Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 221: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be reached in regard to the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford regarding their social welfare allowance appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39797/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

The statutory rules of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme provide that, where it is determined that an applicant has deprived himself or herself of an income in order to qualify for an allowance, the income foregone continues to be assessable as means for eligibility purposes.

The southern area of the executive has advised that payment of rent supplement was refused on the basis that the person concerned had left full-time employment in order to participate in a training course. It has further advised that the person concerned appealed this decision to the designated area appeals officer within the executive and that the decision of the community welfare officer was upheld. The person concerned has a further right of appeal against this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.