss this issue further.
27. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 qualifies for a payment under the partial capacity benefit scheme. [35486/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial capacity benefit is a social welfare scheme which allows a person return to employment if they have reduced capacity for work and continue to receive a payment from my department.
To qualify for partial capacity benefit the person concerned must be currently in receipt of either illness benefit (for a minimum of 6 months) or invalidity pension. According to the records of my department the person concerned is not currently in receipt of either of these payments and therefore cannot be considered for partial capacity benefit.
28. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the community employment scheme, for persons of 62 years of age upwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35503/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons who are in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment are required to be available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. In addition, they must comply, when requested to do so, with the Department’s activation measures. Legislation currently provides for the imposition of penalties in the form of payment reductions for refusal or failure to engage, without good cause, with these measures.
In 2013 new provisions were announced for older persons who left work before reaching the State pension age of 66 and who wished to claim a jobseeker’s payment. Ordinarily, people in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment must engage with the Department’s activation process and can face penalty rates if they refuse to engage with Department offers of training or education. These criteria were eased for people aged 62 and over in light of their contribution to society. They can still avail voluntarily of an array of supports, which are available from the Department if they wish to return to work, training or education. However, penalty rates are not applied to this cohort should they decide they do not wish to engage with the activation process.
Arrangements have been made so that they will have to register with their local office only once a year and will have their Jobseeker’s payments paid directly into their bank accounts.
The core scheme provisions continue to apply to jobseeker customers aged from 62 years and older in the same way as any other jobseeker, namely they are required to be available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
By giving a person aged over 62 the option of voluntarily availing of supports if they wish to return to work, training or education, we are continuing to support longer working while acknowledging the contribution of those moving towards retirement.
29. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the assistance available for a child (details supplied) in County Kildare with the provision of glasses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35572/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Treatment Benefit (Optical) scheme is based entirely on a person’s PRSI record, and does not therefore cover children. In addition, the scheme currently covers only a free eye examination, and not the purchase of spectacles.
The customer should contact the local HSE offices, who will be able to advise of any entitlements under their parallel scheme.
32. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the basis on which it was determined that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin was not entitled to a jobseeker's allowance; the steps she will take to address the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35605/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made two appointments for jobseekers allowance that were scheduled for 9th January, 2015 and 27th January, 2015. The applicant did not attend at either of these appointments. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local Intreo Centre in order to schedule another appointment for a jobseekers allowance.
33. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an increase in rent allowance will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35628/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe client concerned has already been awarded rent supplement entitlement in excess of the maximum applicable limit in August of this year. As this family have extenuating circumstances the Department will keep the case under review.
35. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for deductions of €4,379.20 from arrears of a recently awarded disability allowance payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will clarify the weekly entitlement and amount of arrears owed in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35643/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 1 July 2015. The first payment issued by her chosen payment method on 7 October 2015.
Arrears due, if any, from July to October will be calculated and adjusted to account for payments already made in respect of overlapping schemes in the period. Once that adjustment amount is confirmed and the relevant deduction is made, any arrears due will issue to the person concerned.
36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if information has been received from England in the case of the pending social insurance record and pending review for an increased level of widow's contributory pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35652/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UK authorities have forwarded the UK social insurance record of the person concerned to the Department and her entitlement to a widow’s pension under EU Regulations based on a combination of her own Irish and UK social insurance record has been established.
The person concerned is entitled to a widow’s pension under EU Regulations at the weekly rate of €17.20 from the 3rd April 2015. However, as she is currently in receipt of a widow’s pension under EU Regulations, based on her late spouse’s combined Irish and UK social insurance, at the higher amount of €31.70 weekly, her current pension will remain in payment.
Written confirmation of this decision has been sent to the person concerned and they have also been advised of the option of applying for widow’s non-contributory pension, should they wish to do so.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with this decision she can appeal it by writing to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
37. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [35721/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 12 August 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
39. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a review of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35760/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and is being provided, and that a means test is satisfied.
The person concerned is in receipt of carer's allowance for two care recipients. The application is currently with a social welfare inspector for confirmation that all of the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance continue to be satisfied. Payment will continue while the review is being carried out.
Once the inspector has reported, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.
40. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35761/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 2 June 2015.
The application is currently with a social welfare inspector to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. At present the inspector is waiting on the person concerned to supply farm income details.
Once the inspector has returned an investigative report, the application will be processed without delay.
The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
