Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 440: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure that a payment of some kind is awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and the reason the person was advised to apply for supplementary welfare allowance and was not advised to apply for disability benefit. [31894/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person concerned applied for illness benefit which is a payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. To qualify for this benefit a person must satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions governing the scheme and be under age 66. The person concerned has 15 PRSI contributions recorded between 2005 and 2007. And, this does not satisfy the conditions for this benefit. If he has paid more PRSI contributions than are recorded, he should forward documentary evidence to the Department e.g. forms P60, P45 or stamped employer statement. Or in the absence of such documentary evidence, he should forward a signed letter stating the number of additional PRSI contributions he has paid. The matter will be further investigated by the Department and his entitlement to illness benefit will be reviewed in the light of any new evidence received.

The person concerned was advised to apply for and is currently in receipt of a basic SWA payment while his claim for other entitlements is pending. The community welfare officer has advised that the payment of SWA was temporarily suspended pending the provision of essential information which was required to process the claim. The CWO has further advised that the person concerned should contact him if he wishes to discuss his entitlement to SWA or other matters relevant to his claim.

Disability allowance is a weekly payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both medical suitability and a means test. A Disability allowance application form has been provided to the person concerned. This form should be completed and returned to the Department in order that he can be assessed for this payment.