Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Where a customer’s appeal is successful, every effort is made to implement the decision of the Appeals Officer (AO) within three weeks of notice of the decision being received from the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The Disability Allowance section received confirmation from the AO on 11 April 2023 that the appeal was allowed, and the person concerned was awarded Disability Allowance with effect from 05 October 2022 and the first payment by electronic transfer is now scheduled to be in their bank account on the 10 May 2023.

Arrears of payment, if due, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments from other Social Welfare schemes, if applicable.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 17 April 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current average processing times for all social welfare payments; the number of applications received for each payment; the number of applications processed to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18650/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average for all the main scheme areas.

Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.

The table below gives the number of claims registered and the decisions made on them from January - March 2023, as well as the current average processing time for each scheme.

My Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.

In addition, the staffing needs of my 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.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average wait time for an additional needs' payment application. [18651/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANP) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain other Supplements available to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The Community Welfare Service (CWS) is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made quickly.

Work on hand is within the scheme's normal processing levels and 75% of all applications are finalised within 4 weeks. Applications for ANPs are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to the need for additional information or documentation and the time it takes for the customer to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed quickly.

It is important to note that where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the claim is processed on the same day. Community Welfare Officers are very experienced and can generally assess when a case is so urgent that it requires an immediate response.

A lot of effort and resources have been applied to the CWS to ensure that it is a responsive and accessible service for people.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when jobseeker’s allowance will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18662/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. Amongst other qualifying conditions a person must be capable of work and available for full-time work.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded JA with effect from 19/12/2022. Following the person’s commencement of part-time employment on 07/02/2023, a review of entitlement based on means from income was undertaken and his JA rate was adjusted accordingly. The person was required to submit casual dockets confirming his days of work each week.

On 16/03/2023, the person concerned informed Social Welfare Branch Office (SWBO) in Maynooth by email that he was out of the State from 13-17th March and had to extend his trip for medical reasons. A holiday form had not been completed by the person either in the SWBO or online prior to his departure as is required under current guidelines.

The SWBO emailed the person to ascertain if he was abroad, but no response was received. The person’s JA claim was subsequently closed as no further casual dockets had been provided and date of return to the State had not been confirmed.

The SWBO was recently advised by the person concerned that he had returned to the State on 12/04/2023. The person was advised to apply for JA online at www.MyWelfare.ie. To-date the person has not made an application for JA.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 23 January 2023.

The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information the person provides in support of their claim.

This application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 24 February 2023 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Following further recent contact with the Inspectors office, the SWI requested further information from the person concerned on 28 March 2023 and will finalise their report on receipt of this information.

Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.