Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will consider a mechanism to flag to persons that their jobseeker's benefit claim is coming to an end and that they should apply for jobseeker's allowance in view of the timeframe involved in determining the jobseeker's allowance claim and the hardship this period is having on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36097/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Local Offices notify claimants up to 13 weeks in advance of the expiry date of their jobseeker's benefit entitlement. The person may then make an application for jobseeker's allowance, which is a means tested payment. If they do not qualify for this payment they may continue to sign-on for jobseeker's credits to preserve the continuity of their insurance and to protect their entitlement to benefits and pensions in the future. The Department has introduced a more streamlined procedure for claimants moving to jobseeker's allowance when their jobseeker's benefit expires and the department plans to further enhance this process later this year.

The average processing times for jobseeker's allowance claims decided in September was 7.53 weeks. Over 60% of local offices are achieving shorter processing time. I know that some offices are performing less well and the Department is making every effort to improve processing times generally at these offices thereby eliminating the possibility of a delay in payment in the transition from jobseeker's benefit to jobseeker's allowance.

As the Deputy will be aware, anyone who is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on any social welfare claim may apply to their local Community Welfare Officer for supplementary welfare allowance which is subject to a means test and other qualifying conditions.