Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the updated number of applicants for jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit; the average timeframe for processing new applications; and the arrangements that are being made to process these applications in a more timely manner. [14281/15]

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

In March 2015, my Department registered 14,880 claims for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) and 11,373 for Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB). During the month the average times for the awarding of JA and JB claims were 2 weeks and 1 week, respectively.

My Department has measurable performance targets for the majority of schemes under its remit. The performance target for JA and JB is that 90% of claims are awarded within 6 weeks (JA) or 3 weeks (JB). During the month of March 2015, this performance target was achieved: 91% of JA claims and 90% of JB claims were awarded within 6 and 3 weeks respectively.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of carer's allowance and carer's benefit granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for a decision on appeal; the number on appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentages of these approved and refused. [14293/15]

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

The information requested by the Deputy for carer’s benefit is not available on a county basis. Breakdown of the number of carer's benefit awarded/disallowed from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; breakdown of the number of carer’s allowance awarded/disallowed from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015, with an indicative breakdown by County (*); the average waiting time for a decision on appeal; the number on appeal referred for appeal oral hearing; and the percentages of appeals allowed/disallowed is detailed in the attached tabular statements.

(**) Please note that the number awarded includes some cases shown in the refused column which were subsequently awarded following a review or an appeal.

Carer’s Benefit Decisions January 2014 to March 2015

Carer's Allowance decisions by County January 2014 to March 2015

Processing times for Carer’s Allowance Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing

Carer’s Allowance Oral Hearings 2014-2015

Processing times for Carer’s Benefit Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing

Carer’s Benefit Oral Hearings 2014-2015

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the updated number of applicants for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the average timeframe for processing new applications; and the arrangements that are being made to process these applications in a more timely manner. [14294/15]

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

At the end of March 2014 there were approximately 4,200 carer’s allowance applications awaiting decision and approximately 345 carer’s benefit applications awaiting decision. The average time taken to award a new claim is currently 12 weeks for carer’s allowance, and 8 weeks for carer’s benefit. Where a request is made for a review of a decision on a new claim or where there is an appeal against a decision, this will take longer.

One way that claimants can assist the Department to made a timely decision on their claim is to ensure that the claim form is fully completed and signed and that all necessary accompanying documentation is enclosed.

The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible and that backlogs in claims are kept to a minimum. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. The staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. Additional resources have been applied to help to deal with the significant increase in the number of carer’s allowance applications being received and to minimise processing times.