Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 968: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in relation to the rent allowance; and if they will be given the best advice on entitlements and benefits. [28220/06]

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

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department 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 person concerned applied for Rent Supplement earlier this year but she was refused on the grounds that she had previously vacated Local Authority housing. She subsequently demonstrated at an appeal hearing that she had reasonable grounds for leaving the Local Authority house.

The person concerned is currently residing at her mother's home and there is no current claim for Rent Supplement from her. If she requires assistance towards any future rental agreement she should contact the local Community Welfare Officer for the area in which the property is located, prior to entering into any agreement, so that her entitlement to a rent supplement payment can be assessed. The Executive will also advise the person concerned in relation to any other entitlements she may have.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 969: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will investigate the withdrawal of a heating subsidy from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has additional and special heating needs. [28708/06]

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

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department 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.

If a recipient of a social welfare or Health Services Executive payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to meet out of household income, it is open to him/her to apply to the local community welfare officer for a special heating supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

In my reply to a previous question from the Deputy on 4 April 2006, I stated that the Mid Western Area of the Health Service Executive had advised that payment of a heating subsidy to the person concerned had been suspended from the end of February 2006 due to an increase in household means and that the application was under further review.

The Executive has advised that it was not in a position to reinstate payment of the heating supplement in this case as the changes to household composition resulted in an increase in overall household income and the person concerned had not provided sufficient documentation to indicate that exceptional heating costs had been incurred. As an interim measure, pending the documentation being provided, the Executive issued the person with an exceptional needs payment of €200 in August 2006 as a contribution towards heating costs.

The Executive has further advised that it is open to the person concerned to contact the community welfare officer at any time to provide any additional information that would support his claim for a special heating supplement.