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

Question 757: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the social welfare payment of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been stopped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2214/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a means test, has applied for any other benefit or allowances, has registered for work with FÁS, if they are of working age, and satisfies a habitual residency test may qualify for a weekly payment of SWA. Under the relevant legislative provisions, a number of categories are specifically excluded from receiving the allowance. These are people in full-time work, people in full-time education and people involved in trade disputes.

In any individual case, the decision as to whether an applicant is entitled to an SWA payment is a matter for a Community Welfare officer (CWO), based on the circumstances of the applicant. While there is no automatic entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance in circumstances where another social assistance claim is in process, the CWO may award SWA in any case where the HSE considers that the circumstances of the case so warrant. The person concerned applied for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) in July 2007 and he has been in receipt of basic SWA since September 2007 pending the assessment of his entitlement to JA.

The person concerned had been asked by both the social welfare Local Office and the CWO in the HSE, to provide additional information in order that his claim for JA could be processed in addition to ensuring the continuance of his SWA claim. The person concerned failed to provide the additional information relevant to his claim and he was duly notified that his SWA claim would be suspended. The CWO suspended his SWA claim on 2nd January due to the non provision of requested information relevant to his claims for SWA. The person concerned called to the CWO this week and has been advised that his claim for SWA can be re-examined when the additional information requested has been provided. To date the Executive have not received this information.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 758: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there is a limit on the proportion of people or number of people that may be granted rent allowance in a particular neighbourhood or area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2256/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 759: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are restrictions on the number or proportion of people that may receive rent allowance in a particular neighbourhood or area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2257/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 759 together.

In general there is no limit or restriction on the proportion or number of people that may receive rent supplement in an area. However Section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 provides that a payment of rent supplement can be refused in respect of accommodation which is situated in an area notified to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs by the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government, as being an area of regeneration.

This provision is aimed at supporting Government investment in regeneration and attaining a good social mix between private, social, affordable and voluntary housing. The measures provided for in Section 25 are not a blanket refusal of rent supplement in areas of regeneration.

Specific provision is made to ensure that people already residing in such areas and in receipt of rent supplement may continue to receive payment; and people already residing in such areas in rental accommodation and who may have recourse to rent supplement in the future, would not have their entitlement restricted.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive. The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

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

Question 760: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be assisted. [2276/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Health Service Executive has advised that it has refused payment of a rent supplement in this case on the grounds that the person concerned is engaged in full-time education and is not in receipt of a back to education allowance.

People in full-time education are normally excluded from receipt of rent supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. However, people participating in approved courses and who qualify for back to education allowance, receive a standard weekly rate of payment equivalent to the maximum rate of their previous social welfare payment. They may also qualify for rent supplement, subject to the standard qualifying conditions of the rent supplement scheme.

To qualify for participation in the back to education allowance scheme, an applicant must be at least 21 years of age. Lone parents and others may access the scheme at 18 years if they are out of formal education for 2 years or more. An applicant must also be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months, in the case of people wishing to complete a second level course, or twelve months in the case of people wishing to pursue a third level qualification.

The person concerned does not qualify for back-to-education allowance as she is less than 21 years of age and has been engaged in formal education within the past two years.

The decision not to award a back to education allowance in this case has been reviewed and the original decision not to award payment has been upheld.