Written answers
Thursday, 3 February 2005
Department of Social and Family Affairs
Social Welfare Payments
5:00 pm
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and percentage of payments made in each of the schemes administered by his Department by electronic funds transfer in 2002, 2003 and 2004; his plans to further develop this method of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/05]
Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The number and percentage of customers paid by electronic funds transfer under the main schemes administered by my Department in 2002, 2003 and 2004 are shown in the tables set out below.
My Department's policy is to offer customers as wide a choice of payment options as possible. The current choice includes payment at post offices by means of a PPO book, payment electronically using a swipe card at post offices, by cheque to customers home address and direct payment to customers bank accounts, EFT. Currently 31% of customers are paid by EFT.
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | ||||
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| Old Age Pension (Contributory) | 43,061 | 40.9 | 52,062 | 45.7 | 58,887 | 49.3 |
| Retirement | 17,116 | 20.6 | 19,990 | 23.1 | 23,022 | 25.9 |
| Old Age Pension | 6,867 | 7.8 | 8,110 | 9.4 | 9,153 | 10.7 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | 1,477 | 13.1 | 1,796 | 16.4 | 2,241 | 19.9 |
| Disability Benefit | 10,958 | 20.1 | 13,762 | 24.1 | 17,886 | 30.1 |
| Invalidity | 9,621 | 18.5 | 11,310 | 21.2 | 13,588 | 24.3 |
| Disability Allowance | 10,611 | 16.9 | 12,916 | 19.1 | 15,246 | 20.9 |
| Child Benefit | 164,037 | 31.4 | 187,946 | 35.2 | 207,610 | 38.5 |
| Widows Contributory Pension | 23,233 | 22.4 | 25,664 | 24.5 | 28,426 | 26.7 |
| Widows Non-Concontributory Pension | 796 | 4.6 | 884 | 5.2 | 969 | 6.2 |
| Deserted Wives Benefit/Allowance | 523 | 3.9 | 696 | 5.4 | 856 | 7.0 |
| One Parent Family | 4,154 | 5.3 | 7,841 | 10.0 | 11,136 | 14.4 |
| Maternity | 8,221 | 80.9 | 8,886 | 83.9 | 8,836 | 85.3 |
| Family Income Supplement | Nil | 0.0 | 2,611 | 20.9 | 15,236 | 84.1 |
| Carers Allowance | 1,403 | 6.9 | 2,215 | 10.4 | 3,372 | 14.6 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 11,819 | 9.0 | 12,446 | 9.0 | 14,994 | 11.3 |
| Back to Work Scheme (PENLIVE) | 3,091 | 97.3 | 2,926 | 98.1 | 2,813 | 98.3 |
| Back to Work Allowance | 20,916 | 95.5 | 13,693 | 96.9 | 8,562 | 97.8 |
| Blind Person Pension | 155 | 7.4 | 190 | 9.2 | 233 | 11.5 |
| Uenployment Benefit | 25,119 | 34.2 | 30,219 | 39.3 | 26,916 | 42.1 |
| Unemployment Assistance | 14,142 | 18.2 | 19,301 | 23.7 | 22,712 | 28.1 |
| Farm Assist | 1,867 | 21.7 | 2,146 | 24.5 | 2,271 | 27.0 |
Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the breakdown of the assessment of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for the carer's allowance; and the reason their spouse was only given an allowance of €15.00 weekly for travel. [3343/05]
Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for carer's allowance and was refused on the grounds that her weekly means exceeded the statutory limit. Her means, derived from her spouse's earnings and a small amount of farm income, amount to €265.95 weekly following the application of the €500 income disregard that applies in the case of carer's allowance.
Guidelines governing the application of the means test allow for a reasonable amount to be granted for travel expenses. In this case the amount of a travel allowance initially granted was reviewed and a revised allowance of €50 per week was applied. Her means, however, still exceed the statutory limit for carer's allowance.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
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