Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider increasing the fuel allowance from €9 to a more realistic amount. [14217/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their extra heating needs during the winter season. It is not intended to meet the full cost of fuel. A fuel allowance of €9 per week, €12.90 in designated urban smokeless fuel zones, is payable to eligible households for a 29-week period from end-September to mid-April each year.

Significant increases in recent years in primary social welfare payment rates, such as the old age pension, have improved the income position for people dependent on the social welfare system. These rates are payable throughout the year and are intended to cover basic living costs, including cooking and heating, supplemented where applicable by the fuel allowance during the winter heating season. Many households also qualify for electricity or gas allowances throughout the year under the social welfare household benefits scheme. In addition, a heating supplement may be payable through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in cases of individual special need.

I have no plans at present to increase the rate of fuel allowance. Any such change to the scheme would have to be considered in a budget context and in the light of other priorities.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the complete and total breakdown of all contributions made by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo during their working life; and the reason this person has been refused a medical appliance benefit. [14266/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the treatment benefit scheme administered by my Department, persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts and their dependent spouses can avail of benefit in respect of a certain range of dental, optical and aural services subject to satisfying certain contribution conditions. To qualify for medical appliance benefit an insured person who reached 66 years before July 1992 is required to have: 208 weeks reckonable PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and 39 weeks reckonable insurance contributions paid or credited in either of the two complete tax years before reaching the age of 66 years. If the person does not qualify at age 66 years their contribution record is examined to check if they satisfied the contribution conditions at age 60.

The relevant tax years for the person concerned are 1986-87 and 1987-88. According to the records of my Department, he satisfies the first condition. He does not satisfy the second condition as he has no contributions paid or credited during those tax years. The relevant tax year for the person concerned at age 60 is the 1981-82 tax year. He has no contributions paid during that year. He does not, therefore, qualify for medical appliance benefit.

If the person concerned is the holder of a medical card he may be entitled to some assistance towards his costs under the scheme administered by the Health Service Executive. Inquiries in this regard should be made at his local health services centre.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he proposes to take against retailers who place restrictions on the cashing of social welfare payment cheques (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14269/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issues over half a million cheques every month and, as a general rule, there are no problems regarding their encashment. Occasionally, people experience difficulty in cashing their cheques, mainly because of inadequate identification. Such problems were resolved on a case by case basis.

Cheques are but one of a range of payment methods offered to customers and would account for about 10% of total payments issued by my Department. While precise statistics are not available, it is estimated that about one third of social welfare customers in receipt of cheque payments cash them at retail outlets without any difficulty. The cashing of cheques by retail outlets is a matter between the customer and the retailer and it would not be appropriate for me to interfere in this relationship.

Cheques issued by my Department are drawn on the Bank of Ireland and may be cashed at any bank branch on production of necessary identification. In addition, Bank of Ireland has an agreement with An Post whereby social welfare cheques may be cashed at any post office subject to satisfactory proof of identity. If a social welfare customer experiences any difficulties in cashing their cheques, they should bring the matter to the attention of my Department which will ensure that alternative payment arrangements are offered to them. These arrangements include payment at the customer's local post office or by direct payment into the customer's bank or building society account.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department will assess correspondence to ascertain whether a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is permitted to retain the rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14270/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplements are available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases.

In general, people in full-time education are excluded from receiving assistance, including rent supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. However, there is statutory provision for continued payment of rent supplement to eligible people, generally over age 21 years, who wish to resume full-time education in approved courses through the back to education allowance or VTOS schemes, subject to satisfying the other standard conditions of the rent supplement scheme.

The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that it became aware that the person concerned is a full-time student in the course of a routine review of her entitlements. As she is not participating in either the back to education allowance or VTOS schemes, she does not satisfy the statutory conditions for retention of rent supplement.

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason a social welfare payment from the UK is included in a means test for the old age non-contributory pension; the steps he plans to take to rectify the discriminatory practices in regard to the old age non contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14410/05]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will award the full old age non-contributory pension to Irish persons who are in receipt of any social welfare payment as outlined in his Department's information leaflet SW60; if he will end the discriminatory practice of including a social welfare payment from another State in means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14412/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

It has not been possible in the time available to examine comprehensively the details of the case mentioned by the Deputy. I will write to him shortly in regard to this matter.

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