Results 3,481-3,500 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned claimed jobseeker's benefit on 29 October 2008. A decision on his claim was delayed as he had failed to provide certification of his casual employment. In December 2008 the person concerned advised the local office that he was returning to Lithuania on holidays for 2 weeks. When he failed to contact the office in January 2009 his claim was closed. He made a further...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Health Service Executive has advised that the entitlement of one of the persons concerned to supplementary welfare allowance, is as communicated to the Deputy on 31 March 2009, 28 April 2009 and 6 May 2009. Entitlement to payment of this allowance is currently under review by an Appeals Officer of the Executive. The other person concerned has not made a claim to supplementary welfare...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Since 1 May 2004, all applicants regardless of nationality are required to be habitually resident in the State in order to qualify for supplementary welfare allowance, including rent supplement. The effect of this condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere is not qualified for rent supplement. Once-off exceptional and urgent needs payments may be made to eligible...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The social welfare system is primarily a contingency-based system, with entitlement based on defined contingencies, such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. Primary social welfare legislation provides that only one social welfare payment is payable at any one time. While it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time - for example, an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Further to my response to PQ 11834/09 on 24 March 2009, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no update on the position in respect of the appeal from the person concerned. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The couple involved applied for Farm Assist on 18 February 2009. The application is currently with a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation and she will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 218 together. Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of rent supplement of €435.38 per month based on household income from jobseeker's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Deputy Kathleen Lynch on 28 April 2009 to PQ No. 16627/09 with regard to this case.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 02 December 2008 following an examination by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. She appealed this decision on 17 December 2008 and she was examined by a second Medical Assessor on 03 February 2009 who also...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A child benefit claim was received from the person concerned in June 2008 in respect of his children residing in the Czech Republic. Child benefit was awarded from the 1st July 2008, the month after the claim was received. His claim was disallowed for the period prior to this date because of the fact that his claim was not received within 6 months of commencing employment in Ireland. Article...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for jobseeker's allowance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer on the 03 February 2009 on the grounds that she did not satisfy the habitual residence conditions. An appeal was opened on 3 March 2009 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. The changes provide for: • A reduction in qualifying period required for access to back to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The recent Supplementary Budget provided that payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants be reduced by 8%. The weekly minimum contribution payable towards rent is also being increased from €18 to €24 a week, with effect from 1 June 2009. While tenants may be contractually obliged to pay the rent agreed to in their lease, it is expected that landlords will decrease...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that in the context of the current economic circumstances, it has been necessary for the Government to take steps to reduce overall public expenditure in order to restore order and stability in the public finances. This has involved reviewing all public expenditure programmes, including social welfare programmes, which at some €21.3 billion in 2009 form a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for one-parent family payment on 5 March 2009. Her claim is currently with the Social Welfare Inspector. On completion of enquiries a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. The changes provide for: • A reduction in qualifying period required for access to back to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Persons in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant may engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home for up to 15 hours per week and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes. This means that where a carer remains in employment he or she will continue to pay the appropriate...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned has not made an application for jobseeker's benefit. Until an application is received no determination can be made as regards the rate of payment a person may be entitled to.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned has been awarded jobseeker's benefit at the maximum weekly rate of €204.30 with effect from 23 March, 2009. His first payment and arrears due will issue shortly.