John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1336.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32586/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 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.

The average number of weeks to award a Disability Allowance claim is currently 7 weeks. My Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently.

In respect of DA, evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.

To help the Department to make timely and fair decisions on applications, applicants should ensure that they complete the application form fully and attach all the supporting documentation required as per the checklist provided on the application form. It is particularly important that an applicant provides, at the outset, all the details they have in relation to their medical conditions to best support their claim.

In order to register a claim and establish an early entitlement or claim date, many people submit an application without first securing all of the necessary supporting documentation. Claims with missing supporting information typically take longer to process.

It is important to note that about 80% of awarded DA applicants are already in receipt of another social welfare payment.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1337.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32587/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

My Department aims to process all applications in a timely and impartial manner in accordance with relevant legislation. The claim processing target for CA is to process 75% of new claims within 10 weeks. We currently process 92% of new claims within 10 weeks. Currently, the average number of weeks to award is 6 weeks, compared to an average of 14 weeks in 2019. At all times every effort is made to process the application as quickly as possible.

If there is a specific case which the Deputy would like my Department to examine, I will gladly assist.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1338.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32588/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The average timeframe for a decision to be made on an application for an IP claim is currently 5 weeks. The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1339.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32589/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is committed to providing a quality customer service. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) new claim processing activity, and processing reviews requested by customers, is prioritised on an ongoing basis with particular focus on processing times to ensure a timely service to applicants.

The current average processing time for new DCA applications is 6 weeks from date of receipt.

Applicants are advised to provide as much relevant detail as possible at application stage. This includes completing the application form (Dom Care 1) fully, and also enclosing any additional information and/or documentary evidence if applicable, to ensure that all information is available for consideration in the decision and assessment process.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1340.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for back-to-school-clothing-and-footwear allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32590/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.

To qualify for the allowance, a person must meet a number of conditions namely:

* The child must meet the age criteria.

* The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September.

* The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits.

* The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.

The scheme opened to new applications on 12 June 2024. Up to close of business on Thursday 18 July, 31,816 applications have been received. 23,073 applications have been processed and the remaining 8,743 applications will be processed as efficiently as possible.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme remains open to new applications on www.mywelfare.ie until 30 September 2024. Officers are processing applications in date of receipt order. On Friday 19 July, officers were processing applications received on Monday 8 July.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.