Written answers

Thursday, 12 May 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

3:00 pm

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11025/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 11th February 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 30th March 2011 advising of the decision.

Photo of Áine CollinsÁine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [11027/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 29th March 2011. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion on the case. When this opinion is received a decision will issue to the customer.

Photo of Ray ButlerRay Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath has been refused an application for disability allowance; if the application will be reviewed as this person was unsuccessful in a recent job interview due to their medical condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11058/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for disability allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by the Deciding Officer on the grounds that the person concerned was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 March 2011.

It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 6 May 2011 and the appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer, in due course, who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a jobseeker's allowance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11075/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The jobseeker's allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed because the deciding officer was not satisfied that he fully disclosed the details of his means. He had not shown that his weekly means were less than €188.00.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a dog owner in receipt of social welfare allowance may receive extra payment for dog food; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11094/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The position remains as advised in question number 146 which was answered for the Deputy on 1 December 2010. There are no payments made by the Department of Social Protection towards the cost of caring for a dog.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a request for supplementary allowance will be processed and granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [11114/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE have confirmed that they have no outstanding claim for SWA from the person in question.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the rent payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be paid to them as they were unable to collect the payment due to illness. [11118/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Where payment is made by Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) at a post office, the payment must be collected within six days; failure to collect the payment within the specified period will result in the payment being returned to the Department. If the person concerned was unable to collect his payment then he should contact his local community welfare officer to discuss the matter.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an application for supplementary welfare allowance will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if she will expedite a response. [11121/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that following a recent review of the entitlements of the person concerned she was refused a basic weekly supplementary welfare allowance payment as the household means were in excess of the limits for the family.

The HSE further advised that the person concerned was recently awarded an exceptional needs payment in lieu of household bills. The person in question should contact her local community welfare officer to discuss any ongoing financial difficulties.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if financial assistance and support with mortgage arrears and interest will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the refusal which issued will be re-issued and if she will expedite a response. [11122/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) advised that, following a routine review, payment of mortgage interest supplement ceased as there was sufficient household income to meet the mortgage interest costs.

If the person concerned is experiencing exceptional financial difficulties, which he could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his weekly income then it remains open to that person to apply for an exceptional needs payment to the community welfare officer at his local health centre.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent supplement was not paid in respect of April 2011 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11132/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that payment of rent supplement to the person concerned was suspended as his primary social welfare payment was suspended. The HSE further advised that payment of his rent supplement has now been restored and that payment of arrears for April 2011 will issue with his May 2011 payment.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of rent supplement payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11133/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of his correct rent supplement entitlement having regard to his household circumstances.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position in the matter of rent supplement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who did not receive payment for the month of April; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11135/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that in December 2008, the person concerned was awarded a rent supplement in respect of accommodation which was in excess of the prescribed rent limits for a single person. Payment was awarded as an exceptional measure on the understanding that the person concerned was awaiting a court hearing to establish overnight access to his children.

The HSE has further advised that in early February 2011 it informed the person concerned that as he had failed to provide any evidence that he had regular or overnight access to his children, it would continue payment of rent supplement until March 2011. This was to allow the person in question time to secure alternative accommodation within the prescribed limits for a single person. The HSE has received no subsequent contact from the person concerned and payment has been suspended from April 2011.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance or family income supplement for which a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11142/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at a weekly rate of €60.60. This payment includes a personal rate, and increases in respect of a qualified adult and a qualified child less weekly means assessed due to spousal earnings. The rate of payment is correct according to the current information available to the deciding officer.

In order for an entitlement to Family Income Supplement (FIS) to be assessed the spouse of the person concerned should submit an application.

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