Written answers

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

8:00 pm

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if workers involved in the JobBridge scheme will be entitled to benefits, such as fuel allowance, if they were not receiving that entitlement before they began their internship. [26910/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Interns participating in JobBridge will continue to receive the social welfare entitlements, including secondary benefits such as fuel allowance, they had been receiving immediately prior to commencing on the scheme. However, interns would not be entitled to benefits, such as fuel allowance, if they were not receiving that entitlement before they began their internship.

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for back to school clothing and footwear allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [26915/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year.

The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors including: the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements and other relevant information regarding an individual's application.

In addition, some aspects of the applications are inevitably time consuming and delays can occur where further investigations or third party evidence is required. Delays can also arise if the applicant is slow to respond to requests for additional information. Staff are working as quickly as possible on clearing the large volume of manual application claims received. Based on the current volume of applications it could take up to 6 weeks from date of receipt to process claims. Departmental records show that an application form was received from the person concerned on 23 August 2011 and it is expected he will be notified of the outcome of the claim shortly.

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