Written answers

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

8:00 am

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for single parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [26277/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for one-parent family payment on 31 December 2009. An assessment of her means has been completed and a decision will be made on her entitlement within the next two weeks. The person concerned is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the decision on her one-parent family payment.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [26283/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 7 December 2009. Payment was awarded at the rate of €88.00 per week with means assessed at €12.00 per week. Arrears due were paid to the person concerned on 18 May 2010.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person whose back-to-work allowance is paid into a bank account cannot have rent allowance paid in the same way but must, instead, have it paid into the post office; if he will streamline these methods of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26318/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department manages a range of different payment options. These are offered to customers by reference to the scheme which the customer is in receipt of, the availability of payment options available under that scheme and by reference to control and risk considerations.

The payment options available under the rent supplement scheme are varied. They are electronic fund transfer to the customer's bank account, electronic information transfer through the post office network or by way of a payable order/cheque. The Community Welfare Officer may determine the most appropriate method of payment in consideration of control and risk issues. The customer may ask that the matter be reconsidered by the Community Welfare Officer so that an alternative payment instrument is available.

The main benefit of payments by way of electronic information transfer through the post office is that it enables social welfare customers to avail of the household budgeting scheme. This scheme provides a free budgeting facility which allows people on social welfare to have deductions made from their weekly payments towards utility payments such as gas, electricity and telephone or deductions to pay for weekly rent payments to local authorities.

The Department of Social Protection is committed to delivering a high quality customer service for all customers. We will continue to develop strategies and solutions that avail of opportunities provided by developments in ICT and the Financial Services sector to improve existing services, to maximise efficiencies in payment instruments available, deliver a range of payment options and services in consideration of accessibility, e-inclusion and financial inclusion.

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