Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to refuse basic supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare on the grounds that they were not absent from the country in the period in 2009 which can be verified by their doctor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17508/12]

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

A review of the decision to disallow basic supplementary welfare allowance to the person concerned will be carried out.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to old age pension or other payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17510/12]

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

A State pension (contributory) is payable to applicants, aged 66 years or over, who satisfy certain social insurance contribution conditions.

A person aged 65 years who has retired from insurable employment, and who satisfies certain qualifying conditions, may be eligible for a State pension (transition), where the person concerned:

· has entered into insurable employment before reaching age 55

· has at least 260 weeks full-rate contributions paid (520 contributions minimum after 6th April 2012), and

· has a yearly average of at least 48 paid and/or credited full-rate contributions from 1979 to the end of the tax year preceding their 65th birthday, or

· has a yearly average of at least 24 paid/credited full-rate contributions from the date of their entry into insurable employment to the end of the tax year preceding their 65th birthday (to qualify for the maximum rate pension, a yearly average of 48 is required).

The person concerned has reached the age of eligibility for State pension (transition). A claim form has been sent to him. If he has retired from insurable employment, he should complete and return the form to the Department. On receipt of the completed claim form, his entitlement to pension will be fully examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 141: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the on-going entitlement to disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17512/12]

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

The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 24 January 2011. The medical evidence supplied was referred to a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person was not deemed to be medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and refused the claim and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 13 April 2011.

If the person's circumstances have changed since his last application it is open to him to make a new application for disability allowance and his entitlement will be examined.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which it is proposed to discontinue basic social welfare entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17513/12]

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

The person concerned has been asked to submit documentation as part of a review of his entitlement to basic supplementary welfare allowance. He has been advised that payment will discontinue if he fails to submit the documentation requested.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 143: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which it is deemed overpayment has occurred in respect of jobseeker's allowance and back to education allowance in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare, when they acted in compliance with the requests from her Department to separate their claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17514/12]

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

No overpayment has been assessed on the jobseeker's allowance or the back to education allowance claims of the persons concerned.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 144: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the correct amount of rent support payable in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17515/12]

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

Following a review, the rent allowance payable to the persons concerned has been reduced to €255.79 per calendar month to take account of an increase in their household income.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 145: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when one parent family allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17516/12]

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

An application for a one-parent family payment from the person concerned has been disallowed as she failed to show that her means do not exceed the statutory limit. She has lodged an appeal against the decision and her file has been referred to an inspector for review as part of the appeal process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 147: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when one parent family allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

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

An application for a one-parent family payment from the person concerned has been disallowed as she failed to show that her means do not exceed the statutory limit. She has lodged an appeal against the decision and her file has been referred to an inspector for review as part of the appeal process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current position in respect of an application for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17519/12]

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

The jobseeker's allowance application from the person concerned has been awarded for payment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 149: To ask the Minister for Social Protection having regard to previous Parliamentary Questions and the necessity to clarify entitlement to rent support in cases such as that outlined in respect of a person (details supplied), if he will accept this reference as an appeal for oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17520/12]

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

The person concerned made an application for rent supplement on the 25th of January 2012. He has submitted information to the Department stating that he is a joint guardian to one of his children. However, this order also states that the mother is the sole custodian and primary carer of the relevant child. Hence, the person concerned is only entitled to the single limit as the needs of the child have already been accommodated for. The Department has received no information to date in relation to access in respect of his second child. No decision has been made by the Deciding Officer in relation to the payment of the person concerned. If the person concerned is unhappy with a Deciding Officer's decision, they should appeal within 21 days of receiving it to the Chief Appeals Officer, D'Olier House, D'Olier St, Dublin 2.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when mortgage interest relief will be offered in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17537/12]

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

The Department does not have a current pending application for mortgage interest supplement in respect of the persons concerned.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17538/12]

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

An application for jobseeker's benefit dated 23 March 2012 from the person concerned is currently being processed. As a non-EU national he has been requested to provide details of his current immigration status in this country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if disability allowance was payable in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17547/12]

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

The person concerned was paid disability allowance from 17 March 1999 to 21 February 2012. His last payment was on 15 February 2012 the date of his death. There are no arrears of disability allowance due. As the person was not receiving a dependent allowance in respect of a qualified adult at the time of his death the question of whether entitlement exists to the six weeks after death payment will have to be examined and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment of one parent family allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17548/12]

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

The person concerned applied for one-parent family payment in January 2012 and her application was closed as she failed to make herself available for interview. She re-applied with effect from the 15 March 2012 and an inspector will contact her as soon as possible regarding an assessment of her means.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when carer's allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17549/12]

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

The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on grounds that the Department's medical assessor expressed the opinion that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. He was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review/appeal within 21 days. Additional medical evidence was received and forwarded to the Department's Medical Assessor for consideration.

However, this information did not alter the opinion of the Medical Assessor and the decision remained unchanged. Accordingly, on the 9 February 2012, the person in question was notified of the outcome of the review and of his right of appeal within 21 days.