Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 349: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was refused rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27175/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to make an application for rent supplement he should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 350: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform the family income supplement scheme; the reason that after one year in receipt of FIS families are required to wait for a review before the resumption of payment of the supplement; if she will commit to ensuring that reviews which take place are done so earlier in the lifetime of the scheme to ensure continuity of payment to families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27178/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide income for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments. To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week.

The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with him/her or is supported by him/her. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family. Current legislation provides that once FIS is awarded, it continues to be payable at the rate awarded for a period of 52 weeks provided that the person remains in employment. The rate of payment may be increased if an additional child is born in the course of the 52 weeks. Claimants must apply to have their payment renewed if they wish to receive payment for a further 52 weeks.

At present, application forms for renewal of the payment of FIS for a further 52 weeks are issued one month in advance of the expiry of the current payment and are processed in order of the date of expiry of the current payment and not by the date of receipt of a completed renewal form. This is designed to facilitate the collection of the most up-to-date customer information to ensure the fairest calculation of entitlement for the next 52 week payment period of FIS. The waiting time for FIS claims being renewed is currently between 4 -5 weeks.

In light of the current waiting times, the Department has introduced a number of measures to address the efficiency of claim processing for FIS. These measures include giving priority to FIS claims being renewed in order to preserve continuity of payment, reviewing and monitoring existing processes and procedures and staffing requirements. The position continues to be closely monitored and kept under review by the Department.

While there are no immediate plans to reform FIS, the payment is one of the family and child income supports that are currently being examined by the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which was established in June this year. The Group has been tasked with recommending cost-effective solutions as to how employment disincentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes.