Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 474: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an increase in rent allowance will be considered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10874/06]

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 decisions on individual claims.

The person concerned is in receipt of one parent family payment and half-rate disability benefit from my Department. The Health Service Executive has advised that she had her rent supplement reviewed on 6 March 2006 following her move to a new address, based on her family composition and financial circumstances. The executive is satisfied that the correct amount of rent supplement is now in payment to her. It is open to the person concerned to appeal the decision given to the designated appeals officer within the Health Service Executive.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 475: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/06]

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 decisions on individual claims.

Under standard supplementary welfare allowance rules, rent supplements are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to their family circumstances less a minimum contribution, currently €13, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. Many recipients pay more than €13 because they are also required, subject to income disregards, to contribute any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic supplementary welfare allowance rate towards their accommodation costs.

The executive has advised that the person concerned had been awarded a rent supplement payment of €826.90 per month based on her income from her one parent family payment and maintenance. However, on re-examination, the executive now advises that this rate of supplement is incorrect and that the correct rate of rent supplement payable in this case is €904.50 per month. The executive has further advised that this new rate of payment will be payable from the next payment date and arrears due, if any, will issue as soon as possible.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 476: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois is not in receipt of rent subsidy; the further reason arrears of €4,000 was allowed to accrue in regard to the subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10921/06]

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 decisions on individual claims.

One of the conditions for entitlement to rent supplement is that an applicant must be deemed by the local authority to have a genuine housing need. The Health Service Executive has advised that it disallowed an application for rent supplement in this case on the grounds that the local authority could not deem the person concerned to have a housing need as the applicant had not provided documentation required to make its decision.

The executive has further advised that the person concerned was advised of the decision in September 2005. The person concerned was given the opportunity to make a further application for rent supplement on 28 February 2006 and to provide evidence of his housing needs but he has not contacted the executive since.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 477: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been reduced by €69, in view of the fact that the person was in receipt of the maximum rate of unemployment assistance prior to this. [10965/06]

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

The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the maximum weekly rate of €165.80 from 8 February 2006. However, it came to light that she should have been assessed with means from parental income. A deciding officer assessed her with means at €69 a week from 8 March 2006, derived from the value of board and lodgings. This assessment entitles her to payment of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of €96.80 from 8 March 2006.

It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision and a form for this purpose may be obtained from her social welfare local office in Westport.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 478: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an oral hearing in respect of a carer's allowance appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be scheduled. [11025/06]

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

The person's application for carer's allowance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not deemed to be habitually resident in the State.

The person appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and the appeals officer considers that an oral hearing is necessary in the case. It is not possible at this stage to give a date for the hearing. However, the person concerned will be notified as soon as arrangements for the hearing are made.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.