Written answers

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline all the supports, grants and payments payable by her Department to persons who are self-employed and have seen significant reductions in their remuneration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15539/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory).

Self-employed workers may establish eligibility to assistance-based payments such as jobseeker's allowance. They can apply for the means-tested jobseeker's allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. In general, their means will take account of the level of earnings in the last twelve months in determining their expected income for the following year and, in the current climate, account is taken of the downward trend in the economy. As in the case of a non-self-employed unemployed claimant of jobseeker's allowance, the means of husband/wife, civil partner or co-habitant will be taken into account in deciding on entitlement to a payment. Recipients of jobseeker's allowance can, subject to satisfying the requisite qualifying conditions, access a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. Supports available include the back to education programmes and back to work schemes. In addition, a fully integrated nationwide range of services and supports is available to employers and jobseekers through FÁS Employment Services, responsibility for which has been transferred to this Department.

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of carer's allowance applications currently waiting to be processed by her Department; the average length of time that it takes to process new carer's allowance applications; her views that this length of time is fair and equitable; the steps she will take to significantly reduce both the backlog of applications and the inordinate length of time that applicants are being forced to wait; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15545/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. In the interests of fairness and equity, applications are processed as far as possible in order of the date on which they were received

Approximately 7,800 applications are registered and awaiting a decision at present.

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. 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. This essential focus of certain staff resources will continue until the completion of the modernisation project in June of this year when all existing carer's allowance claims will be transferred onto the new processing system.

Accurate processing time figures are not yet available as applications are still being processed on both the old and the new computer systems. The average time to award an application on both systems at present is estimated at around 28 weeks. I acknowledge that this is unsatisfactory but I am satisfied that the department is taking all steps available to it to resolve the issue.

In addition to dealing with approximately 330 new carer's allowance applications that are received each week, overtime working is being applied to help reduce backlogs that have built up. In addition, consideration is being given to the assignment of temporary staff to expedite the reduction of the backlog. However, it is expected to be a significant number of months before the backlog is reduced to an acceptable level.

In the meantime, if a person's means are insufficient to meet their needs while awaiting a decision on an application, they may apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance payment from their local community welfare officer.

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