Written answers
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits
8:00 pm
Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 399: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for applications in respect of carer's allowance; if her attention has been drawn to the delays experienced and the anxiety that this is causing; the steps she will take to remedy this matter; when she expects the situation to improve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41394/11]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The average time taken to award a claim for carer's allowance to end Sept 2011 was 14 weeks. The average time to award for the last quarter of 2011 is unavailable as, due to the phased introduction of a new claims processing system in the carer's allowance area, new claims are being processed on the new system while older claims are still being processed on the old system.
A total of almost 17,260 carer's allowance applications were registered in 2011 and almost 13,900 were processed in the same period. Some 7,765 applications are awaiting a decision at present. There are approximately 51,000 carer's allowance claims currently in payment.
I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer's allowance claims is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate steps to resolve the situation.
As mentioned above, a major service delivery modernisation project is underway to improve the efficiency of administration of the carer's allowance scheme. This involves the development of information technology functions and associated business process re-organisation. The first tranche of new carer's allowance claims began to be processed under the new system in August 2011. It is anticipated that the new system will introduce significant processing efficiencies and a quicker and more responsive service to the customer. Accordingly, the project is being given high priority and involves a significant level of time and commitment from the relevant staff in the Department. This has had a short-term negative impact on claim processing times.
While the new systems and processes will facilitate a significant improvement in overall processing times, it should be noted that the intake of new carer's allowance applications continues to increase and that individual claims may continue to take some time to process. Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance, in certain cases unavoidable time lags are involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if those applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim.
The staff and other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed with a view to ensuring claims are processed as quickly as possible. In the meantime, if a person's means are insufficient to meet his or her needs while awaiting a decision on a claim, he or she can apply for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance payment from his or her community welfare officer.
SUZY YOUNG
Posted on 18 Jan 2012 1:57 pm (Report this comment)
In reply to Joan Burton '14 weeks for carer funding'? Try 14 months and 8 to 10 years!!! I am in need of a full time carer to visit me at least 3 hours in the morning and 1 or 2 at night. I had some help from the GCIL 'Galway center for independent living' in 2007/2008 but in 2009 October my pa left pregnant and was never replaced despite my endless telephone calls i have never seen or heard from a soul since even after constant phone calls, they told me i am on some new government list for some reason - they then refuse to be clear about what this is? They will not even tell Mr Brian Mallone disability officer where i am or what this list is about that they have placed me on! Even when providing home help that they call pa's they were never very good at running things, pa's did not turn up - they went on holiday's and i had no fill in, some spoke little English and did not understand what you needed and many other unsuitable things too when dealing with a sick person. So as i was clearly abandoned by the GCIL i was given this contact by my district nurse = Mr Brian Mallone manager of disability section in Galway based at Merlin Park and he eventually was able to provide me with just 2 hours on a Tues and 2 hours on a Thurs home help for just over a year now - this is through a company called Homeinstead who are fantastic, my pa/home-help is excellent in fact she won the regional carer of the year, now Mr Mallone just keeps telling me that the disability department has 'no funding' to give me more hours i need and that is truly appalling as it took him 2 years to get me that little funding for the 4 hours.
No one seems to be able to help, not social workers or occupational therapists or anyone and they are all so aware i need someone ever single day, it worries them never mind worrying and stressing me too (when my home-help leaves on a Thurs at about 12.20pm i am then left in bed with no means of walking or being able to get to a toilet or take my medication without becoming confused and am not able to wash or shower myself (if i can get a friend round good, if not, this is the stress and mess i am left in) Not only is this dangerous it is disgusting for me and i am sure thousands like me to be left to live in this appalling state.
I do not want a full time live in carer as i am 53 and chose some sort of normality or life that is usually supported when it can be by the free help of friends many of them on allowances themselves. But i am not ready to be put in a home at all, i just need daily help and can then remain independant to a degree and have some quality of life. But i must have help each morning first then the odd evening if things are taken care of in the morning i can probably manage to get into bed myself - but these things are just plain human dignity to have done every day bathe/eat/ablutions etc clean bed dressing/or clean pyjamas and food and drink prepared for later etc....
I find it astounding that not one of the TD's or Minister has lead by example in these desperate times of trouble and have not taken any pay cut or expenses cut but you have managed more than once to strip social welfare to the bone and beyond. If you all took this cut then maybe i could have the funding that i need or the disability dept gets the funding that it needs to help people like me. I have been in the hospital far more in the past 3 years simply because i was left alone and fell or got ill from lack of food and hygiene.....i feel physically sick writing this, it is demeaning and disgusting to let anyone in this country live this way.
So, how many weeks then before you issue funds for the kind of home-help daily that i need? How long before you give the disability officer the funds to help people like me? Sadly i would have approached the Pwdi people with disabilities Ireland for help with this but it was closed down, every office in the country on 31st dec 2011, after 12 years and that was a tragedy leaving people like me a member and volunteer to struggle with email/letters/phone calls even though my strength and peace of mind are not really up to it, it actually makes my illness's worse with the stress and worry it causes however as this government has made sure we have absolutely no one else to turn to now - i ask you for your opinion please. Thank you. P.S. Can i also say i have sent Derek Nolan messages on FB but had no reply for a long time and i did vote for him??