Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a living alone allowance payment did not transfer from an invalidity pension to a contributory pension when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry turned 66 years of age; if this payment will now be paid to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47518/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned notified Invalidity Pensions on 4 January 2019 that she no longer lived alone and therefore her living alone allowance was stopped from 10 January 2019.  She applied for widows contributory pension on the 15th January 2019  but did not apply for living alone allowance, stating that a student lived with her. Living Alone Allowance is not payable to persons under age 66 on widow's contributory pension.

As the person concerned is now over 66 years of age she can now make an application for the allowance.  I have arranged for an application form to be posted to her home address.  When the completed application form is received in my Department, her entitlement will be examined and she will be notified of outcome without delay.

I trust this clarifies the matter. 

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average time for assessing an application for the exceptional needs payment and supplementary welfare allowance; and if she is satisfied with such timeframes. [47595/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Welfare Service (CWS) in my Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. 

Based on the available data, it is estimated that 50% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 0-4 weeks and that 90% are finalised within 0-8 weeks.

63% of all Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments are decided within 4 weeks from the date of application and 92% are decided within 8 weeks of application.

Where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, this may be due to additional information or documentation being requested from the customer to support their application.  Where it is evident that a customer is experiencing particular hardship and their application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, their application is prioritised.

My Department continues to work to improve the service to customers and every effort is being made to minimise decision wait times.

I trust this clarifies the matter.