Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 551: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is being deducted three days of their jobseeker's benefit after completing a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12335/10]

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

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 552: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when social welfare payment will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12367/10]

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

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 553: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12375/10]

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

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 554: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded jobseeker's benefit. [12379/10]

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

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 555: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the supports that are available to sufferers of diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12381/10]

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

Diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis is a type of arthritis characterised by calcification along the sides of the vertebrae. The Department does not operate any income support scheme specifically aimed at persons who have that or any other particular illness. A range of income support payments is provided for people who are ill or have a disability. These include the insurance based schemes Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension and the means-tested Disability Allowance. Detailed information on these schemes and other supports provided by the Department are available on the website www.welfare.ie or via the Department's network of Local Offices.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 556: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the circumstances under which fuel allowance may be awarded to a person on a year round basis. [12391/10]

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

The national fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive (HSE) payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Fuel allowance is payable for 32 weeks a year. The standard allowance is €20 a week while the rate in smokeless zones is €23.90 a week. The scheme benefits almost 318,000 people a year at an estimated cost of €217 million in 2009.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs e.g. in the case of ill health, infirmity or a medical condition. In order to qualify for a heating supplement, the claimant must live alone or only with a qualified adult or child and satisfy the standard means test for receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance. The heating supplement may be paid to an individual in addition to a fuel allowance, depending on the circumstances of the individual.

Applications for heating supplement should be made to the appropriate community welfare officer who will examine the person's entitlement based on his or her personal circumstances.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 557: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rental entitlements and rental support entitlements of a person in receipt of social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12394/10]

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

The rent supplement scheme provides short-term 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.

The rent supplement scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare Service Division of the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. There are over 94,000 people in receipt of rent supplement of which over 34,000 are getting a supplement for 18 months or more. The number of rent supplement recipients has increased by 27% since the end of December 2008.

A person may be eligible for rent supplement if the accommodation is suitable to their needs, the rent is below the maximum rent level set for your county and the person is assessed in the last 12 months by a local authority as being eligible for and in need of social housing; living in accommodation for homeless people for 6 months (183 days) out of the last 12 months; living in private rented accommodation for 6 months (183 days) out of the last 12 months; or a tenant of accommodation provided under one of the Social Housing Schemes and the person satisfies a habitual residence test and a means test.

Under standard assessment rules, rent supplement entitlement is calculated to ensure that an eligible person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of basic supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her their family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €24, which each recipient is required to pay from his or her own resources. The rent supplement means test provides for a gradual withdrawal of the supplement as hours of employment or earnings increase. Where a person has additional income in excess of the standard weekly rate of supplementary welfare allowance, the first €75 of this excess is disregarded, with 25% of remaining excess s also disregarded for means assessment purposes.

Applications for rent supplement should be made to the appropriate local community welfare officers who will examine the person's entitlement based on his or her personal circumstances.