Written answers

Wednesday, 25 October 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Investigations

9:00 am

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 18 October 2006, the overall targets set for claim processing, for each of the payments administered by his Department; the factors included in these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34890/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The current claim processing targets for each scheme are set out in the following table. Performance is measured on a monthly basis by selecting all of the claims awarded during the month and calculating the percentage of claims which were awarded within the performance target for the month.

The factors which are taken into account when setting the performance target for a scheme are determined by the processes which must be followed in arriving at a decision as well as the number of claims that the relevant business areas can reasonably be expected to handle. Processes vary from scheme to scheme and may involve, among other things, the need to establish the customer's social insurance record, verify medical incapacity for work, establish the customer's identity or their place of habitual residence and to assess means where appropriate.

My Department sets its claim processing targets with a view to providing an efficient and effective level of customer service.

2006 Processing Targets for new claims
SchemeTarget(1)
State Pension (Contributory)55% in 6 weeks
State Pension (Transitional)80% in 5 weeks
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension80% in 5 weeks
State Pension (Non-Contributory)65% in 8 weeks
Widow(er)'s (Non-Contributory) Pension & One Parent Family Payment (Widow)75% in 8 weeks
One-Parent Family — (Unmarried Parent)55% in 8 weeks
One-Parent Family — (Separated Spouse)65% in 13 weeks
One-Parent Family — (Local Office based)85% in 9 weeks
Free Electricity/Gas Allowance70% in 7 weeks
Free Telephone Allowance70% in 7 weeks
Bereavement (Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo)80% in 3 weeks
Bereavement (Social Welfare Services Office, Longford)80% in 3 weeks
Invalidity Pension70% in 9 weeks
Family Income Supplement70% in 3 weeks
Disability Allowance70% in 9 weeks
Carer's Allowance70% in 9 weeks
Jobseeker's Benefit85% in 2 weeks
Jobseeker's Assistance70% in 2 weeks
Illness Benefit90% in 1 week
Occupational Injury Benefit– Interim Illness Benefit85% in 1 week
Maternity Benefit80% before commencement of benefit
Treatment Benefit90% in 2 weeks
Child Benefit90% in 1 week
Note for Information
(1)Target time to process new claims from date of receipt to date of award.

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