Written answers

Thursday, 2 November 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

5:00 pm

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who have had their payments of child benefit cut off as a result of trying to contact them regarding the new early child supplement payments; the number of people who subsequently had their payments reinstated; the net number of people who had payments terminated based on this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36049/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2006, as part of the introduction of the early childcare supplement (ECS) scheme, a letter issued to qualifying customers i.e. those in receipt of child benefit for children under the age of 6 years, informing them of the new payment including the method and frequency of payment and the approximate date of the first payment. In August, a further letter issued confirming the date of the first payment and payment dates for the remainder of 2006 and 2007. Approximately 265,000 letters issued on both occasions.

Approximately 6,000 letters were returned undelivered from the April mailing, and 3,000 from the August mailing. Of these 9,000 cases, new addresses have been established in respect of 6,300 customers. Payment of Child Benefit is currently suspended for the remaining 2,700 customers. Work is continuing to establish the whereabouts of these customers; if it is confirmed that they are no longer resident in the country, their claims will be terminated and overpayments assessed where appropriate.

My Department has put in place measures to ensure that customers in receipt of both Child Benefit and Early Childcare Allowance are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they continue to fulfil the qualifying conditions for the receipt of the payments. These measures will include mailshots to confirm the children's residency in Ireland and confirm insurable employment of a parent in cases paid under EU regulations. In addition, home visits by investigation staff will be used to verify and validate information given.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to a previous parliamentary question, the details of the additional income threshold for the fuel allowance for each year respectively from 1995 to date in 2006 inclusive; the amount of any increases in any of those years and subsequent new additional income threshold as a result of the increase; the date when an additional increase was granted; when these increases came into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36058/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Entitlement to fuel allowance is subject to a means test. People who are in receipt of relevant non-contributory payments automatically satisfy the fuel allowance means test and do not have to undergo a further means test to qualify for fuel allowance. The majority of people who receive fuel allowances qualify because they satisfy the relevant means test for their primary weekly payment.

In 2006, in the case of contributory pensions which are not means tested, a person may have a combined household income of up to €51 per week over and above the maximum rate of state pension (contributory), or savings/investments of up to €46,000, and still qualify for fuel allowance. This additional income amount was increased to €51 per week with effect from 1 June 2005. Prior to that, it was €38.10 per week from September 1999 and €19.05 from September 1996, having previously been set at €12.70 per week.

These increases were announced in the Budget immediately prior to their introduction in all cases. The overall fuel allowance income limits increase each season in line with the increases in the rate of the State pension (contributory). Actual income from investments and money in savings accounts is not counted for means assessment purposes. Instead all cash values of investments and property, all money in savings accounts and cash-in-hand are added together and this capital is assessed as follows: the first €20,000 of capital is disregarded; capital between €20,000 and €30,000 is assessed on the basis of €1 weekly means for each €1,000 of capital; capital between €30,000 and €40,000 is assessed on the basis of €2 weekly means for each €1,000 of capital; and capital above €40,000 is assessed on the basis of €4 weekly means for each €1,000 of capita. Income limits on secondary sources of income in order to qualify for fuel allowance from 1995 are set out in column B in the following tabular statement. The overall income limit is also set out in the statement.

Applicable income limit for secondary sources of income
YearOACP* rateMeans LimitAdult Dependant Allce. Under 66Adult Dependant Allce. Over 66Single PersonCouple where Qualified Adult is Under 66Couple where Qualified Adult is Over 66
(A)(B)(C)(D)(A+B)(A+B+C)(A+B+D)
199592.4412.7061.0766.41105.14166.21171.55
199695.2319.0562.8568.44114.28177.13182.72
199799.0419.0564.7670.34118.09182.85188.43
1998105.3919.0566.6672.25124.44191.10196.69
1999113.0038.1070.9876.06151.10222.08227.16
2000121.8938.1076.4482.03159.99236.43242.02
2001134.5950.7986.60101.07185.38271.98286.45
2002147.3050.7998.10113.80198.09296.19311.89
2003157.3050.79104.80121.50208.09312.89329.59
2004167.3050.79111.50129.20218.09329.59347.29
2005179.3051.00119.50138.50230.30349.80368.80
2006193.3051.00128.80149.30244.30373.10393.60
Old Age Contributory Pension now called the State Pension Contributory.

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